title: JSON.parse error: invalid character at position 1
body: <p>For some reason I'm getting a parse error when trying to send a post request to the server</p>
  
  <pre><code>$.post("../php/user_handler.php", formData, function(data) {
          var result = JSON.parse(data);
          if(result.status === 'error') {
                  $('#' + result.control + '-error').html(result.message).css('display', 'inline-block');
              } else {
                  $('#form-message').html(result.message).css('display', 'inline-block');
              }
          });
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>The message I'm getting implies that the error is with the syntax of the first character of the first line, but I really don't understand how; I've checked it against several examples of how to make this request and it looks just fine to me.</p>