> > I often times just need to know the value of one form element and
> > sometimes that could be a group of radio buttons, a select, a multiple
> > select or just a regular input. The current $.val() method is limited
> > only to inputs. I was curious if anyone else needed this funtionality
> > and if it should be in a plugin or in the core?
>
> I would definitely like to see val() work on any form element. I
> frankly didn't know that it doesn't. It only makes sense that it
> would since there would be no point in implementing the function if it
> only replaces $('input')[0].value. I believe the true power of most of
> jQuery is the fact that it abstracts some really complex code into a
> really simple API. Having one function that will get the current value
> >from any form element (a String for most elements, or an array for
> multiple selects) would be a real win, and it should be in the core.
>
> The other argument I can see is the filesize one. Keeping the core
> jQuery filesize down is a great goal for the project. So, if you guys
> see an enhanced val() function as only required if one is working with
> forms as far as Ajax is concerned, then perhaps it should be enhanced
> as part of the ajax.js file in the core so that it can be easily
> removed if no ajax stuff is needed for a project. Otherwise, the only
> other place I see it being appropriate is as part of the Form plugin.
>
> I would personally like to have it in the core. Getting and setting
> info about DOM elements is the bread-and-butter of jQuery, so a more
> powerful val() function would be a good use of bandwidth in my mind.
Currently val() is only a shortcut, but doesn't encapsulate anything useful. It
would be nice to have it handling some more stuff.
I wouldn't like to have it in an external plugin, that makes it difficult to
access or find it when you actually need that functionality.
Some thoughts about the implementation:
- single select: Nothing to worry about, right?
- multiple select: Get it's option:selected children and put their values into
an array, empty array when nothing is selected
- radio: Find the input:radio siblings with the same name and get the value
from the one that is checked, ??? when nothing is selected
- checkbox: combination of radio and select: Find input:checkbox siblings that
are checked and put their values into an array, empty array when nothing is
checked
- everything else: stick to the simple value
For radios/checkboxes: Can we rely on searching for siblings? Or do we need to
search for the name inside the current form?
I have this in my validation plugin to check the number of selected
checkboxes/radios:
return $(element).parents('form, body').find('[EMAIL PROTECTED]' + element.name
+ ']:checked').length;
--
Jörn Zaefferer
http://bassistance.de
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