Javascript: Is Object an Array of Elements

Question

Today I have a problem. I have a HTML Form, which can have a dynamic number of HTML Input Fields for an EMail Address. Via Javascript I want to evaluate those Data ans Post via XMLHttpRequest.

I fetch the Input fields like this:

var elements = document.getElementById("emailmodal").elements["multiple[]"];

Then I want to check, if it is an array, because if I have only one input field elements will not contain an array of elements, but only one element:

if(jQuery.isArray(elements))
{

    for(var i = 0; i < elements.length; i++)
    {

        formData.append("emailreceiver[]", elements[i].value);

    }

}else
{

    formData.append("emailreceiver[]", elements.value);

}

In case it is an Array, it is going through the Elements via For Loop, and if not, its directly taking the value.

However this doesnt work correctly. Even if I have multiple INputs, the Script tells me, its no array.

The Corresponding HTML is

<div class="form-group input-group">
<input type="text" name="multiple[]" class="form-control" value="<?php echo $kundendaten['Email']; ?>">
<span class="input-group-btn"><button type="button" class="btn btn-default btn-add">+</button></span>
</div>

This is from Bootstrap.

If i make var log to console and I have more then one element than it looks like this:

If I make var log and only have one element it looks like this

What can I do?

Cheers, Niklas

Yes object is also an array of elements in JS because Javascript does'nt support associative arrays. — Vaibhav Jain
– Vaibhav Jain, Commented Apr 26, 2016 at 12:59
DOM Element doesn't have elements method. Can you share the output of elements ? — gurvinder372
– gurvinder372, Commented Apr 26, 2016 at 13:00
can't you just depend on the object length and if the length is greater than one, treat the object like an array? — Mike
– Mike, Commented Apr 26, 2016 at 13:01
I agree with @Mmcgowa3 you can easily just use $("form input.email").length and check if you have more than one input. Also you can keep a counter with a global variable and update it in the same function that adds additional input elements to your form — Velimir Tchatchevsky
– Velimir Tchatchevsky, Commented Apr 26, 2016 at 13:10

Niklas Riecken · Accepted Answer · 2016-04-26 13:07:31Z

2

Thanks to Mmcgowa!!

if(elements.length > 1)
{

    alert("Array");
    for(var i = 0; i < elements.length; i++)
    {

        formData.append("emailreceiver[]", elements[i].value);

    }

}else
{

    alert("No Array");
    formData.append("emailreceiver[]", elements.value);

}

This works. If elements is no array, element.length will be undefined!

answered Apr 26, 2016 at 13:07

Niklas Riecken

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Comments

Dacklf · Accepted Answer · 2016-04-26 13:18:16Z

0

I know you already have a solution, but why don't you simplify your code flow and do the following:

if (elements.length == 1) elements = [elements];

// now you know that if *elements* is not empty, it is always an array
for (var i = 0; i < elements.length; i++)
{
    formData.append("emailreceiver[]", elements[i].value);
}

answered Apr 26, 2016 at 13:18

Dacklf

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