.serializeToObject() - A jQuery plugin for serializing form data to object

form-serialize-to-object.js

// TAKEN FROM: https://stackoverflow.com/a/8407771/165673
// IMPORTANT: This does NOT work with nested 'something[other]' type names.
//
// NOTES:
// - To avoid serializing certain input controls, tag them with '.no_serialize' class.
// - Will also ignore any inputs that don't have a name assigned.
// - Handles jQuery UI datepickers well. Doesn't care what format the datepicker uses.
//   It will use whatever date format use pass as an option to .serialize_to_object().
//
// REQUIRES:
// - moment.js
//
(function($){
    $.fn.serializeToObject = function(options){

      var default_options = {
        date_format: 'YYYY-MM-DD', // The date format into which jQuery UI datepicker values will be serialized.
        include_disabled: false // Serialize disabled form elements.
      }
      options = _.extend(default_options, options);

        var self = this,
            json = {},
            push_counters = {},
            patterns = {
                "validate": /^[a-zA-Z][a-zA-Z0-9_]*(?:\[(?:\d*|[a-zA-Z0-9_]+)\])*$/,
                "key":      /[a-zA-Z0-9_]+|(?=\[\])/g,
                "push":     /^$/,
                "fixed":    /^\d+$/,
                "named":    /^[a-zA-Z0-9_]+$/
            };


        this.build = function(base, key, value){
            base[key] = value;
            return base;
        };

        this.push_counter = function(key){
            if(push_counters[key] === undefined){
                push_counters[key] = 0;
            }
            return push_counters[key]++;
        };

        // Identify all jQuery UI datepickers:
        var datepickers = [];
        $.each($(this).find('.hasDatepicker'), function(){
          datepickers.push($(this).attr('name'));
        });

        // Select all serializable form controls:
        var $serializable_form_controls = $(this).find('*:not(".no_serialize")');

        // Temporarily enable disabled form items if we want them serialized.
        // SEE: https://stackoverflow.com/a/45741385/165673
        if (options.include_disabled){
          var disabled = this.find(":input:disabled").removeAttr("disabled");
        }

        $.each($serializable_form_controls.serializeArray(), function(){

            // skip invalid keys
            if(!patterns.validate.test(this.name)){
                return;
            }

            // Reformat all datepicker values:
            if (datepickers.indexOf(this.name) != -1) {
              // Use moment.js to convert to another format without timezone/UTC fuckery:
              // (SEE https://stackoverflow.com/a/38917006/165673)
              var reformatted_date_string = moment(this.value).format(options.date_format);
              this.value = reformatted_date_string;
            }

            var k,
                keys = this.name.match(patterns.key),
                merge = this.value,
                reverse_key = this.name;

            while((k = keys.pop()) !== undefined){

                // adjust reverse_key
                reverse_key = reverse_key.replace(new RegExp("\\[" + k + "\\]$"), '');

                // push
                if(k.match(patterns.push)){
                    merge = self.build([], self.push_counter(reverse_key), merge);
                }

                // fixed
                else if(k.match(patterns.fixed)){
                    merge = self.build([], k, merge);
                }

                // named
                else if(k.match(patterns.named)){
                    merge = self.build({}, k, merge);
                }
            }

            json = $.extend(true, json, merge);
        });

        // Re-disable items:
        if (options.include_disabled){
          disabled.attr("disabled", "disabled");
        }

        // ADDED LOGIC:
        // Get rid of empty (null or blank) values
        // FROM: https://stackoverflow.com/a/23774287/165673
        $.each(json, function(key, value){
          if (value === "" || value === null){
            delete json[key];
          }
        });

        return json;
    };
})(jQuery);