jQuery form field parser with support for radio's and checkboxes

jqueryutils.form-parser.js

/*
 * jQuery utilities
 * Takes in a form element and rips out all the values in a simple key-value pair
 */

$(function() {

	$.fn.parseFormFields = function(props) {

		// define some default settings with default values
		var default_props = {
			ignored_input_types: ['submit'] // ignores several types of inputs, overridable
		}

		// extend some custom props on default props
		props = $.extend(default_props, props);

		// some used variables
		var keyv = {}; // key value that will be retuned
		var inp = this.find(':input'); // the target to find (:input fields)

		// binds a value to keyv
		function key(key, val) {
			keyv[key] = val;
			return val;
		}

		// loop over all inputs, ignoring the ones in the ignore list
		// attach it to key value group
		inp.each(function() {
			if(props.ignored_input_types.indexOf($(this).attr('type')) == -1) {

				// if this is a checkbox, I only want to know if it is checked or not
				if($(this).attr('type') == 'checkbox') {
					if(!keyv.hasOwnProperty($(this).attr('name'))) key($(this).attr('name'), false);
					key($(this).attr('name'), $(this).is(':checked'));
					return;
				}

				// if this is a radio, I only want to know which option is checked. Before subscribing to the list,
				// I make sure that at least an empty field filled with 'false' is present. I only
				// populate the value IF it is selected to have a value.
				if($(this).attr('type') == 'radio') {

					// only make the key if it is not yet existing
					if(!keyv.hasOwnProperty($(this).attr('name'))) key($(this).attr('name'), false);

					// assign value if this is the radio that is checked
					if($(this).is(':checked')) {
						key($(this).attr('name'), $(this).val());
					}

					return;
				}

				// if this is a general input like text, fill it with the value.
				key($(this).attr('name'), $(this).val());
			}
		});



		// returns a hash with all the values
		return keyv;
	}

});