Best way to handle dynamic form data.

[JasonLewis]

This relates to Ajax as well but more-so JavaScript.

 

Let me use an example. I have a tagging system that's using Ajax to auto-suggest tags. The user can then select a tag from the suggested tags or add the tag they want. If they select a tag, is the best way to go about it adding that tag ID to a hidden field as a comma separated list. Or... keep the selected tags in an array and attach an event to the submit handler of the form, then once submitted insert X amount of hidden inputs (where X is the number of tags) so that I'll have an array of selected tags when they submit.

 

In the past when I've done things like this I've just updated a hidden input each time a tag is added/edited, however I'm just wondering if the second approach is possible and if it's better. The only possibility I can think of is that it won't work due to the form already being submitted and thus the inputs aren't actually added to the post data. I am yet to test this.

 

Cheers.