.serializeArray()


.serializeArray()Returns: Array

Description: Encode a set of form elements as an array of names and values.

The .serializeArray() method creates a JavaScript array of objects, ready to be encoded as a JSON string. It operates on a jQuery collection of forms and/or form controls. The controls can be of several types:

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<form>
<div><input type="text" name="a" value="1" id="a"></div>
<div><input type="text" name="b" value="2" id="b"></div>
<div><input type="hidden" name="c" value="3" id="c"></div>
<div>
<textarea name="d" rows="8" cols="40">4</textarea>
</div>
<div><select name="e">
<option value="5" selected="selected">5</option>
<option value="6">6</option>
<option value="7">7</option>
</select></div>
<div>
<input type="checkbox" name="f" value="8" id="f">
</div>
<div>
<input type="submit" name="g" value="Submit" id="g">
</div>
</form>

The .serializeArray() method uses the standard W3C rules for successful controls to determine which elements it should include; in particular the element cannot be disabled and must contain a name attribute. No submit button value is serialized since the form was not submitted using a button. Data from file select elements is not serialized. Elements that do not contain a value attribute are represented with the empty string value.

This method can act on a jQuery object that has selected individual form controls, such as <input>, <textarea>, and <select>. However, it is typically easier to select the <form> element itself for serialization:

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$( "form" ).submit(function( event ) {
console.log( $( this ).serializeArray() );
event.preventDefault();
});

This produces the following data structure (provided that the browser supports console.log):

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[
{
name: "a",
value: "1"
},
{
name: "b",
value: "2"
},
{
name: "c",
value: "3"
},
{
name: "d",
value: "4"
},
{
name: "e",
value: "5"
}
]

Example:

Get the values from a form, iterate through them, and append them to a results display.

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<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<title>serializeArray demo</title>
<style>
body, select {
font-size: 14px;
}
form {
margin: 5px;
}
p {
color: red;
margin: 5px;
}
b {
color: blue;
}
</style>
<script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-1.10.2.js"></script>
</head>
<body>
<p><b>Results:</b> <span id="results"></span></p>
<form>
<select name="single">
<option>Single</option>
<option>Single2</option>
</select>
<select name="multiple" multiple="multiple">
<option selected="selected">Multiple</option>
<option>Multiple2</option>
<option selected="selected">Multiple3</option>
</select>
<br>
<input type="checkbox" name="check" value="check1" id="ch1">
<label for="ch1">check1</label>
<input type="checkbox" name="check" value="check2" checked="checked" id="ch2">
<label for="ch2">check2</label>
<input type="radio" name="radio" value="radio1" checked="checked" id="r1">
<label for="r1">radio1</label>
<input type="radio" name="radio" value="radio2" id="r2">
<label for="r2">radio2</label>
</form>
<script>
function showValues() {
var fields = $( ":input" ).serializeArray();
$( "#results" ).empty();
jQuery.each( fields, function( i, field ) {
$( "#results" ).append( field.value + " " );
});
}
$( ":checkbox, :radio" ).click( showValues );
$( "select" ).change( showValues );
showValues();
</script>
</body>
</html>

Demo: