RichFaces is an open source

Open-source software

Open-source software is computer software that is available in source code form: the source code and certain other rights normally reserved for copyright holders are provided under a software license that permits users to study, change, improve and at times also to distribute the software.Open...

 Ajax

Ajax (programming)

Ajax is a group of interrelated web development methods used on the client-side to create asynchronous web applications...

-enabled component library for JavaServer Faces

JavaServer Faces

JavaServer Faces is a Java-based Web application framework intended to simplify development integration of web-based user interfaces....

, hosted by JBoss

JBoss (company)

JBoss is a division of Red Hat, Inc.. It specializes in open-source middleware software.The company profits from a service-based business model. JBoss employ a Professional Open Source business model where the core developers of projects make a living and offer their services...

. It allows easy integration of Ajax capabilities into enterprise application development.

RichFaces is more than just a component library for JavaServer Faces. It adds:

• Skinability (easily change and update application look and feel)
• Component Development Kit (CDK) to assist in constructing JavaServer Faces components
• Dynamic Resource Framework
• Both page wide, and component based Ajax control components.

RichFaces originated from Ajax4jsf

Ajax4jsf

Ajax4jsf was a project for an open source framework that added Ajax capabilities to the JavaServer Faces web application framework.It was an early entrant to the JSF space, but did implement a still-rare feature, that of skinning....

 framework which was created and designed by Alexander Smirnov. In the autumn of 2005 Smirnov joined Exadel and continued to develop the framework.