How does XMLHttpRequest work internally in JavaScript?

XMLHttpRequest is an API in JavaScript that allows the client-side to communicate with a server asynchronously. It works by creating an instance of the XMLHttpRequest object, which can send requests and receive responses from the server without needing to reload the entire webpage. This enables dynamic content updates and improved user experiences.

Internally, XMLHttpRequest operates by creating a connection to the server based on the URL provided in the request. It allows various HTTP methods (GET, POST, etc.) for sending data to the server. The response received can be handled through callback functions, enabling the execution of code after the data has been retrieved.

Here is a simple example of how to use XMLHttpRequest:

// Create a new XMLHttpRequest object var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest(); // Configure it: GET-request for the URL xhr.open('GET', 'https://api.example.com/data', true); // Send the request over the network xhr.send(); // This will be called after the response is received xhr.onload = function() { if (xhr.status >= 200 && xhr.status < 300) { // If the request was successful console.log(xhr.responseText); } else { console.error('Request failed with status:', xhr.status); } };

XMLHttpRequest JavaScript API asynchronous server communication dynamic content