Get multiple values through an AJAX query

Hey guys, I am very new to AJAX and and working on a rating script, but I want to be able to pass multiple values back into my ajax function :

Right now it runs a to a php script called ratings, where it takes the total value of votes / votes and multiplies it by the width of each start to get an accurate current rating. What I'd like to do is also pass back the amount of votes so I can display them. I know how I could do this by making another function but that seems redundant and not very efficient.

My question is, is it possible to pass back not only the width (value / votes * 22) for my rating box, but also the total # of votes in 1 query. If not the better question would it be better to pass back a string in jquery that already has the votes & value, and do the width calculation with java script ?

    $(document).ready(function() {
    getRating();
    function getRating(){
    $.ajax({
    type: "GET",
    url: "../includes/rating.php",
    data: "action=get&bookid="+$("#current").attr("value"),
    cache: false,
    async: false,
    success: function($rating) {
    $("#current").css({ width: "" + $rating });
    },
    error: function(result) {
    alert("Error");
    }

});
}

Thanks!

From stackoverflow askon

• Yes you can pass back both values. Just send JSON using json_encode instead of text.

  $(document).ready(function() {
      getRating();
      function getRating(){
      $.ajax({
      type: "GET",
      dataType: 'json',
      url: "../includes/rating.php",
      data: "action=get&bookid="+$("#current").attr("value"),
      cache: false,
      async: false,
      success: function(data) {
          $("#current").css({ width: "" + data.rating });
          $("#votes").html(data.votes);
      },
      error: function(result) {
          alert("Error");
      }
  
  });
  }
  

  askon : Perfect. Many thanks!
  From tvanfosson

• If your struggling to passback multiple values in one callback you could try inserting a random character (like a #, something your not going to use) inbetween the values then split it on the server side. For example.

  Client Side...

  var callback = value1##value2##value3;
  

  Server Side...

  $values = split($callback, "##");
  
  $value1 = $values[0];
  $value2 = $values[1];
  

  Hope that helps...

  Jonik : I think using JSON would generally be better than coming up with a home-grown way to encode many values in a string
  From Chalkey

• Since the width is a derived value based on the number of votes, I would pass the nmber of votes and do the math in JS. .

  From ScottSEA