AJAX Poll
This example will demonstrate a poll where a web page can get results without reloading.
Do you like PHP and AJAX so far?
Yes:
No:
Example Explained – The HTML page
The HTML page contains a link to an external JavaScript, an HTML form, and a div element:
| <html> <head> <script type=”text/javascript” src=”poll.js”></script> </head> <body> <div id=”poll”> </body> |
The HTML form works like this:
- An event is triggered when the user selects the “yes” or “no” option
- When the event is triggered, the function getVote() is executed
- The data returned from the getVote() function will replace the form, in the <div> tag
Example Explained – The JavaScript code
This is the JavaScript code stored in the file “poll.js”:
| var xmlhttp;
function getVote(int) function stateChanged() function GetXmlHttpObject() |
The stateChanged() and GetXmlHttpObject functions are the same as in the PHP AJAX Suggest chapter.
The getVote() Function
This function executes when “yes” or “no” is selected in the HTML form.
- Defines the url (filename) to send to the server
- Adds a parameter (vote) to the url with the content of the input field
- Adds a random number to prevent the server from using a cached file
- Calls on the GetXmlHttpObject function to create an XMLHTTP object, and tells the object to execute a function called stateChanged when a change is triggered
- Opens the XMLHTTP object with the given url.
- Sends an HTTP request to the server
The PHP Page
The server page called by the JavaScript code is a simple PHP file called “poll_vote.php”.
| <?php $vote = $_REQUEST['vote']; //get content of textfile //put content in array if ($vote == 0) //insert votes to txt file <h2>Result:</h2> |
The selected value is sent from the JavaScript and the following happens:
- Get the content of the “poll_result.txt” file
- Put the content of the file in variables and add one to the selected variable
- Write the result to the “poll_result.txt” file
- Output a graphical representation of the poll result
The Text File
The text file (poll_result.txt) is where we store the data from the poll.
It is stored like this:
| 0||0 |
The first number represents the “Yes” votes, the second number represents the “No” votes.
Note: Remember to allow your web server to edit the text file. Do NOT give everyone access, just the web server (PHP).





