How to make this shortcode not refresh the whole page when i use it on frontend

Question

everyone, I have this code that makes all the files in a folder visible and downloadable on the frontend through a shortcode. But I want to put it in Essential Addons' Advanced Tabs, and they don't quite work together because everytime i search for a file, or I go to page 2, or something else, the page refreshes and I'm no longer on the same tab I was. So I figured my solution would be to prevent the page from refreshing when interacting with the code's interface. I tried using AJAX, but my poor skills almost destroyed my connection to the website (403 everywhere). Mind you, I'm a VERY amateur programmer, and I made the current code with the help of AI. I turn to you guys, I hope I described the problem properly. If you guys are able to help me, I will be eternally grateful. Code below:

function list_files_shortcode($atts) {
    // Set default attributes
    $atts = shortcode_atts(
        array(
            'folder' => '', // Replace with your default path
        ),
        $atts,
        'list_files'
    );

    // Get the absolute path of the folder on the server
    $absolute_folder_path = ABSPATH . $atts['folder'];

    // Check if the folder exists
    if (!is_dir($absolute_folder_path)) {
        return 'The folder does not exist.';
    }

    // Get the name of the current folder
    $current_folder_name = basename($absolute_folder_path);

    // Get the name of the parent folder
    $parent_folder_name = basename(dirname($absolute_folder_path));

    // Check if there is a search term
    $search_term = isset($_GET['search_term']) ? sanitize_text_field($_GET['search_term']) : '';

    // Get the list of files in the folder
    $files = scandir($absolute_folder_path);

    // Filter files based on the search term and exclude "." and ".."
    $filtered_files = array_filter($files, function ($file) use ($search_term) {
        return $file != "." && $file != ".." && (empty($search_term) || stripos($file, $search_term) !== false);
    });

    // Calculate the total number of files
    $total_files = count($filtered_files);

    // Set the number of files per page
    $files_per_page = 10;

    // Calculate the total number of pages
    $total_pages = ceil($total_files / $files_per_page);

    // Get the current page number from the 'page' parameter
    $current_page = isset($_GET['page']) ? max(1, intval($_GET['page'])) : 1;

    // Calculate the starting index of the array for the current page
    $start_index = ($current_page - 1) * $files_per_page;

    // Get the files for the current page
    $files_current_page = array_slice($filtered_files, $start_index, $files_per_page);

    // Start the HTML output
    $output = '';

    // Add folder names above the search bar
    $output .= '<p class="folder-name" style="padding: 10px; border: 1px solid #ccc;">Current Folder Name: ' . $current_folder_name . '</p>';
    $output .= '<p class="folder-name" style="padding: 10px; border: 1px solid #ccc;">Parent Folder Name: ' . $parent_folder_name . '</p>';

    // Add search box, search button, and clear search button with styles
    $output .= '<form action="" method="get" style="margin-top: 20px; padding: 10px; border: 1px solid #ccc;">';
    $output .= '<div style="display: flex; align-items: center;">';
    $output .= '<input type="text" name="search_term" placeholder="Enter file name" value="' . esc_attr(isset($_GET['search_term']) ? $_GET['search_term'] : '') . '" style="flex: 1; padding: 8px; border: 1px solid #ccc;">';
    $output .= '<input type="hidden" name="folder" value="' . esc_attr($atts['folder']) . '">';
    $output .= '<input type="submit" value="Search" style="margin-left: 10px; padding: 8px; border: 1px solid #ccc;">';
    
    // Add the Clear Search button
    if (isset($_GET['search_term']) && !empty($_GET['search_term'])) {
        $output .= '<input type="button" value="Clear Search" onclick="location.href=\'' . esc_url(remove_query_arg('search_term')) . '\'">';
    }

    $output .= '</div>';
    $output .= '</form>';

    // Start the HTML output for the list of files
    $output .= '<ul class="files-list">';

    // Loop through the files of the current page
    foreach ($files_current_page as $file) {
        // Build the complete URL for the file
        $file_url = site_url($atts['folder'] . '/' . $file);

        // Add a list item for each matching file
        $output .= '<li><i class="fas fa-file"></i><a href="' . esc_url($file_url) . '">' . $file . '</a></li>';
    }

    // Close the list
    $output .= '</ul>';

    // Add page navigation
    if ($total_pages > 1) {
        $output .= '<div class="pagination">';
        for ($i = 1; $i <= $total_pages; $i++) {
            $output .= '<a href="' . esc_url(add_query_arg('page', $i)) . '" ' . ($i == $current_page ? 'class="current-page"' : '') . '>' . $i . '</a>';
        }
        $output .= '</div>';
    }

    // Add a message if no files are found
    if (empty($files_current_page) && !empty($search_term)) {
        $output .= '<p>No files found.</p>';
    }

    // Return the generated output
    return $output;
}

// Register the shortcode
add_shortcode('list_files', 'list_files_shortcode');

Thank you all.

UPDATE: This is the code I used to try and implement AJAX:

// Add necessary scripts and styles
function list_files_scripts() {
    wp_enqueue_script('ajax-script', get_template_directory_uri() . '/js/ajax-script.js', array('jquery'), '1.0', true);
    wp_localize_script('ajax-script', 'ajax_object', array('ajax_url' => admin_url('admin-ajax.php')));
}

add_action('wp_enqueue_scripts', 'list_files_scripts');

// Function to list files
function list_files_shortcode($atts) {
    $atts = shortcode_atts(
        array(
            'folder' => 'wp-content/uploads/2023/11',
        ),
        $atts,
        'list_files'
    );

    $output = '';

    $output .= '<p class="folder-name" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;">Current Folder Name: ' . basename(ABSPATH . $atts['folder']) . '</p>';
    $output .= '<p class="folder-name" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;">Parent Folder Name: ' . basename(dirname(ABSPATH . $atts['folder'])) . '</p>';

    $output .= '<form action="" method="post" class="list-files-form" style="margin-top: 20px; padding: 10px; border: 1px solid #ccc;">';
    $output .= '<div style="display: flex; align-items: center;">';
    $output .= '<input type="hidden" name="action" value="list_files_ajax">';
    $output .= '<input type="hidden" name="folder" value="' . esc_attr($atts['folder']) . '">';
    $output .= '<input type="text" name="search_term" placeholder="Enter file name" value="' . esc_attr(isset($_POST['search_term']) ? $_POST['search_term'] : '') . '" style="flex: 1; padding: 8px; border: 1px solid #ccc;">';
    $output .= '<input type="submit" value="Search" style="margin-left: 10px; padding: 8px; border: 1px solid #ccc;">';

    if (isset($_POST['search_term']) && !empty($_POST['search_term'])) {
        $output .= '<input type="button" value="Clear Search" onclick="location.href=\'' . esc_url(remove_query_arg('search_term')) . '\'">';
    }

    $output .= '</div>';
    $output .= '</form>';

    $output .= '<div class="files-list"></div>';

    return $output;
}

add_shortcode('list_files', 'list_files_shortcode');

// Function to process AJAX request
add_action('wp_ajax_list_files_ajax', 'list_files_ajax_callback');
add_action('wp_ajax_nopriv_list_files_ajax', 'list_files_ajax_callback');

function list_files_ajax_callback() {
    $folder = isset($_POST['folder']) ? sanitize_text_field($_POST['folder']) : '';
    $search_term = isset($_POST['search_term']) ? sanitize_text_field($_POST['search_term']) : '';

    // Get the list of files with the helper function
    $files = get_files_list($folder, $search_term);

    // Output the list of files (HTML)
    echo '<ul class="files-list">';
    foreach ($files as $file) {
        $file_url = site_url($folder . '/' . $file);
        echo '<li><i class="fas fa-file"></i><a href="' . esc_url($file_url) . '">' . $file . '</a></li>';
    }
    echo '</ul>';

    wp_die(); // Important to terminate execution after AJAX output
}

// Helper function to get the list of files
function get_files_list($folder, $search_term) {
    $absolute_folder_path = ABSPATH . $folder;

    if (!is_dir($absolute_folder_path)) {
        return array();
    }

    $files = scandir($absolute_folder_path);

    $filtered_files = array_filter($files, function ($file) use ($search_term) {
        return $file != "." && $file != ".." && (empty($search_term) || stripos($file, $search_term) !== false);
    });

    return $filtered_files;
}

Then I created an AJAX script in my theme's folder (theme folder/js/ajax-script.js):

jQuery(document).ready(function ($) {
    // Intercept form submission
    $('form').submit(function () {
        var form = $(this);

        // Make an AJAX request
        $.ajax({
            type: form.attr('method'),
            url: form.attr('action'),
            data: form.serialize(),
            success: function (response) {
                // Update the list of files without reloading the page
                $('.files-list').html(response);
            }
        });

        // Prevent the default form submission
        return false;
    });
});