Using email_exists() wp function in an ajax request

Question

I'm requesting the wordpress function if (email_exists($email)) { ... } from a file (email_check.php) via ajax. Using this function is causing a server error though.

The origin (from an input text field):

var check = $('#email-input');
var email = check.val();
$.ajax({
    url: "email_check.php",
    data: {'email' : email},
    type: "GET",
    dataType: 'json',
    success: function(data) {
        if(data.result) {
            alert('Email exists!');
        }
        else {
            alert('Email doesnt!');
        }
    },
    error: function(data){
        //error
    }
});

check_email.php

$email = $_GET['email'];
if ( email_exists($email) ) {$response->result = true;} else {$response->result = false;}
echo json_encode($response);    

This results in no alert taking place. By going directly to [email protected] it give me a server error page. I also replaced email_exists($email) with the same direct email entered as the url param and it does work.

Does anyone know why this is?

Answer 1

This happens because the PHP file you are using has no connection to WordPress, the function is never loaded. Use the built-in AJAX-API instead, and it will work fine.