User clicks button in client

onclick JavaScript code is executed

JavaScript prepares ajax request based on process and current HTML DOM tree
onstart JavaScript code is executed
JavaScript sends ajax request from client to server
JSF retrieves ajax request
JSF processes the request lifecycle on JSF component tree based on process
actionListener JSF backing bean method is executed
action JSF backing bean method is executed
JSF prepares ajax response based on update and current JSF component tree
JSF sends ajax response from server to client
JavaScript retrieves ajax response
if HTTP response status is 200, onsuccess JavaScript code is executed
else if HTTP response status is 500, onerror JavaScript code is executed
JavaScript performs update based on ajax response and current HTML DOM tree
oncomplete JavaScript code is executed