jQuery ajax-- returning data to calling function

Question

I've written a simple generic ajax function that can be called by multiple functions in my script. I'm not sure how to get the data returned to the ajax function back to the caller.

// some function that needs ajax data
function myFunction(invoice) {
    // pass the invoice data to the ajax function
    var result = doAjaxRequest(invoice, 'invoice');
    console.dir(result); // this shows `undefined`
}

// build generic ajax request object
function doAjaxRequest(data, task) {
    var myurl = 'http://someurl';
    $.ajax({
        url: myurl + '?task=' + task,
        data: data,
        type: 'POST',
        success: function(data) {
            console.dir(data); // this shows good data as expected  
            return data; // this never gets back to the calling function
        }
    });
}

Is there a way to return the ajax data to the calling function?

No. The calling function has finished running before the AJAX call is even initiated. You could make it synchronous... but then it's not AJAX. — TheZ
– TheZ, Commented Oct 10, 2012 at 22:44
Couldn't he pass a (possibly anonymous) callback function to the doAjaxRequest function and then invoke it from the success closure? — Kevin Boucher
– Kevin Boucher, Commented Oct 10, 2012 at 22:45
@TheZ-- crap-- obvious now. Thanks for the help with a dumb question! — julio
– julio, Commented Oct 10, 2012 at 22:46
@KevinBoucher He could, but that wouldn't be passing it back to the calling function as a return. That would be a callback. — TheZ
– TheZ, Commented Oct 10, 2012 at 22:46
@Z: agreed, but it might be a solution to his overall issue. — Kevin Boucher
– Kevin Boucher, Commented Oct 10, 2012 at 22:53

Brigham · Accepted Answer · 2012-10-10 22:48:11Z

$.ajax is asynchronous, so in order to get the data back you will need to pass a callback to your doAjaxRequest function. I've added a callback parameter to doAjaxRequest and instead of using the result of doAjaxRequest the code that handles the response is in the callback function.

// some function that needs ajax data
function myFunction(invoice) {
    // pass the invoice data to the ajax function
    doAjaxRequest(invoice, 'invoice', function (result) { 
        console.dir(result);
    });
}

// build generic ajax request object
function doAjaxRequest(data, task, callback) {
    var myurl = 'http://someurl';
    $.ajax({
        url: myurl + '?task=' + task,
        data: data,
        type: 'POST',
        success: function(data) {
            console.dir(data); // this shows good data as expected  
            callback(data);
        }
    });
}

Raja Ram T · Accepted Answer · 2014-05-26 13:39:58Z

-1

i think help full to you this example

function testAjax() {
    var result="";
    $.ajax({
      url:"getvalue.php",
      async: false,  
      success:function(data) {
         result = data; 
      }
   });
   return result;
}

function fun2()
{

alert(testajax())

}

you notice one thing async: false

answered May 26, 2014 at 13:39

Raja Ram T

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