Submit the value of a <p> element when an html form is submitted - forms

Question

I have this code: <p class = "foo">Text</p>
And I also have a form: <form action = "XXX.php" method = post></form>
However, how can I get the value of the <p> when I submit it, as the <p> element can be changed.
So what I mean is to be able to post the value of the <p> when the user submits the form, and to be able to access it from that php file with: $_POST['foo'];
Thanks, I have tried to be as clear as possible.

Answer 1

You have to use Javascript for that
A jQuery function that will work
$("form").submit(function(){
var value = $("p").html();
// If foo already exists
if( $("[name=foo]").length > 0 )
{
$("[name=foo]").val(value);
}
else
{
var input = $("<input />", { name : "foo",
value : value ,
type : "hidden" });
$(this).append(input);
}
});

Answer 2

Use
<input type="hidden" value="something" name="something" id="something" />
and when you change inner html of <p> change the value of hidden input.

Answer 3

I think your best bet is to make it an input with readonly enabled, and style to to look like a <p>. It's better then trying to add it to the POST parameters with JavaScript.
Here's a quick example. I bet it could still be improved with a few extra CSS quirks, experiment a bit.

Answer 4

The easiest thing to do is set the value of a hidden form field when you change the contents of your <p>.
Alternatively, you can get its contents and post with JavaScript.

Answer 5

For text you need to use input field:
<input type="text"/>
Form fields should must have an id:
<input type="text" id="pewpew" class="foo"/>
I would go with:
<input type="text" id="pewpew" class="foo" value="default text goes here"/>
OR
Go with different workarounds, like setting form's hidden elements on the fly, etc.

Answer 6

You can create hidden field on the fly and set its value on form submit. Like this:
<form id="form" action="/somewhere" method="post">
<p>Some text</p>
<input type="submit" value="Submit"/>
</form>
<script type="text/javascript">
var form = document.getElementById('form');
form.onsubmit = function()
{
var p = this.getElementsByTagName('p')[0];
if (!document.getElementById('pval'))
{
var pinput = document.createElement('input');
pinput.setAttribute('type', 'hidden');
pinput.setAttribute('id', 'pval');
pinput.setAttribute('name', 'p');
this.appendChild(pinput);
}
document.getElementById('pval').value = p.innerHTML;
return true;
}
</script>
Works, i've tested.