/***
The serializeHash method can be used to submit forms with an ajax request.
The result of serializeHash can be used as the 'data' option for jQuery's
built-in ajax methods and functions.
***/
(function($){
  $.fn.serializeHash = function() {
    var hash = {};
    /***
      Use serializeArray() to get an array of JSON objects for
      each value in the form.
      (As opposed to serialize() which requires string splitting)
    ***/
    $.each(this.serializeArray(), function() {
      if(hash[this.name] === undefined) {
        hash[this.name] = this.value;
      }
      else {
        /***
          Handle form elements with multiple values such as
          <select multiple="multiple"> and multiple
          <input type="checkbox"/> elements with the same name.
        ***/
        if ($.isArray(hash[this.name])) {
          hash[this.name].push(this.value);
        }
        else {
          hash[this.name] = [hash[this.name], this.value];
        }
      }
    });
    return hash;
  };
})(jQuery);