Basically, the 4th parameter tells jQuery what to do with the response data.
JSON indicates you're expecting a JSON string as the post response. 'xml' indicates you want the return text parsed as XML (true AJAX). 'html' means it's coming in as, I think a jquery object. And text is just text. Those are the basic ones I've seen used most of the time. On Feb 3, 11:15 am, "maggus.staab" <markus.st...@redaxo.de> wrote: > at api.jquery.com there is a well documented version.. > > @api doc devel: > would be nice if we can link to a specific api page... > > On 3 Feb., 16:55, Professor B <vtbludg...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > I have stared at the docs for a while and still don't understand the > > purpose of the option 4th parameter > > in the $.post() method. The wording and examples > > athttp://docs.jquery.com/Ajax/jQuery.postseemodd. E.g: > > > [quote] > > Gets the test.php page contents which has been returned in json format > > (<?php echo json_encode(array("name"=>"John","time"=>"2pm")); ?>) > > > $.post("test.php", { func: "getNameAndTime" }, > > function(data){ > > alert(data.name); // John > > console.log(data.time); // 2pm > > }, "json"); > > [/quote] > > > We submit a POST request to test.php with parameter func = > > 'getNameAndTime' -- presumably for test.php's benefit so it can call > > that function, right? I think that's a little obscure in this example. > > > Then we have an anonymous callback function that fires upon completion > > of a successful xhr request, its input parameter being 'data' which is > > the response body of the xhr object, right? > > > In this instance, 'data' is an object -- a hash, an associative array, > > what have you. So if that's what it is, then it is what it is, so to > > speak. Is it not? I would expect that internally, JQuery would detect > > the content-type header indicating JSON and eval the xhr response body > > automatically. The server side would (and should) be responsible for > > sending the proper content-type. > > > Am I to understand that in this example test.php might as well send > > plain old text/html, and the type hint "json" instructs JQuery to eval > > it?
