retrieve data from mysql using php and jquery

I have a menu, it contains multiple items, each menu item will retrieve data from the database. I want to do it without the page refresh, I want like an area that will change when the user clicks on the menu link. How should I send data to the ph开发者_运维问答p script and how should I get it from there and preview it on the page? If you can send me any information, references or examples that will be great. Thanks in advance.

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I would start by reading some of the documentation from the jQuery website: http://api.jquery.com/category/ajax/

This might also be of interest to you: http://articles.sitepoint.com/article/ajax-jquery