In the past decade, web development has advanced rapidly. Developers are now faced with modern tools such as the Fetch API, Axios, WebSockets, real-time frameworks, and full-stack solutions like Next.js. So many developers wonder:
Is AJAX still relevant? Or is it outdated?
Short answer: Yes, AJAX is still highly relevant; it just has a different role.
While AJAX was once correlated with jQuery, AJAX is still the concept that powers the majority of interactive experiences on the modern web. In this article, we’ll discuss why AJAX is still relevant, how it has evolved its role, and what its place is in the ecosystem of today’s modern development.
1. AJAX Is a Concept — Not A Technology
A common misconception of AJAX is that AJAX refers to jQuery’s .ajax() method. In fact:
AJAX = Asynchronous JavaScript and XML
But today, developers rarely use XML; now the use of JSON has replaced its usage entirely.
More importantly, AJAX is not a library — it is a concept, which means:
Updating part of a webpage without refreshing the entire page.
This simple and powerful concept is still at the heart of modern interactivity.
- Live search suggestions
- Submit forms without reloading the page
- Update dynamic content
- Interactive dashboards and analytics
- Load more buttons and infinite scroll
- Real-time filtering
Even though the original implementation may look outdated, the AJAX principle remains fundamental to how the modern web operates.
2. jQuery AJAX Is Declining — But AJAX Isn’t Gone
It’s true: jQuery’s AJAX methods are no longer the go-to solution for new projects.
Modern applications use:
- Fetch API — a cleaner, built-in alternative
- Axios — a popular, promise-based HTTP client
- Got, SuperAgent, and other lightweight libraries
These tools don’t eliminate AJAX — they perform AJAX operations in more modern ways.
In other words:
AJAX didn’t disappear. It evolved.
3. Why AJAX is Still Important in 2025
Although there are alternatives available today, AJAX is still incredibly relevant, and here’s why:
1. Millions of Legacy Websites Rely on AJAX
A large part of the internet still runs on legacy or classic based systems:
- WordPress
- PHP-based sites
- jQuery-based themes
- Drupal
- Magento
- Classic ASP.NET
Enterprise intranet systems
These systems are based on AJAX – migrating and/or building a new solution away from these platforms is typically expensive and not necessary for many businesses.
2. AJAX is Great for Light Interactions
Not every project needs React, Vue or a real-time architecture.
AJAX is meant for:
- Async form submissions
- Auto-saving form fields
- Loading dropdown values
- Updating UI sections without refreshing
- Quick, simple, fast interactions.
With small and medium scale applications, AJAX is still the most efficient solution.
3. Excellent Browser Compatibility
AJAX works without fail:
- Across all browsers
- In older enterprise environments
- No polyfills are needed
This reliability remains extremely relevant, especially in corporate and government applications.
4. Widely Used in CMS Platforms
AJAX is heavily relied on in core features for the most popular content management systems:
- WordPress
- Joomla
- Drupal
- Shopify
- OpenCart
Common AJAX-powered features include:
- Product filtering
- Live search
- Pagination
- Load-more features
- Form actions
Its usage remains deeply integrated into these systems.
AJAX is still very much in use.
4. When AJAX May Not Be the Best Solution
AJAX is a powerful tool, but there are some modern requirements that go beyond what AJAX can provide.
Consider using WebSockets for:
- real-time chats
- live trading dashboards
- multiplayer apps
Consider using Server Sent Events (SSE) for:
- live notifications
- auto-updating dashboards
Use SSR / Server Components for:
- SEO-friendly, fast initial load
- Reduced client-side fetching
Use Fetch / Axios for:
- cleaner syntax
- promise-based workflows
AJAX is still great, but it’s just not designed to do everything.
5. The Future of AJAX for Web Development
The future of AJAX is found in AJAX’s concept, not in AJAX’s original form.
Today’s tools that wrap AJAX utilize AJAX under-the-hood and include:
- Fetch API for async communication
- Axios for API calls
- React Query, SWR, TanStack Query for data fetching and caching
- Next.js Server Actions and Server Components which wrap AJAX calls behind the scenes
- Angular & Vue’s built-out HTTP utilities
AJAX remains a central philosophy of modern frameworks, but it’s simply abstracted away.
6. Is AJAX Still Relevant? The Final Answer
The answer is completely YES – AJAX is still relevant for 2025 and beyond.
Here are the real facts:
❌ jQuery AJAX is fading
✔ AJAX as a concept is more prominent than ever.
It keeps powering:
- Modern dynamic interfaces
- Asynchronous operations
- Background data fetching
- Improved user experiences
- Communication between frontend and backend
AJAX isn’t outdated — it has transformed into newer, more powerful tools that still use the same underlying principles.
Conclusion
AJAX remains a core part of modern web development. While developers may no longer rely on jQuery’s AJAX methods, the foundational idea — fetching and updating data asynchronously — remains essential for building fast, dynamic, and interactive applications.
Whether you’re using Fetch, Axios, React, Angular, Next.js, or Vue, you’re still applying the core principles that AJAX introduced decades ago.
