Convert Javascript serialize to Javascript object

Question

I have a textarea with an id of 'dataArrayField' which has code in it, example:

item1: {
    type: 'foo',
    fieldName: 'bar'}
},
item2: {
    type: 'cat',
    fieldName: 'dog'
}

I then run var content = $('#dataArrayField').serialize(); on this textarea, which has a nem of codeformat, so the returned data would be something like:

codeFormat=item1%3a+ etc etc

I then use the $.deparam(content) Javascript plugin to turn the serialized string to an object.

This works, however, the only key that actually is returned, is the codeFormat name, then the value is the text in the field above, so I get something like this:

enter image description here

What can I do so that I can access all the information in the passed object!

@ShannonHochkins I don't think so, you can serialize a form but not a textarea, just take a look at your html — Oscar Jara
– Oscar Jara, Commented Jun 18, 2014 at 3:03
You can definitely serialize a textarea..... @OscarJara, its working, and that's what I'm doing? — Shannon Hochkins
– Shannon Hochkins, Commented Jun 18, 2014 at 3:20
@OscarJara, api.jquery.com/serialize, you can definitely serialize textareas. — Shannon Hochkins
– Shannon Hochkins, Commented Jun 18, 2014 at 3:34

Bemmu · Accepted Answer · 2014-06-18 02:54:08Z

2

If you have a string which represents a javascript object and want to create an actual object from that, one option would be to use eval.

var str = "item1: {type: 'foo',fieldName: 'bar'},item2: {type: 'cat',fieldName: 'dog'}";
var obj = eval('({' + str + '})');
alert(obj.item1.type); // foo!

If a user can enter text that is later displayed to other users, this is probably not a very secure thing to do.

answered Jun 18, 2014 at 2:54

Bemmu

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1 Comment

PeterKA Over a year ago

It would be safer to use JSON.parse()

PeterKA · Accepted Answer · 2014-06-18 03:39:49Z

1

You can either put a valid JSON string in the textarea such as

{"item1":{"type":"foo","fieldName":"bar"},"item2":{"type":"cat","fieldName":"dog"}}

or you can use regular expressions as in THIS WORKING DEMO to clean it up before applying JSON.parse(). As @jibsales has already pointed out, do not use eval():

$(function() {
    var val = $('#dataArrayField').val().replace(/[\s']/g,'').replace(/(\w+)/g,'"$1"');
    val = '{' + val.replace(/\}\},/g,'},') + '}';
    console.log( JSON.parse(val) );
});

answered Jun 18, 2014 at 3:39

PeterKA

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1 Comment

Shannon Hochkins Over a year ago

I Changed this to the accepted answer as everyone is saying do not use eval.

srquinn · Accepted Answer · 2014-06-18 03:08:29Z

1

Eval is evil. Consider using JSON.serialize() and JSON.parse() instead. The objects entered in the text area will have to be valid JSON but it is much more secure.

answered Jun 18, 2014 at 3:08

srquinn

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