Learning Diary (Reflections)

 What I had done for Unit 7 – Using External Data Sources (AJAX, JSON)

1.)  I read and practiced some of the AJAX & JSON tutorials mainly through W3Schools and other high ranking sources.

2.)   Submitted my design idea through the Landing for where I want to apply AJAX...

3.)   Integrated  my code to the Contact page for my web site. Compiled findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Performed the self-test.

  My Website in HTML + CSS + JS + jQuery + AJAX (JSON)

 Link to my website: http://student.athabascau.ca/~charlesph4/  (you might have to copy link out into browser to view)

AJAX is a developer's dream, because you can:

• Update a web page without reloading the page
• Request data from a server - after the page has loaded
• Receive data from a server - after the page has loaded
• Send data to a server - in the background

Ref: https://www.w3schools.com/xml/ajax_intro.asp  

Some of my challenges: 

• I didn't really have any significant challenges other than at the very start of "getting my feet wet" with AJAX w/JSON.  However, I was able to get a good fundamental understanding after further reading and practising. 

Findings & Recommendations - “Problem” task in AJAX JSON

• Other than what was mentioned above... "10 things IT needs to know about Ajax":

1. Ajax is an idea, not an acronym...
2. It's really all about JavaScript...
3. XML is not required...
4. Plan for an increase in HTTP requests...
5. Optimize Ajax requests carefully...
6. Acknowledge the two-connection limit...
7. Watch out for response ordering...
8. Acknowledge the effects of eliminating "Layer 8" error correction...
9. Old security threats get a second exposure...
10. Abide by same origin for your protection...

Read (ref.) more: https://www.networkworld.com/article/2284548/data-center/10-things-it-needs-to-know-about-ajax.html 

• JSON:
• JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight format that is used for data interchanging. It is based on a subset of JavaScript language (the way objects are built in JavaScript). As stated in the MDN, some JavaScript is not JSON, and some JSON is not JavaScript.  Ref: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/383692/what-is-json-and-why-would-i-use-it
• An example of where this is used is web services responses. In the 'old' days, web services used XML as their primary data format for transmitting back data, but since JSON appeared (The JSON format is specified in RFC 4627 by Douglas Crockford), it has been the preferred format because it is much more lightweight.  Ref: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/383692/what-is-json-and-why-would-i-use-it

JSON is built on two structures:
A collection of name/value pairs. In various languages, this is realized as an object, record, struct, dictionary, hash table, keyed list, or associative array.
An ordered list of values. In most languages, this is realized as an array, vector, list, or sequence.
Ref the above from the official JSON website: http://www.json.org/ 

I recommend always to read and practice through W3Schools and other reputable sources.  I find for myself, if there's no trial and error, then there is potentially no effective learning...