Partial Page Rendering Using Hidden Iframe
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Computers Technology -> subcategory Web Development.
Partial Page Rendering Using Hidden Iframes
Introduction
Partial-page rendering enhances user experience by updating only the changed parts of a web page, eliminating the need for full-page reloads. This approach ensures seamless interactions without the perception of an unresponsive application. While a full page refresh is straightforward, it can be slow and undesirable. Alternatively, using JavaScript can provide faster responses but often results in complex and less portable code.
This article introduces a solution that leverages hidden iframes for partial page rendering, combining simple JavaScript to update the web page efficiently. This method avoids the downsides of full page refreshes and complex custom scripts.
Understanding Partial Page Rendering
Web pages typically allow for various interactions, like submitting forms or navigating through content. Some actions require modifying page content without changing pages, such as updating an image after selecting an option or altering fields based on user choices.
These interactions should maintain user context and appear seamless. Using a hidden iframe with minimal JavaScript offers a simple method to achieve this.
Elements That Might Change
1. Re-Render Data: Fields stay the same but data updates, like refreshing data or recalculating totals.
2. Re-Render Dependent Fields: Changes might involve adding, removing, or reordering fields, as seen when changing address fields based on country selection.
3. Hide/Show Content: This toggles the visibility of fields and data.
Elements That Remain Constant
Certain page elements remain unchanged, regardless of updates, including:
- Branding
- Global buttons
- Navigation elements (Tabs, Breadcrumbs)
- Page title and footer
- Separator lines
Most navigation and contextual elements remain stable, unless specific actions require updates.
When Not to Use Partial Page Rendering
While PPR significantly boosts performance, it should not be used if unnecessary or when navigating to entirely different pages. Avoiding implementation in these scenarios prevents code bloat and inefficiency.
Solution Overview
A hidden iframe paired with JavaScript can serve as a general solution for partial page rendering needs. Here’s a simple HTML example:
```html
| Table:: | |
```
Functionality
1. Show Table: Sends a request to the server via iframe to fetch and display the table.
2. Remove Table: Clears the current table display.
The `showTable` function sends a GET request with `hiframe.location="./table.htm";` to retrieve content. For a POST request, set the form's target attribute to the hidden iframe’s name:
`