JavaScript POST request example
RELATED TUTORIAL: PHP, MySQL and AJAX CRUD Tutorial – Step by Step Guide!
This post will show you JavaScript POST request examples. This is useful if you want to submit a form using HTML and JavaScript.
A PHP file will receive the posted data and print the response.
I think this is one of the most useful code when you’re coding with jQuery, especially if you’re building a web app with modules that deals with so many forms or post request on one page.
Why use jQuery for AJAX requests?
I think it is to make things easier, have shorter more readable code. You can see some code examples of doing an AJAX request without jQuery here and here.
As you can see on those links, some tasks include creating a catch for different browser XMLHttpRequest, opening the URL, checking if the request is in a ready state, and setting the request header.
jQuery solves this by having a short, more readable syntax.
Let’s code!
Alright, now we’ll get straight to the code examples. We’re gonna have three examples below, continue to read!
jQuery post form data using .ajax() method
This is a great way to show someone that you are now an AJAX programmer. Because of this .ajax() piece of code in your HTML page, you may now face the world with confidence and with a beautiful smile on your face.
Just kidding. But seriously, this piece of code is useful.
<html>
<head>
<title>jQuery post form data using .ajax() method by codeofaninja.com</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>jQuery post form data using .ajax() method</h1>
<div>Fill out and submit the form below to get response.</div>
<!-- our form -->
<form id='userForm'>
<div><input type='text' name='firstname' placeholder='Firstname' /></div>
<div><input type='text' name='lastname' placeholder='Lastname' /></div>
<div><input type='text' name='email' placeholder='Email' /></div>
<div><input type='submit' value='Submit' /></div>
</form>
<!-- where the response will be displayed -->
<div id='response'></div>
<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.7.1/jquery.min.js "></script>
<script>
$(document).ready(function(){
$('#userForm').submit(function(){
// show that something is loading
$('#response').html("<b>Loading response...</b>");
/*
* 'post_receiver.php' - where you will pass the form data
* $(this).serialize() - to easily read form data
* function(data){... - data contains the response from post_receiver.php
*/
$.ajax({
type: 'POST',
url: 'post_receiver.php',
data: $(this).serialize()
})
.done(function(data){
// show the response
$('#response').html(data);
})
.fail(function() {
// just in case posting your form failed
alert( "Posting failed." );
});
// to prevent refreshing the whole page page
return false;
});
});
</script>
</body>
</html>
jQuery post form data using .post() method
.post() method has a more descriptive syntax, it is a shorthand of .ajax() method above. See how it was commonly used with the code below:
<html>
<head>
<title>jQuery post form data using .post() method by codeofaninja.com</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>jQuery post form data using .post() method</h1>
<div>Fill out and submit the form below to get response.</div>
<!-- our form -->
<form id='userForm'>
<div><input type='text' name='firstname' placeholder='Firstname' /></div>
<div><input type='text' name='lastname' placeholder='Lastname' /></div>
<div><input type='text' name='email' placeholder='Email' /></div>
<div><input type='submit' value='Submit' /></div>
</form>
<!-- where the response will be displayed -->
<div id='response'></div>
<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.7.1/jquery.min.js "></script>
<script>
$(document).ready(function(){
$('#userForm').submit(function(){
// show that something is loading
$('#response').html("<b>Loading response...</b>");
/*
* 'post_receiver.php' - where you will pass the form data
* $(this).serialize() - to easily read form data
* function(data){... - data contains the response from post_receiver.php
*/
$.post('post_receiver.php', $(this).serialize(), function(data){
// show the response
$('#response').html(data);
}).fail(function() {
// just in case posting your form failed
alert( "Posting failed." );
});
// to prevent refreshing the whole page page
return false;
});
});
</script>
</body>
</html>
jQuery post JSON data using .post() method
Sometimes you don’t want to post data from an HTML form. You can do it by creating a JSON string, and here’s how you’ll be able to post it.
<html>
<head>
<title>jQuery post JSON data using .post() method by codeofaninja.com</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>jQuery post JSON data using .post() method</h1>
<div>Click the button below to get response.</div>
<!-- our form -->
<input type='button' value='Post JSON' id='postJson' />
<!-- where the response will be displayed -->
<div id='response'></div>
<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.7.1/jquery.min.js "></script>
<script>
$(document).ready(function(){
$('#postJson').click(function(){
// show that something is loading
$('#response').html("<b>Loading response...</b>");
/*
* 'post_receiver.php' - where you will pass the form data
* $(this).serialize() - to easily read form data
* function(data){... - data contains the response from post_receiver.php
*/
$.post('post_receiver.php', { user_id: "143", username: "ninjazhai", website: "https://codeofaninja.com/" }, function(data){
// show the response
$('#response').html(data);
}).fail(function() {
// just in case posting your form failed
alert( "Posting failed." );
});
// to prevent refreshing the whole page page
return false;
});
});
</script>
</body>
</html>
Posting a JSON string using the .ajax() method is also possible, you can just replace the serialize() part with your JSON string.
Posted Data
Where did the posted data go? To the file where you want the posted data to be processed! But in our example, we just print the posted data. post_receiver.php has the following code
<?php
echo "<pre>";
print_r($_POST);
echo "</pre>";
?>
Download Source Code
You can download all the code used in this tutorial for only $9.99 $5.55!
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If you want to learn how to create, read, update and delete data with AJAX, go ahead and learn from our AJAX CRUD Tutorial Using jQuery, JSON and PHP – Step by Step Guide!.
Related Tutorials
Thank you for learning our post about jQuery AJAX Post Example with PHP and JSON!
RELATED TUTORIAL: PHP, MySQL and AJAX CRUD Tutorial – Step by Step Guide!
Hi! I'm Mike Dalisay, the co-founder of codeofaninja.com, a site that helps you build web applications with PHP and JavaScript. Need support? Comment below or contact [email protected]
I'm also passionate about technology and enjoy sharing my experience and learnings online. Connect with me on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.