Submit Value With Javascript - php

Question

I'm a stuck with the following function:
<script type="text/javascript">
function removeElement($parentDiv, $childDiv){
if (document.getElementById($childDiv)) {
var child = document.getElementById($childDiv);
var parent = document.getElementById($parentDiv);
parent.removeChild($child);
}
}
</script>
x
This function deletes a child element, and its content, which works great client-side! But I am wanting to pass a value to the server, in the same instance, so the content of the element can be deleted from the mysql database too. I have no idea how to do this, so any suggestions will be very appreciated!
Notes: $child, and $parent are strings generated within the php file, that I use to give each element a unique ID.

Answer 1

To make your life easier, use jQuery or similar framework. Here's how you would do it in jQuery:
$(function() {
$('.delete').click(function() {
var link = $(this);
var id = link.attr('id').replace('element_', '');
$.ajax({
url: 'handler.php',
data: {
element: id
},
type: 'post',
success: function() {
link.remove();
// Or link.closest('tr').remove() if you want to remove a table row where this link is
}
});
return false;
});
});
The HTML:
Remove
And handler.php:
mysql_query("DELETE FROM `table` WHERE id = '".mysql_real_escape_string($_POST['element'])."'");
Always remember to escape database input!
If you're a total noob as you said, you probably won't understand all of this so I suggest you read something about jQuery's AJAX capabilities and about overall development using jQuery or similar JavaScript framework.

Answer 2

Lets say I want to delete an entity using a ID
JQUERY - $.post()
This is an easy way to send a simple POST request to a server without having to use the more complex $.ajax function. It allows a single callback function to be specified that will be executed when the request is complete (and only if the response has a successful response code). Jquery post docs
On the server assuming you have an open database connection.
mysql_query("DELETE FROM TABLE WHERE ID = ".$_POST['ID']);
more on mysql_query found here
EDIT:
So the following will only remove the element when the ajax post is complete. Note the first arg is the url to the script that will take the action , second is the data to be sent, in this case the ID post value will be {child.id} and the third is a anon inline callback function that will take action to remove the element client side.
<script type="text/javascript">
function removeElement($parentDiv, $childDiv){
if (document.getElementById($childDiv)) {
var child = document.getElementById($childDiv);
var parent = document.getElementById($parentDiv);
$.post('{URLTOSCRIPT}', 'ID=$child.id',function () { parent.removeChild($child); });
}}
</script>

Answer 3

When you call the function, you'd want to put your PHP variables in tags like so:
<?php echo $parent; ?>
and
<?php echo $child; ?>
In the function definition, you will want to get rid of the PHP style variables and use something like:
function removeElement(parentDiv, childDiv) {
//CODE
}