[jQuery] How to synchronize ajax events

[Andy789]

Hi All,

Here is a simple fragment:

 function zipSearch(){
        var zip = $j('input#zip_entry').attr('value');
        validateZip(zip);
        alert('second '+validation);
...........
............
}

function validateZip(zip){
                 $j.post("markers.php", { validate: zip},
        function(xml){
                validation = $j.xml2json(xml, false);
                alert('first '+validation);
        });
}

The problem is that the first function (zipSearch) calls validateZip
and doesn't wait until it gets callback data from php file. So it
jumps to the next line. I am getting 1st alert ('second '+validation)
and next the alert from ajax function.

How can I fix it to make sure the first function waits until
validateZip gets its callback?

thanks!