How to send both the selected value and text from a dropdown using jQuery's serializeArray()

Learn how to effectively use jQuery's `serializeArray()` to capture both selected values and texts from dropdowns in forms. This guide gives a step-by-step guide with practical examples.
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Sending Both Selected Value and Text from a Dropdown with jQuery

When creating forms in a web application, especially with dynamic dropdowns, you might often find the need to not just send the selected value but also the corresponding text associated with that value. This is especially true if you are working with frameworks like Laravel and utilizing AJAX for form submission. In this guide, we'll explore a common issue when using jQuery's serializeArray() and how to efficiently capture both the selected value and its associated text.

The Problem

Consider a scenario where you have a form containing text inputs and a dropdown menu (select element). You want to send data through AJAX, retrieving both the selected user ID and the name of that user. While serialize() is great for gathering values, serializeArray() comes into play when you need to manipulate form data in a more granular way, such as sending it to a function for tracking purposes. However, simply using these methods alone might cause you to lose the selected text from your dropdown.

Example HTML Structure

Here's an example form structure we are working with:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

The Solution

To solve this issue, we can extend our AJAX success function to also include the selected text from the dropdown in addition to the serialized values. The approach below will show you how to do this effectively.

Step-by-Step Implementation

Submit the Form with AJAX: We'll submit the form using jQuery's easyAjax method.

Capture Serialized Data: After a successful AJAX request, capture the serialized data using serializeArray().

Add Selected Text to the Data Object: Iterate through the serialized data, and for any entry that includes _id, fetch the associated text and add it to our data object.

Here's the complete code:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Explanation of the Code Changes

$.map(): This method is used to iterate over the serialized array. For each item, we populate a new object with the values.

Dynamic Key Naming: For every user ID in the form, we dynamically generate a key ending in _name to store the corresponding text.

Efficient Data Handling: By assembling a new object (form_data_obj) that contains both the ID and its name, you ensure the data is well-structured for further processing (like storing in the database or sending for tracking).

Conclusion

By following the steps outlined above, you can effectively send both the selected value and the associated text from a dropdown in your web forms using jQuery's serializeArray(). This method not only simplifies data handling but also enhances the communication between your front-end and back-end services. Start implementing this in your projects today, and simplify the way you manage form data!