$.serializers = {
  input: function(element) {
    switch (element.type.toLowerCase()) {
      case 'submit':
      case 'hidden':
      case 'password':
      case 'text':
        return $.serializers.textarea(element);
      case 'checkbox':
      case 'radio':
        return $.serializers.inputSelector(element);
    }
  },

  inputSelector: function(element) {
    if (element.checked) return [element.name, element.value];
  },

  textarea: function(element) {
    return [element.name, element.value];
  },

  select: function(element) {
    return $.serializers[element.type == 'select-one' ? 'selectOne' : 'selectMany'](element);
  },

  selectOne: function(element) {
    var value = '', opt, index = element.selectedIndex;
    if (index >= 0) {
      opt = element.options[index];
      value = opt.value || opt.text;
    }
    return [element.name, value];
  },

  selectMany: function(element) {
    var value = [];
    for (var i = 0; i < element.length; i++) {
      var opt = element.options[i];
      if (opt.selected) value.push(opt.value || opt.text);
    }
    return [element.name, value];
  }
};

$.fn.serialize = function() {
  var el = this.get(0);
  if (el.tagName == "FORM") {
     var pairs = [];
     this.find('input,select,textarea').each(function() {
       pairs.push($(this).serialize());
     });
     return pairs.join('&');
  } else {
    var param = $.serializers[el.tagName.toLowerCase()](el);
    if (param) return [escape(param[0]), escape(param[1])].join('=');
  }
};

$.fn.getValue = function() {
  var el = this.get(0);
  var param = $.serializers[el.tagName.toLowerCase()](el);
  if (param) return param[1];
};