Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX) is a popular technique used within web browsing. It is used for dynamically updating some components of a web page without refreshing the whole new page. A simple way to describe AJAX is like this: DHTML+XML+HTTP = AJAX technique. AJAX can also be used for mobile browsing, but at present only the Opera mobile browser supports AJAX.

This guide introduces a solution for simple AJAX development that needs to use content or data via external Web services. An example application called Currency Rate Converter is used to explain how to implement AJAX with Web services in JSP. The solution is based on Sun JWSDP 2.0 with JAX-RPC for the Web service. For the demo use-case the X Methods - Currency Exchange Rate web service is used. It is assumed that the reader is familiar with AJAX development for web browsers, Apache Tomcat development with Servlet/JSP, Web services and JWSDP 2.0 (to generate a web service stub client for JAX-RPC).

Download the whole document including codes.