Retrieving remote data with OpenLayers.Request

Data is the basis for a web mapping application. We can add raster or vector layers to the map, which will load images or vector information.

In the case of vector layers, thanks to the OpenLayers.Protocol and OpenLayers.Format subclasses, we can configure the layer to load data from different sources and with different formats.

Anyway, there can be circumstances where we need to request data by ourselves, read the specific format, and add features. We are talking about making asynchronous JavaScript calls.

This recipe shows how we can use the helper class OpenLayers.Request to asynchronously request data from the remote servers.

Here, we are going to request a URL that returns random x and y values that we will process as point features on the map.

Note

OpenLayers is a framework for GIS web developers, so it is designed to be independent from other projects, such as jQuery and Dojo that offer facilities to request remote data and implement its own...