Instead of using XML for ajax requests, it's more efficient to utilize JSON which provides a cleaner and simpler way to send and receive data entities.
I have personally used JSON to handle large arrays of data with ease.
JSON, standing for JavaScript Object Notation, allows the Ajax Request to request a String that will be evaluated as a JavaScript object. Some browsers have built-in support for JSON parsing while others may require assistance. I've successfully utilized this helpful library in all my web applications without any issues.
Understanding JSON and how to implement it, here is an example of how the PHP code would appear:
$response = [
"success" => true,
"records" => [
$dataEntity1, $dataEntit2 //....
]
];
echo json_enconde($response );
Test it out to see the output. The use of PHP 5.4 array declaration syntax adds a touch of elegance to the code!
When making an Ajax request for data, you can follow this approach:
var response
,xhr = getAjaxObject();
xhr.open("POST","your url goes here");
xhr.onreadystatechange=function() {
if (xhr.readyState==4 && xhr.status==200) {
try {
response = JSON.parse(xhr.responseText);
} catch (err) {
response = {
success : false,
//other error data
};
}
if(response.success) {
console.debug(response.records);
}
}
}
In summary:
- Using the JSON2 library is beneficial for proper JSON parsing.
- PHP can efficiently send maps as JSON objects.
- The success boolean serves as a common flag for indicating the success or failure of a request.
For jQuery enthusiasts, setting the dataType : "json" property in the $.ajax call will automatically handle JSON responses in the success callback function.