Some stuff that Facebook does well...(help me!)

[shackrock]

I'm petty sure that what I'm about to describe is java, if it's not, I'll move the thread...or a mod can i suppose.

Anyway facebook uses this often, and I'm seeing it done on more and more webpages now. It's where you click "submit" or some link, and instead of opening a new window with the page, or after the action is completed, it will just do it all on the same page...The best way to describe it is with an example. If you post on somebody's wall on facebook, you get a little "thinking" image for a second or 2 as it processes, and then the wall post just kind of fades in where it should. The page doesn't need to reload or anything, only the part of the page that changed is changed. facebook uses this all over the site.

Another place I've seen it used (if this is the same thing even...) is if somebody clicks an image, it will fade darker the screen you were on, and a window of some sort with the image opens up above the page you're on. However, it's the same IE/Firefox window. It's just kind of floating above the site. I've also seen something similar done with advertisements...we all know the ones that take over part of the page...

If anyone can direct me to some places where I may learn this, I'd much appreciate it. ha.

Thanks.

[Jordan]

I think you are speaking about JavaScript and/or AJAX. Click the "Edit" button on your post above which will not take you to a new screen but convert your post into a text-box. Is this what you are talking about?

[Jordan]

Or actually, you can do a quick reply here and (if you don't get the WSOD, White Screen of Death) it will post your reply without loading a new page or reloading this page.

[shackrock]

yes to the edit AND the quick reply. They are both exactly what I'm talking about, haha...

[oubless]

Originally Posted by shackrock

yes to the edit AND the quick reply. They are both exactly what I'm talking about, haha...

You are asking about AJAX than.
There is a lot in internet about that technology. It is mostly javascript. Depending on how you use it the server side might know or not know about it. Shortly - it is a way to perform action on the server side / retrieve info from it without having to submit/reload your page. There are numerous implementations...
So this thread is for HTML/CSS/JavaScript section I think.
If you need to implement this in Java ( J2EE on the server ) you can search for components that use ajax. I think there are a lot of them available for free ( if you understand some other languages you can borrow components written for PHP/Perl/Ruby/Python/AnyOtherScriptingLanguageUsedForServerSide