Send data to json file using jquery/ajax and php

Question

I'm having some trouble writing to a JSON file using ajax/jQuery along with PHP. The code I have currently is:

jQuery

 var object = {
    name: 'John',
    occupation: 'Lawyer'
}

$(".testing-php").click(function () {
    $.ajax({
        type: 'POST',
        data: {params:object},
        url: 'details.php',
        success: function (data) {
        console.log(object);
        alert('success');
        },
        error: function () {
            alert('error');
        }
    });

This part seems to be working correctly as the console.log statement correctly displays - {"name":"John","occupation":"Lawyer"}

My PHP file is currently like this:

      <?php
var_dump($_POST);
if (isset($_POST['params']) && strlen($_POST['params'])) {
    $params = $_POST['params'];
    $jsonObject = json_encode($params);
    if (is_writable('js/details.json')) {
        file_put_contents('js/details.json', $jsonObject);
        echo "success";
    } else {
        echo "file is not writable, check permissions";
    }
} else {
    echo "invalid params";
}
?>

Finally, the current JSON file looks like this:

{
"name": "Neil",
"occupation": "web developer"
}

Update

This is the information which the var_dump($_POST) displays. Along with the message .invalid params'.

array(1) {
  ["params"]=>
  array(2) {
  ["name"]=>
string(4) "John"
["occupation"]=>
string(6) "Lawyer"
}
}
invalid params

The AJAX request parameters are on two different rows and are displayed as

params[name]:"John"

params[occupation]:"Lawyer"

I am simply hardcoding values at the moment until I get the process working. Can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong here as the JSON file isn't being written to?

Many thanks

definitely something wrong, John the Lawyer is being written to file as Neil the Web Developer.... :-) — Billy
– Billy, Commented Nov 25, 2015 at 22:40
that's just some json that i put in the file to be replaced by the new json being written to it — Neil K
– Neil K, Commented Nov 25, 2015 at 22:43
i know, just kidding. Try adding processData: false, under data: params, — Billy
– Billy, Commented Nov 25, 2015 at 22:46
no luck yet thanks. it seems to be posting fine to the php file but there seems to be some error at that point — Neil K
– Neil K, Commented Nov 25, 2015 at 22:55

Calimero · Accepted Answer · 2015-11-26 07:28:54Z

3

One extra ! in this test got you the exact opposite of what you meant to do (read it as "not"), removing it should help. Also added/changed some tests.

It's also good practice to output something in your ajax query, so you can get some feedback from the server in your browser dev tools.

<?php
var_dump($_POST);

if (isset($_POST['params'])) {
    $params = $_POST['params'];
    $jsonObject = json_encode($params);
    if (is_writable('js/details.json')) {
        file_put_contents('js/details.json', $jsonObject);
        echo "success";
    } else {
        echo "file is not writable, check permissions";
    }
} else {
    echo "invalid params";
}

UPDATE : Also updated your jQuery code to pass the params variable under a params key, for it to be picked up correctly server-side (no need to stringify as json by the way, jQuery does it on your behalf):

    var object = {
        name: 'John',
        occupation: 'Lawyer'
    }

    $(".testing-php").click(function () {
        $.ajax({
            type: 'POST',
            data: {params:object},
            url: 'details.php',
            success: function (data) {
                console.log(params);
                alert('success');
            },
            error: function () {
                alert('error');
            }
        });

UPDATE : Also removed a test to accomodate an array-typed $_POST['params'].

edited Nov 26, 2015 at 7:28

answered Nov 25, 2015 at 21:21

Calimero

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11 Comments

Neil K Over a year ago

Sorry, I thought that had fixed the issue but it still doesn't work unfortunately..

Calimero Over a year ago

updated my answer, please give it a try and see what happens. I can't promise you everything is fixed, but at least we might know what goes wrong.

Neil K Over a year ago

still isn't working. Where can I see which echo statement is being executed to I can tell at which point the error takes place? Currently I'm just clicking the button on the html page which produces the alert 'success' and then checking the json file to see if it has been updated.

Calimero Over a year ago

In your browser, more tools/dev tools in chrome, firebug console/http in firefox. These are must haves for ajax development.

Neil K Over a year ago

I see the response now. it says 'invalid params'

|

ColdSharper · Accepted Answer · 2015-11-25 21:02:20Z

0

You may wish to do some validation to make sure your params got there safely.

answered Nov 25, 2015 at 21:02

ColdSharper

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