title: Ajax error : Failed to load resource: the server responded with a status of 500 (Internal Server Error)
body: <p>I am trying to make an ajax function that allows my site to send a message to me without refreshing the page. But somehow I can't do that because everytime I click it, I get this error in the console:</p>
  
  <p>Failed to load resource: the server responded with a status of 500 (Internal Server Error).</p>
  
  <p>Here is my script:</p>
  
  <pre><code>$(function() {
  
  var form = $('#ajax-contact');
  
  var formMessages = $('#form-messages');
  
  
  $(form).submit(function(event) {
      event.preventDefault();
  
      var formData = $(form).serialize();
  
      $.ajax({
          type: 'POST',
          url: $(form).attr('action'),
          data: formData
      }).done(function(response) {
          // Make sure that the formMessages div has the 'success' class.
          $(formMessages).removeClass('error');
          $(formMessages).addClass('success');
  
          // Set the message text.
          $(formMessages).text(response);
  
          // Clear the form.
          $('#name').val('');
          $('#email').val('');
          $('#message').val('');
      }).fail(function(data) {
          // Make sure that the formMessages div has the 'error' class.
          $(formMessages).removeClass('success');
          $(formMessages).addClass('error');
  
          // Set the message text.
          if (data.responseText !== '') {
              $(formMessages).text(data.responseText);
          } else {
              $(formMessages).text('Oops! An error occured and your message could not be sent.');
          }
      });
  });
  
  
  });
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Here is my PHP file:</p>
  
  <pre><code>&lt;?php
  
  // Only process POST reqeusts.
  if ($_SERVER["REQUEST_METHOD"] == "POST") {
      // Get the form fields and remove whitespace.
      $name = strip_tags(trim($_POST["name"]));
              $name = str_replace(array("\r","\n"),array(" "," "),$name);
      $email = filter_var(trim($_POST["email"]), FILTER_SANITIZE_EMAIL);
      $message = trim($_POST["message"]);
  
      // Check that data was sent to the mailer.
      if ( empty($name) OR empty($message) OR !filter_var($email, FILTER_VALIDATE_EMAIL)) {
          // Set a 400 (bad request) response code and exit.
          http_response_code(400);
          echo "All fields must be filled.";
          exit;
      }
  
      // Set the recipient email address.
      // FIXME: Update this to your desired email address.
      $recipient = "example@example.com";
  
      // Set the email subject.
      $subject = "New Message from $name";
  
      // Build the email content.
      $email_content = "Name: $name\n";
      $email_content .= "Email: $email\n\n";
      $email_content .= "Message:\n$message\n";
  
      // Build the email headers.
      $email_headers = "From: $name &lt;$email&gt;";
  
      // Send the email.
      if (mail($recipient, $subject, $email_content, $email_headers)) {
          // Set a 200 (okay) response code.
          http_response_code(200);
          echo "Thank You! Your message has been sent.";
      } else {
          // Set a 500 (internal server error) response code.
          http_response_code(500);
          echo "Something went wrong.";
      }
  
  } else {
      // Not a POST request, set a 403 (forbidden) response code.
      http_response_code(403);
      echo "There was a problem with your submission, please try again.";
  }
  
  ?&gt;
  </code></pre>