sending json object via ajax

Question

I am creating a simple form input demo. Values are stored from a form in variables then they are put into json object and it is sent via ajax.

My Json object validates but how do I reference it in the data field in $.ajax? My code:

$(document).ready(function() {
  $('.submitForm').on('click',function(event){
event.preventDefault();

    var firstName = $('#firstName').val();
    var lastName  = $('#lastName').val();
    var phone     = $('#phoneNumber').val();
    var address   = $('#address').val();
    var $out      = $("#formResults");

    $out.append("<p>" + firstName  +' '+ lastName + "</p>" +                                       
                "<p>" + $('#phoneNumber').val() + "</p>" + 

                    //json object
                     {
                       "firstName" : "firstName", 
                        "lastName" : "lastName",
                        "phoneNumber" : "phoneNumber",
                        "address" : "address"
                       }


                         $.ajax({
                         url: 'http://localhost/xyz/markup/',
                         method:  'GET',
                         data: jsonObject
                         error: alert("error")
                         complete: alert ("complete")
                                                 });
                                     });            
                                     });

thanks!

Answer 1

"firstName" : "firstName",

should be

"firstName" : firstName,
              ^---     ^---note lack of quotes

and similarly for the other 3 fields.

you're trying to do string:string , instead of string:variable .

As well, nowhere in your code is jsonObject actually defined.

Major note: do not build JSON text yourself. It's very risky. One single syntax error (misplaced quote usually) and the whole json object becomes invalid. You'd be better off building a normal JS data structure, then using the provided json encoding facilities to produce the json string.