It sounds like your JavaScript is making an asynchronous request, but something in your setup is causing the UI to freeze while waiting for the PHP response. Here are a few things to check and optimize:
- Check for Long-Running PHP Scripts
If your PHP script is taking a long time to execute (e.g., heavy database queries, external API calls), it can cause perceived UI freezing even though JavaScript is async.
Solution: Optimize PHP execution time or use background processing (e.g., queue systems like Redis or RabbitMQ). - Ensure Asynchronous Execution in JavaScript
If you’re using fetch(), make sure you’re handling the response properly:
fetch('your-script.php')
.then(response => response.json())
.then(data => {
console.log('Response received:', data);
})
.catch(error => console.error('Error:', error));
If the UI is unresponsive, check if any blocking operation (e.g., a while loop or synchronous function) is running before JavaScript regains control.
3. Run PHP in the Background
If the request isn’t returning critical data immediately, consider running it as a background task and responding instantly.
Example:
ignore_user_abort(true);
set_time_limit(0);
ob_start();
echo json_encode(['status' => 'Processing']);
ob_end_flush();
flush();
// Long processing task starts here
sleep(10); // Simulating long task
file_put_contents('result.txt', 'Task Done');
This lets the browser receive an immediate response while the task continues.
4. Use Web Workers for UI Responsiveness
If your JavaScript is doing heavy work after receiving the PHP response, consider moving it to a Web Worker to prevent UI blocking.
5. Optimize Database Queries
Slow queries can cause PHP delays. Try indexing, using prepared statements, and caching results to improve performance.