Difference between AJAX and Silverlight

1. Difference between AJAX and Silverlight
S.No AJAX Silverlight
1 Meaning: Meaning:
Ajax (also AJAX; /ˈeɪdʒæks/; Microsoft Silverlight is an
an acronym for application framework for writing
Asynchronous JavaScript and running rich Internet
and XML) is a group of applications, with features and
interrelated web development purposes similar to those of Adobe
techniques used on the client- Flash. The run-time environment
side to create asynchronous for Silverlight is available as a plug-
web applications. With Ajax, in for web browsers running under
web applications can send Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X.
data to, and retrieve data from, While early versions of Silverlight
a server asynchronously (in focused on streaming media,
the background) without current versions support
interfering with the display and multimedia, graphics and
behavior of the existing page. animation, and give developers
Data can be retrieved using support for CLI languages and
the XMLHttpRequest object. development tools. Silverlight is
also one of the two application
development platforms for
Windows Phone, but Silverlight
enabled web pages cannot run on
Internet Explorer for Windows
Phone as there is no plugin.
2 Technologied Involved: Technologied Involved:
In the article that coined the Silverlight 1 is purely AJAX and
term Ajax,Jesse James Garrett JavaScript based. All the code has
explained that the following to be written in JavaScript and
technologies are incorporated: XAML.
• HTML (or XHTML) and
With version 2, the programming
CSS for presentation
logic can be written in any .NET
• The Document Object language, including some
Model (DOM) for derivatives of common dynamic
dynamic display of and programming languages like
interaction with data IronRuby and IronPython .
• XML for the interchange
of data, and XSLT for its
manipulation
• The XMLHttpRequest
object for asynchronous
communication
• JavaScript to bring
these technologies
together

2. 3 When was AJAX coined / When was Silverlight coined /
developed ? developed ?
Nobody invented AJAX. Microsoft released its first version
But,the computer scientist Jess of Silverlight in 2007.
James Garret first coined the
term "Ajax" in 2005.
Note: The key technology:
XMLHttpRequest used in AJAX
was developed by Microsoft for
its Internet Explorer 5.0 for
Windows as an ActiveX object
in 1999.
4 AJAX mainly relies on what Silverlight mainly relies on what
technology / framework? technology / framework ?
Ajax relies on the Unlike Ajax, which relies on the
XMLHttpRequest object.Using XMLHttpRequest object, Silverlight
it, Ajax typically retrieves data relies on the .NET framework. This
from servers and can do so framework provides the common
asynchronously. This means language runtime (CLR) run-time
Ajax can retrieve data without environment, enabling Silverlight
disrupting the behaviors and for running code and providing
displays of existing WebPages. services that simplify the
developmental process.
Specifically, Silverlight's .NET
framework and CLR environment
allow developers to execute the
same compiled code on servers as
well as clients.
5 What is the main purpose of What is the main purpose of
AJAX ? Silverlight?
Developers typically use Ajax In comparison, developers typically
for creating interactive website use Silverlight for creating image-
features that end-users can and video-based social media
access through Web browsers. content that end-users can stream
-- or download in real-time.
Developers can also extend the
functionality or richness of their
Ajax features by using Silverlight,
but not vice-versa.
6 Whether AJAX needs to be Whether Silverlight needs to be
installed in .NET ? installed in the system?
From ASP.Net 3.5 onwards, Silverlight plugin needs to be
AJAX has been integrated into installed in our system for better
the .NET Framework. Hence, browsing experience.
there is no need to install in
.NET.
7 When to use AJAX ? When to use Silverlight ?
Ajax can be used to make web Silverlight can be used when we

3. applications perform better (if need rich UI (like adobe flex) and
used in right manner) and to do not have heavy server
provide better user experience dependency.
than conventional websites by
avoiding full page refreshes.
8 Development Benefits: Development Benefits:
Ajax provides developers with Silverlight improves work-flow by
access to JavaScript libraries, separating the visual, user-
such as MootTools and jQuery. interface aspects of website
These libraries help development from the back-end,
developers create sleek and business-logic aspects of
highly interactive website development.
applications without having to
pay for integrated development
environments (IDEs). However,
despite being lower in cost,
Ajax is not easier to use than
Silverlight.
9 Whether AJAX provides Whether Silverlight provides
Cross-platform support ? Cross-platform support ?
Ajax is a cross-platform Silverlight is not fully platform
technique that can be used on independent tool. It only supports
wide range of different Windows OS, Linux OS using
operating systems, computer Moonlight and Mac OS.
architectures.
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajax_%28programming%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Silverlight
http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/87421/Basic-Questions-on-Silverlight-Technology
http://www.it-interview.com/question-4002.html
http://www.geekinterview.com/question_details/24131
http://www.ehow.com/info_8698012_difference-between-ajax-silverlight.html
http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/use-silverlight-plugin-play-audio-and-video
https://help.ubuntu.com/11.04/ubuntu-help/net-install-moonlight.html
http://www.vicconsult.com/tips/ajax.html
http://justinangel.net/SilverlightIsnTFullyCrossPlatform
http://www.dotnetobject.com/Thread-50-Important-Silverlight-Question-Answers?

4. highlight=silverlight
http://www.microsoft.com/getsilverlight/get-started/install/default.aspx#sysreq
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