jQuery: Return javascript array from Ajax-callback

Question

I am trying to get a Ajax-call made from jQuery to return a JavaScript array generated by PHP, but can't get it accessible. Here is what I am doing:

I run the following code onLoad: $(function() { jQuery.ajax({ url: 'retrieve.php', success: function(data) { }, async: false }, "script");
retrieve.php returns the following (retrieve.php does the formatting, and echoes it out): var data = { "info" : [{ "title": "Title", "description": "Description" }], "playlist" : [ { "title": "In This Place", "subTitle": "Excalibur", "href": "http://localhost/manger/ny/#desemberkonsert_in-this-place", "url": "../flv/desemberkonsert/21_in_this_place.flv", "thumbnail": "../flv/desemberkonsert/21_in_this_place_thumbnail.png", "time": "5:39" }, { "title": "Black Hole", "subTitle": "Excalibur", "href": "http://localhost/manger/ny/#desemberkonsert_black-hole", "url": "../flv/desemberkonsert/22_black_hole.flv", "thumbnail": "../flv/desemberkonsert/22_black_hole_thumbnail.png", "time": "4:26" }] }
I then try to access this code using for example: $("#placeholder").text(data.playlist[0]["title"]);
This returns as "undefined"

The array does work when I copy and paste it directly onto the file, but when returned as a callback it fails. How do I access the returned array?

Why not return this as JSON? Additionally your PHP is going to have to set the appropriate content-type header — jerluc
– jerluc, Commented Feb 5, 2011 at 19:47
I tried switching it to json in the ajax-call (also removed 'var data = ' from retrieve.php), which content-type would I set it to? Is there a specific one for json? — OleVik
– OleVik, Commented Feb 5, 2011 at 20:39

Dan Grossman · Accepted Answer · 2011-02-05 19:46:08Z

1

You should return just the object, not a string of JavaScript which assigns the object to a name. That's NOT a JSON response.

Your code which uses the object should be in the success handler of the ajax call, not separate code somewhere else.

answered Feb 5, 2011 at 19:46

Dan Grossman

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3 Comments

OleVik Over a year ago

I removed the 'var data = ' part of it, and moved my $("#placeholder").text(data.playlist[0]["title"]); code into the callback (also told the ajax call to return "json"). It does still return "undefined" however, what is going wrong?

Dan Grossman Over a year ago

Time to learn to use a javascript debugger, like firebug or the developer tools built into chrome/ie.

OleVik Over a year ago

I am using Firebug, and the "data" response from retrieve.php is valid enough, but I still cannot access it within the callback (as for example $("#placeholder").text(data.playlist[0]["title"]);)

Pan Thomakos · Accepted Answer · 2011-02-05 19:47:03Z

0

You probably need to access your data with the [] notation, and not the . object notation:

data["playlist"][0]["title"]

answered Feb 5, 2011 at 19:47

Pan Thomakos

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1 Comment

OleVik Over a year ago

This appears to make no difference in regards to results, both will return "undefined".

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