This is a list of notable Ajax frameworks, used for creating web applications with a dynamic link between the client and the server. Some of the frameworks are JavaScript compilers, for generating JavaScript and Ajax that runs in the web browser client; some are pure JavaScript libraries; others are server-side frameworks that typically utilize JavaScript libraries.
JavaScript
JavaScript frameworks are browser-side frameworks very commonly used in Ajax development. There are hundreds of JavaScript frameworks available. According to latest surveys,[1][2] the most used JavaScript frameworks are:
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| jQuery, a JavaScript framework that provides an Ajax framework and other utilities, and jQuery UI, a plug-in that provides abstractions for low-level interaction and animation, advanced effects and high-level, themeable widgets | GPL and MIT |
| MooTools, a compact and modular JavaScript framework best known for its visual effects and transitions. | MIT |
| Prototype, a JavaScript framework that provides Ajax and other utilities, and Script.aculo.us, a plug-in for animations and interface development | MIT |
| YUI Library, a set of utilities and controls, for building richly interactive web applications using techniques such as DOM scripting, DHTML and Ajax | BSD |
| ASP.NET AJAX, a set of extensions to ASP.NET for implementing Ajax functionality. | Microsoft Public License |
| Spry framework, an open source Ajax framework developed by Adobe which is used in the construction of Rich Internet applications. | BSD |
| Dojo Toolkit, an Open Source DHTML toolkit written in JavaScript. | modified BSD license or the Academic Free License |
| Ext JS, a library that extends Prototype, Jquery and YUI until version 1.0. Since version 1.1 a standalone Ajax framework. | GPLv3 or proprietary |
| Prevel Framework, a lightweight (approximately 4.8 Kb) JavaScript library with strong functionality. All the methods which can be useful in all kinds of development are attending in Prevel (such as interaction with DOM, Ajax, some of common methods). | MIT and LGPL |
Other frameworks not among the most used include:
- AJAX.OOP, an open source framework, providing an OOP-style coding engine and Ajax requests-handling functionality to create web 2.0 components.
- Ample SDK, standards-based Ajax framework, enabling Rich Internet application development
- Backbone.js, loosely based on the Model-View-Controller application design paradigm
- Bindows, an enterprise Ajax framework, with Windows look and feel.
- DHTMLX, a JavaScript library that includes a comprehensive set of user interface components and a special module for server-side integration.
- jx, a tiny cross-browser AJAX library weighing less than 1KB.
- qooxdoo, is a comprehensive Ajax application framework. Leveraging object-oriented JavaScript allows developers to build impressive cross-browser applications.
- Smartclient, provides a zero-install DHTML/Ajax client engine, rich user interface components & services and client-server databinding systems.
- SproutCore, designed to make desktop-like apps for the web.
- Wakanda Framework, works on top of WakandaDB with Server-Side JavaScript, designed to build interfaces for desktop & mobile Web applications.
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Java
These frameworks use Java for server-side Ajax operations:
- Apache Wicket an open-source Java server-centric framework supporting Ajax development
- AribaWeb an open-source framework with Reflection and Object-Relational mapping
- Backbase enterprise Ajax for JSF
- Context Framework an open-source framework focused on Ajax-based page updates
- DWR Direct Web Remoting
- Echo for Ajax servlets
- FormEngine a framework for easy creation of dynamic forms
- Google Web Toolkit a widget library with a Java to JavaScript compiler
- ItsNat a server-side Java framework focused on single-page interface applications
- JackBe enterprise Ajax framework
- OpenWAF an open-source Web Application framework for Web 2.0 Applications.
- OpenXava model-driven framework for creating Ajax business applications
- RAP Eclipse Rich Ajax Platform
- JBoss RichFaces, ICEfaces and PrimeFaces open-source Ajax component libraries for JavaServer Faces
- Tersus an open-source platform for developing rich web applications by visual programming
- Vaadin a server-side Java widget framework utilizing GWT
- ZK an open-source Java server+client fusion Ajax framework utilizing jQuery and XUL
C++
.NET
The following frameworks are available for the Windows .NET platform:
Perl
- Catalyst, Catalyst::Plugin::Prototype or other js frameworks
PHP
A PHP Ajax framework is able to deal with database, search data, and build pages or parts of page and publish the page or return data to the XMLHttpRequest object.
- Phery is a library that makes you able to manipulate the DOM directly from PHP through jQuery
- CJAX Framework
- Quicknet is an Ajax framework that provides secure data transmission, uses PHP on the server side
- Sajax PHP framework with a lot of functions, easy to integrate functions yourself
- Xajax uses only the XML format, on the server side
- JAX Framework an Open-Source, AJAX-based Web Application Framework built on jQuery, PHP, phpdaogen and phpreportgen. Includes YAML-driven database schema, simple database schema migration, and code generators for rapid development of CRUD/Admin pages.
- J4P micro ajax J4P micro ajax in a simple way brings extensive ajax functionality in PHP applications at a minimum of size. You also can use a wide range of the jQuery library on PHP side.
Python
These frameworks use Python for client-side Ajax operations:
- Pyjamas, a widget library with a Python to JavaScript compiler.
Ruby
The Ruby on Rails framework implements a Domain-specific language named RJS, which can be used to write Ruby code that generates Javascript code. The code generated by RJS is usually loaded using Ajax, e.g. by using Ajax-enabled helper methods Ruby on Rails provides, such as the link_to_remote helper.
Many of the Ruby on Rails Ajax-enabled helper methods work by using Prototype to perform an Ajax request. In most cases Javascript code is returned by the server to be executed by the browser, unlike the usual case where Ajax is used to retrieve data in XML or JSON format.[3]
Groovy
Scala
See also
References
