Error while sending array in array using AJAX

Question

I am trying to pass an array in an array via ajax. If I do not pass in the additional array, it works just fine.

For example:

var settings = [];
// add stuff to the array

$.ajax({
    type: 'POST',
    url: "api/update-settings",
    data: {
        userId: 1,
        userSettings: settings
    },
    done: function(response) {
        //do something with the response
    },
    fail: function() {
        // do error stuff
    }
});

Sending this will not work. The API (in PHP) gets the code and is able to tell me what userId is, but userSettings is not defined.

Notice: Undefined index: userSettings in /api/update-settings.php on line 9

However, if I set the settings variable as a different data type (such as an int or string), the index is no longer undefined.

Within the PHP, when I dump request to see what's in it, userSettings is not found:

var_dump($_REQUEST);
Output: array(1) { ["userId"]=> string(1) "1" }

I'm adding items to my array using settings['template'] = template;

Before I submit the ajax request, I can console log it and I get this:

[p: "setting1", s: 1587, emp: "setting2", ems: 3245, template: "", …]

which contains all data that I need.

I tried to stringify the data with JSON.stringify(settings) but then ajax passes an empty array:

array(2) { ["userId"]=> string(1) "1" ["userSettings"]=> string(2) "[]" }

I feel like this is something simple, but I can't figure it out. And yes, I've done my searches - I've found similar things, but none of the responses seem to help.

Thank you, in advance.

Can you verify that you are actually sending all of the data via the network tab? Check this out stackoverflow.com/a/21617685/2191572 and find your "Request Headers". It's also possible that you are having cache issues or you are testing the completely wrong page. — MonkeyZeus
– MonkeyZeus, Commented Nov 8, 2018 at 19:32
Are you sure you're actually "adding stuff to the (settings) array"? Because if you're not, I'm pretty sure it won't send anything for an empty userSettings array in the request's body. — Jeto
– Jeto, Commented Nov 8, 2018 at 19:38
@MonkeyZeus - Well, if I change the variable to NOT be an array, it sends, so I am assuming it's sending. — Apolymoxic
– Apolymoxic, Commented Nov 8, 2018 at 19:53
@Jeto Yes, I am sure. If I do a console.log I get the full array filled with the correct data. — Apolymoxic
– Apolymoxic, Commented Nov 8, 2018 at 19:54
@Jeto is correct anyways, jQuery will not send an empty array like that. You can verify by doing var settings = [ 'yay something!' ]; instead — MonkeyZeus
– MonkeyZeus, Commented Nov 8, 2018 at 20:01

Jeto · Accepted Answer · 2018-11-08 20:11:10Z

2

Considering the way you're adding values to your settings variable, what you want to manipulate/send is an object, not an array.

You need to change your declaration from:

var settings = [];

to:

var settings = {};

edited Nov 8, 2018 at 20:11

answered Nov 8, 2018 at 20:10

Jeto

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1 Comment

Apolymoxic Over a year ago

That's it. I knew it was something simple. Thank you!

Angel Tabares · Accepted Answer · 2018-11-08 19:52:02Z

0

Have you tried serializing the array? You can find this approach here, here and here.

so it could end up like

var settings = [];
// add stuff to the array

$.ajax({
    type: 'POST',
    url: "api/update-settings",
    data: {
        userId: 1,
        userSettings: JSON.stringify(settings);//here is the change
    },
    done: function(response) {
        //do something with the response
    },
    fail: function() {
        // do error stuff
    }
});

hope this helps.

answered Nov 8, 2018 at 19:52

Angel Tabares

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1 Comment

Apolymoxic Over a year ago

I tried that, too. It does send more, but only a blank array. I'll add this in my question

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