Connect HTTP POST request to an onclick using JavaScript
Question: I am trying to make an HTTP POST request using javascript and connecting it to
an onclick event.

For example, if someone clicks on a button then make a HTTP POST request to
`http://www.example.com/?test=test1&test2=test2`. It just needs to hit the url
and can close the connection.

I've messed around in python and got this to work.

    
    
    import urllib2
    def hitURL():
        urllib2.urlopen("http://www.example.com/?test=test1&test2=test2").close
    
    hitURL()
    

I have read about some ways to make HTTP requests using JavaScript in this
thread [JavaScript post request like a form
submit](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/133925/javascript-post-request-
like-a-form-submit), but think it's overkill for what I need to do.

Is it possible to just say something like this:

    
    
    <button onclick=POST(http://www.example.com/?test=test1&test2=test2)>hello</button>
    Or build it in to an event listener. 
    

I know that is not anything real but I am just looking for a simple solution
that non-technical people can use, follow directions, and implement.

I honestly doubt there is something that simple out there but still any
recommendations would be appreciated.


Answer: You need to use `XMLHttpRequest` (see [MDN](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-
US/docs/Web/API/XMLHttpRequest)).

    
    
    var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest();
    xhr.open("POST", url, false);
    xhr.onload = // something
    document.getElementById("your_button's_ID").addEventListener("click",
        function() {xhr.send(data)},
        false
    );
    

