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JavaScript AJAX Basics (retiring) AJAX Concepts A Simple AJAX Example

Posted by Brian van Vlymen
Brian van Vlymen
12,637 Points

Why is so imporant put number 4 for simple AJAX I.E. (xhr.readyState === 4) ?

I am not sure strict function have to be "four" where these came from? Is because the letters of getElementById('ajax'); ? 

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <link href='http://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Varela+Round' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css'>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="css/main.css">
  <title>AJAX with JavaScript</title>
  <script>
  var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest();
  xhr.open('GET', 'sidebar.html');
  xhr.onreadystatechange = function () {
    if (xhr.readyState === 4) {
      document.getElementById('ajax').innerHTML = xhr.responseText;
    }
  };

  function sendAJAX() {
    xhr.send();
    document.getElementById('load').style.display = 'none';
  }
  </script>
</head>
<body>
  <div class="grid-container centered">
    <div class="grid-100">
      <div class="contained">
        <div class="grid-100">
          <div class="heading">
            <h1>Bring on the AJAX</h1>
          </div>
          <button id="load" onclick="sendAJAX()" class="button">Bring it!</button>
          <ul id="ajax">

          </ul>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
</body>
</html>
Brian van Vlymen
Brian van Vlymen
12,637 Points

there you go http://www.w3schools.com/ajax/ajax_xmlhttprequest_onreadystatechange.asp

the answer is 4: request finished and response is ready

2 Answers

Jonathan Grieve
MOD
Jonathan Grieve
Treehouse Moderator 90,705 Points
Jonathan Grieve
Jonathan Grieve
Treehouse Moderator 90,705 Points

Because each time you make an AJAX request it has to pass 4 stages. If you get to stage 4 then you've successfully made the request. The code is simply a way to check that we've reached stage for of the ready state. :-)

Jason S
Jason S
16,247 Points
Jason S
Jason S
16,247 Points

3: processing request the code works if you change the 4 to a 3 so does that mean it works when it's processing?

Jonathan Grieve
Jonathan Grieve
Treehouse Moderator 90,705 Points
Jonathan Grieve
Jonathan Grieve
Treehouse Moderator 90,705 Points

Personally I'd still with the 4 because once you get there, you know you've got passed any problems with server or processsing. :-)

Joshua Briley
PLUS
Joshua Briley
Courses Plus Student 24,645 Points
Joshua Briley
Joshua Briley
Courses Plus Student 24,645 Points

I was hoping I wasn't the only one who didn't understand this. Thanks for asking it!