jquery.serializefullarray.js

/*!
 * jQuery serializeFullArray - v0.1 - 28/06/2010
 * http://github.com/jhogendorn/jQuery-serializeFullArray/
 *
 * Copyright (c) 2010 Joshua Hogendorn
 *
 *
 * Whereas .serializeArray() serializes a form into a key:pair array, .serializeFullArray()
 * builds it into a n-tier object, respecting form input arrays.
 *
 */

(function($){
	'$:nomunge'; // Used by YUI compressor.

	$.fn.serializeFullArray = function () {
		// Grab a set of name:value pairs from the form dom.
		var set = $(this).serializeArray();
		var output = {};

		for (var field in set)
		{
			if(!set.hasOwnProperty(field)) continue;

			// Split up the field names into array tiers
			var parts = set[field].name
				.split(/\]|\[/);

			// Start ref out at the root of the output object
			var ref = output;

			for (var segment in parts)
			{
				if(parts[segment] == '') continue;
				if(!parts.hasOwnProperty(segment)) continue;

				// set key for ease of use.
				var key = parts[segment];
				var value = {};

				// If we're at the last part, the value comes from the original array.
				if (segment == parts.length - 1)
				{
					var value = set[field].value;
				}

				// Create a throwaway object to merge into output.
				var objNew = {};
				objNew[key] = value;

				// Extend output with our temp object at the depth specified by ref.
				$.extend(true, ref, objNew);

				// Reassign ref to point to this tier, so the next loop can extend it.
				ref = ref[key];
			}
		}

		return output;
	};
})(jQuery);