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Optimal way to send arrays over formData for server actions?

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Baird's Sandpiper posted this in #help-forum
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Baird's SandpiperOP
JSON.stringify() and JSON.parse() is a funky pattern and does not work well, my parsed value always comes out as a single string in an array
Answered by Ray
use formData if you make the form with just html
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20 Replies

Baird's SandpiperOP
      data.append("tags", JSON.stringify(tags));
        data.append("areas", JSON.stringify(form.getValues("areas")));
        formAction(data);
both these values are arrays
@Baird's Sandpiper data.append("tags", JSON.stringify(tags)); data.append("areas", JSON.stringify(form.getValues("areas"))); formAction(data);
Ray
just do
for (const tag of tags) {
  data.append("tags", tag)
}

then on the server do
formData.getAll("tags")

it should give you an array of tag
Baird's SandpiperOP
what about more nested and complex arrays of objects?
that are not serializeable
@Baird's Sandpiper what about more nested and complex arrays of objects?
Ray
why do you need to use formData for that?
Baird's SandpiperOP
what else could I use? (besides bind )
Ray
just pass the value to server action directly
you shouldn't use formData if you need to create the formData yourself
Ray
use formData if you make the form with just html
Answer
Baird's SandpiperOP
makes sense. But don't I lose useFormState functionality if I don't use formData
@Baird's Sandpiper makes sense. But don't I lose useFormState functionality if I don't use formData
Ray
the point of useFormState is providing progressive enhancement for the form without javascript
if you are trying to pass complex arrays of object, I don't think your form is gonna work without javascript
so there is no need for using useFormState anyway
Baird's SandpiperOP
I wanted to be consistent with a pattern but that makes sense
this is the second night youve helped me out , can I get your venmo Ill buy you a pizza or something
@Baird's Sandpiper I wanted to be consistent with a pattern but that makes sense
Ray
just use the right tools for the right thing :noice:
Baird's SandpiperOP
ya regarding something similar a few nights ago helping me bind to useFormStatus lol