ajax
n. uncountablen. a technique for updating parts of a web page without reloading the whole thing. You use this to make websites feel faster and smoother.
n. a web development technique that allows data exchange with a server behind the scenes, enabling partial page updates without a full reload. Technical register; standard in software engineering.
The app uses Ajax to load new posts.
The website uses Ajax to update the shopping cart total instantly when you add an item.
Modern single-page applications rely heavily on Ajax to fetch JSON data from APIs, ensuring a seamless user experience without the jarring interruptions of traditional page reloads.
From Latin Aiāx, from Ancient Greek Αἴᾱς (Aíās).
Short for Asynchronous JavaScript and XML.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Last updated May 4, 2026