How to pass an array into jQuery .data() attribute

Question

Ok so I want to pass a very basic array into a jquery data attrubute server side like so:

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Answer 1

It's treating your variable as a string, the zeroth element of which is [.

This is happening because your string is not valid JSON, which should use double-quotes as a string delimiter instead of single quotes. You'll then have to use single-quotes to delimit the entire attribute value.

If you fix your quotation marks your original code works (see http://jsfiddle.net/ktw4v/12/)

 

var stuff = $('div').data('stuff');

When jQuery sees valid JSON in a data attribute it will automatically unpack it for you.