jQuery ajax doesn't send array

Question

I'm trying to send some data in an Array via AJAX to save it to the database, I build the array this way:

$( "#saveordering" ).button().click(function( event ) {
            event.preventDefault();

            var data = document.getElementById('tabs');
            var categories = data.getElementsByTagName("div");
            var categoryArray = new Array();

            for (var i=0; i < categories.length; i++) { //Loop door de categoriëen
                var category = categories[i];
                var categoryId = category.getAttribute('id');

                categoryArray[i] = new Array();

                categoryArray[i]['id'] = categoryId;
                categoryArray[i]['forums'] = new Array();

                var forums = category.getElementsByTagName("li");
                for (var j=0; j < forums.length; j++) { //Loop door de forums
                    var forum = forums[j];
                    var forumId = forum.getAttribute('id');
                    categoryArray[i]['forums'][j] = new Array();
                    categoryArray[i]['forums'][j]['id'] = forumId;
                }
            }
            $.ajax({
                type: 'POST',
                url: "ajax/updateboardorder.php",
                dataType: 'json',
                data: {ldelim}"categories" : categoryArray{rdelim} ,
                success: function(data) {
                }
            }); 
        });

But nothing is send, when I do a var_dump($_POST) in PHP I'm getting:

array (size=0) empty

What am I doing wrong?

data: {ldelim}"categories" : categoryArray{rdelim} <- does that look valid to you ? — adeneo
– adeneo, Commented May 9, 2013 at 18:41
@adeneo Yes {ldelim} and {rdelim} will be replaced by { and } , it's because I'm using the Smarty framework — Kaj
– Kaj, Commented May 9, 2013 at 18:42
@LeeMeador - from my experience jQuery has no problem with complicated objects as long they are valid and properly structured. jQuery does convert the objects to strings anyway, but I have never had an issue with this, and I've sent the strangest things with ajax. — adeneo
– adeneo, Commented May 9, 2013 at 19:24
This is related: stackoverflow.com/questions/8698770/… and be sure to follow the "dupe" link at the top and read that one too. — Lee Meador
– Lee Meador, Commented May 9, 2013 at 19:30

epascarello · Accepted Answer · 2013-05-09 18:42:30Z

4

Look at this code

categoryArray[i] = new Array();
categoryArray[i]['id'] = categoryId;
categoryArray[i]['forums'**strong text**

Um, that is not an "array", you are making an associative array

categoryArray[i] = {};
categoryArray[i]['id'] = categoryId;
categoryArray[i]['forums'] = {};

or

categoryArray[i] = {
    "id" : categoryId,
    "forums" : {}
};

You want an object. Same where you do it later in the code with forums.

answered May 9, 2013 at 18:42

epascarello

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2 Comments

adeneo Over a year ago

But the array will still get built, and should be sent to the server, even if an object is what should be used ?

Ian Over a year ago

@adeneo But using an array and ['id'] will set a property, and won't be sent in the request

Rick Viscomi · Accepted Answer · 2013-05-09 19:19:48Z

-1

This is what's going on to your array:

var a = new Array();
a['id'] = 123;

JSON.stringify(a); // []
a; // []
a.length; // 0

a.id; // 123

You are trying to use the array like a primitive object:

var o = {};
o.id = 123;

JSON.stringify(o); // {"id":123}

edited May 9, 2013 at 19:19

answered May 9, 2013 at 18:50

Rick Viscomi

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