How to in HTML5: Use the FormData object in XHR2
The HTML5 Microzone is presented by DZone and Microsoft to bring you the most interesting and relevant content on emerging web standards. Experience all that the HTML5 Microzone has to offer on our homepage and check out the cutting edge web development tutorials on Script Junkie, Build My Pinned Site, and the HTML5 DevCenter.
The other day I had posted on uploading a file using XmlHttpRequest 2
and tracking the progress of the file upload process using the progress
event on XHR2 object and the progress tag. Another enhancement added to
the XHR2 specification is the introduction of FormData object. Using
the FormData object, one can create a set of key-value pairs and send
them as form data in a XHR request. The FormData object is passed in the
send() method of the XHR object:
It is also possible to add additional data to an already existing form in the document and send the form data to the server:
var formObject = new FormData();
formObject.append("element_1","Sagar");
formObject.append("element_2","Ganatra");
var xhrObject = new XMLHttpRequest();
xhrObject.open("POST","postform.cfm");
xhrObject.send(formObject);
This
means that, one need not add the form element to the document and can
avoid using hidden input element (type="hidden") to send the additional
key-value data to the server for processing.It is also possible to add additional data to an already existing form in the document and send the form data to the server:
var docFormElement = document.getElementById('myForm');
var docFormData = new FormData(docFormElement);
docFormData.append("product_license","Enterprise");
var xhrObject = new XMLHttpRequest();
xhrObject.open("POST","postform.cfm");
xhrObject.send(docFormData);
<form id="myForm">
<input name="product_name" type="text" value="ColdFusion" />
<input name="product_codename" type="text" value="Zeus" />
</form>
The
FormData constructor takes the form element as an argument and then the
append function is used to add another key-value data to the FormData
object.
Tags:
Published at DZone with permission of Sagar H Ganatra, author and DZone MVB. (source)(Note: Opinions expressed in this article and its replies are the opinions of their respective authors and not those of DZone, Inc.)
HTML5 is the most dramatic step in the evolution of web standards. It incorporates features such as geolocation, video playback and drag-and-drop. HTML5 allows developers to create rich internet applications without the need for third party APIs and browser plug-ins. Under the banner of HTML5, modern web standards such as CSS3, SVG, XHR2, WebSockets, IndexedDB, and AppCache are pushing the boundaries for what a browser can achieve using web standards. This Microzone is supported by Microsoft, and it will delve into the intricacies of using these new web technologies and teach you how to make your websites compatible with all of the modern browsers.


