Use AJAX Sparingly
20 June 2007
AJAX is a only great technique when used in moderation. It belongs in forms and page widgets, but should never be used for navigational purposes.
Call me a traditionalist, but webpages are pages, not desktop applications. Changing the way a UI component works on your website is unnecessary and confusing for your users.
Normal links shouldn't change page content without warning and pages shouldn't extend when you reach the bottom.
Use AJAX sparingly if you want to make a better user experience.
Jeffrey Drake
While I believe 'AJAX' techniques are used rather heavily these days, I must disagree to limit it only to forms and such.
There is a wonderful example, it is Google Mail, and it works similar to a desktop application and less like a traditional webmail app.
I like this because it allows continuity between screens without the appearance of a full page load.
It also enables a chatting interface during the mail session, which has come in handy at times.