Ajax overhaul, Part 2: Retrofit existing sites with jQuery, Ajax, tooltips, and lightboxes

(Brian J. Dillard) Asynchronous JavaScript + XML (Ajax) techniques have changed the face of large, commercial Web applications, but many smaller Web sites don't have the resources to rebuild their entire user interface (UI) overnight. New features should justify their costs by solving real-world interface problems and improving user experience. With this series, learn to modernize your UI incrementally using open source, client-side libraries. In this installment, you learn to eliminate pop-up windows and navigational dead ends using simple lightbox and tooltip techniques. You learn to do so using the principle of progressive enhancement, guaranteeing that advanced UI features don't hamper your site's accessibility and adherence to Web standards.