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JavaScript AJAX Basics (retiring) AJAX Concepts Finish the AJAX Request

Zhihao Wang
Zhihao Wang
9,687 Points

Why is my open request code wrong?

It asks to open a request with the get method, then directing it to "footer.html"

How is this code wrong?

app.js
var request = new XMLHttpRequest();
request.onreadystatechange = function () {
  if (request.readyState === 4) {
    document.getElementById("footer").innerHTML = request.responseText;
  };

  request.open('GET', 'footer.html');
};
index.html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <title>AJAX with JavaScript</title>
  <script src="app.js"></script>
</head>
<body>
  <div id="main">
    <h1>AJAX!</h1>
  </div>
  <div id="footer"></div>
</body>
</html>

2 Answers

Hi Zhihao,

The request.open() method needs to be outside of the callback function, like this:

var request = new XMLHttpRequest();
request.onreadystatechange = function () {
  if (request.readyState === 4) {
    document.getElementById("footer").innerHTML = request.responseText;
  }  
};
request.open('GET', 'footer.html');
Zhihao Wang
Zhihao Wang
9,687 Points

Hey Robert,

Wow I can't believed I overlooked that! Such an amateur mistake :D!

Thanks, and Happy Thanksgiving!

Don't feel bad, Zhihao. I made the exact same mistake. And thanks, Robert! :)