Codeigniter - array of json objects in post

Question

In fire bug I view my jquery post request parameters, its like this

adults            1
applicants[]    [object Object]
attendees   1
children    0

In this post request the array called applicants contains json object which I want ti iterate over and pull out values in my codeigniter controller. The json string may look like this

({attendees:"2", 
  adults:"2", 
  children:"0", 
  grptype:"2", 
  'applicants[]':[{firstname:"John", lastname:"Doe", age:"33", allergies:"true", diabetic:"true",    lactose:"false", note:"nuts"}, {firstname:"Jane", lastname:"Doe", age:"34", allergies:"true", diabetic:"false", lactose:"false", note:"pollen"}]
})

Look at the applicants[] above, see I have info for two people as a json object. I am not sure how access the data in my controller. see this

$applicants = $this->input->post('applicants');
$this->output->append_output("<br/>Here: " . $applicants[0].firstname );

I was thinking $applicants[0] woild refer to the json object and I could just pull outs values on demand. Not sure hat I am doing wrong. Thanks guys.

EDIT So I have adjusted my json and it looks like this

adults  2
applicants[]    {firstname:"John", lastname:"Doe", age:"23", allergies:"true", diabetic:"true", lactose:"false", note:"nuts"}
applicants[]    {firstname:"Jane", lastname:"Doe", age:"23", allergies:"false", diabetic:"false", lactose:"false", note:""}
attendees   2
children    0

Now I am still getting an error saying

**Message: json_decode() expects parameter 1 to be string, array given**

Any ideas ?

EDIT 2

Ok mu data now liiks like this

adults  1
applicants[]    {"firstname": "John", "lastname": "Doe", "age": "34", "allergies": "true", "diabetic": "true", "lactose": "false", "note": "nuts"}
attendees   1
children    0

In the controller id did this

$applications = $this->input->post('applicants');
foreach ( $applications as $item)
{
  $item = json_decode($item, true);  
  $this->output->append_output(print_r($item));
}

This is the result of that logic

Array
(
    [firstname] => John
    [lastname] => Doe
    [age] => 34
    [allergies] => true
    [diabetic] => true
    [lactose] => false
    [note] => nuts
)

Not sure what I am doing wrong, no matter what I do to access the dater I get an error to the effect that I cannot access it like that. How do I pull out the values ?

That you see [object Object] in the POST, means that is exactly what is going to be sent to the server - a string [object Object]. How are you creating the post data? — xiankai
– xiankai, Commented Sep 29, 2013 at 3:15
I have two forms in a widard and befor submit I create the json for each form and merge the json objects with jquery extend(). Then I send with jquert $.post(bla bla bla). Are t=you saing to send it accress as a string and not an object ? — Faiyet
– Faiyet, Commented Sep 29, 2013 at 10:54
Yes, you should convert the javascript object to a JSON string first and then send that string instead. Then, decode the JSON string on the server as @Sheikh Herra pointed out. — xiankai
– xiankai, Commented Sep 29, 2013 at 11:05
Can't believe I am so dumb, I used $item['firstname'] to pull out the value . Thanks guys for the guidance. — Faiyet
– Faiyet, Commented Sep 30, 2013 at 13:05

The Alpha · Accepted Answer · 2013-10-01 00:30:28Z

3

You have to decode it on the server using

$applications = json_decode($this->input->post('applicants'), true);

So, it'll become an associative array and you can use it like an array, without the second argument (true) in json_decode the json will be converted to an object. Until you decode it, it's only a string (json/java script object notation string).

Update: Since it's already an array of objects then you don't need to use json_decode, just loop the array in your view like

foreach($applicants as $item)
{
     echo $item->firstname . '<br />';
     echo $item->lastname . '<br />';
     // ...
}

According to the edit 2 it should be access as an array

echo $item['firstname'] . '<br />'

edited Oct 1, 2013 at 0:30

answered Sep 29, 2013 at 2:10

The Alpha

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3 Comments

Faiyet Over a year ago

I keep getting an error that json_decode needs a string and I am giving it an array. I did a print_r and it just out put "object Object". I am sending an array of json objects, should that array be strings instead ?

The Alpha Over a year ago

@Binaryrespawn, then you don't need to use json_decode, it's already an array of objects, just loop it.

Faiyet Over a year ago

I adjusted my json string as outlined by EDIT 2 above. And used php array notation instead of object notation like $items['firstname'] to pull out the values. that works. Thanks for the assist.

sharif2008 · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-29 02:23:28Z

0

try this plz

$applicants = $this->input->post('applicants');
$json_output = json_decode($applicants );
foreach ( $json_output as $person)
{
  $this->output->append_output("<br/>Here: " . $person->firstname );
}

or

$json_output = json_decode($applicants,TRUE );
echo $json_output[0][firstname] ;

edited Sep 29, 2013 at 2:23

answered Sep 29, 2013 at 2:05

sharif2008

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