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Dynamically target specific DIV´s with unique ID in Ajax

Say that I have more than 100 forms on one page (I know it is a lot, but neccesary in this matter) and I have a Ajax that submit each forms without reloading the page it is in, and Show/Hide a DIV on callback from jQuery on success and error, how do I:
1 : Target the specific DIV ID in the jQuery
2 : Make sure that it submit the specific form and only this form (not validating on required fields from other forms)
JS Code:
<script>
$("form").on("submit", function(e) {
var dataString = $(this).serialize();
let response_div = $("[id^='response_div_']")
$.ajax({
type: "POST",
url: "update_userdata.asp",
data: dataString,
success: function() {
response_div.html("<div id='message' style='background-color: #28a745;'></div>");
$("#message")
.html("<font style='color: white;'>Løn Information er nu opdateret <i class='fas fa-check-circle'></i></font>")
.hide()
.fadeIn(1500, function() {
$("#message").append(
""
);
});
}
});
e.preventDefault();
});
</script>
HTML:
<div id="response_div_initials_1">
</div>
<form name="Initials2" id="Initials2" action="">
<input type="hidden" name="UserID" id="UserID" value="1">
<input type="hidden" name="ColumnToUpdate" id="ColumnToUpdate" value="InitialsColumn">
<fieldset>
<div class="input-box">
<label for="Initials" id="Initials">Initials</label>
<input type="text" name="Initials" id="Initials" minlength="3" maxlength="3" class="text-input" required/>
</div>
<button type="submit" form="Initials2" value="Submit">Send</button>
</fieldset>
</form>
<div id="response_div_EconomyColumns_1">
</div>
<form name="EconomyColumns1" id="EconomyColumns1" action="">
<input type="hidden" name="UserID" id="UserID" value="1">
<input type="hidden" name="ColumnToUpdate" id="ColumnToUpdate" value="EconomyColumns">
<fieldset>
<div class="input-box">
<label for="lonnr" id="lonnr_label">lonnr</label>
<input type="text" name="lonnr" id="lonnr" minlength="3" class="text-input" required/>
</div>
<div class="input-box">
<label for="debnr" id="debnr_label">debnr</label>
<input type="text" name="debnr" id="debnr" class="text-input"/>
</div>
<div class="input-box">
<label for="orgnr" id="orgnr_label">orgnr</label>
<input type="text" name="orgnr" id="orgnr" class="text-input"/>
</div>
<button type="submit" form="EconomyColumns1" value="Submit">Send</button>
</fieldset>
</form>
<div id="response_div_initials_2">
</div>
<form name="Initials2" id="Initials2" action="">
<input type="hidden" name="UserID" id="UserID" value="1">
<input type="hidden" name="ColumnToUpdate" id="ColumnToUpdate" value="InitialsColumn">
<fieldset>
<div class="input-box">
<label for="Initials" id="Initials">Initials</label>
<input type="text" name="Initials" id="Initials" minlength="3" maxlength="3" class="text-input" required/>
</div>
<button type="submit" form="Initials2" value="Submit">Send</button>
</fieldset>
</form>
<div id="response_div_EconomyColumns_2">
</div>
<form name="EconomyColumns1" id="EconomyColumns1" action="">
<input type="hidden" name="UserID" id="UserID" value="1">
<input type="hidden" name="ColumnToUpdate" id="ColumnToUpdate" value="EconomyColumns">
<fieldset>
<div class="input-box">
<label for="lonnr" id="lonnr_label">lonnr</label>
<input type="text" name="lonnr" id="lonnr" minlength="3" class="text-input" required/>
</div>
<div class="input-box">
<label for="debnr" id="debnr_label">debnr</label>
<input type="text" name="debnr" id="debnr" class="text-input"/>
</div>
<div class="input-box">
<label for="orgnr" id="orgnr_label">orgnr</label>
<input type="text" name="orgnr" id="orgnr" class="text-input"/>
</div>
<button type="submit" form="EconomyColumns1" value="Submit">Send</button>
</fieldset>
</form>
I tried different variations of $("[id^='response_div_']") but havent had success with any attempts I have tried.

If you have 100+ form, I would suggest event delegation for one event listener listens multiple forms.
If those response_div_ are just for displaying message to a specific form, but not for storing data, I suggest you to not setting a unique id to them. Instead, I move the response div under the form and set it with form_response class so you know which div to update.
I also put the styling into <style> so you don't need to handing css inside the script.
I usually don't write html within string literal. To have a icon after the response message, you can offload it to CSS which makes your script neater. Check the form_response::after style. Font awesome has an article on that.
p.s. you need to fix the submit button and form name. There are 2 EconomyColumns1 and Initials2 form.
$('html').on('submit', 'form', function(e) {
e.preventDefault();
var dataString = $(this).serialize();
// obtain the submitting form with e.currentTarget
// then search the tree down for div with class form_response
let responseDiv = $(e.currentTarget).children('div.form_response');
$.ajax({
type: "POST",
url: "https://6049aeb7fb5dcc001796a5ad.mockapi.io/foobar", // mock api for testing
data: dataString,
success: function() {
$(responseDiv)
.html("Løn Information er nu opdateret")
.hide()
.fadeIn(1500, function() {
// what is this line for?
$("#message").append("");
})
// wait 5 second
.delay(5000)
// fade out
.fadeOut(1500);
}
});
});
.form_response {
display: none;
background-color: #28a745;
color: white;
}
.form_response::after {
font-family: "Font Awesome 5 Free";
content: "\f058";
font-weight: 900;
}
<link href="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/font-awesome/5.15.2/css/all.min.css" rel="stylesheet" />
<script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/jquery/3.3.1/jquery.min.js"></script>
<form name="Initials2" id="Initials2" action="">
<div class="form_response"></div>
<input type="hidden" name="UserID" id="UserID" value="1"> <input type="hidden" name="ColumnToUpdate" id="ColumnToUpdate" value="InitialsColumn">
<fieldset>
<div class="input-box">
<label for="Initials" id="Initials">Initials</label> <input type="text" name="Initials" id="Initials" minlength="3" maxlength="3" class="text-input" required />
</div>
<button type="submit" form="Initials2" value="Submit">Send</button>
</fieldset>
</form>
<form name="EconomyColumns1" id="EconomyColumns1" action="">
<div class="form_response"></div>
<input type="hidden" name="UserID" id="UserID" value="1"> <input type="hidden" name="ColumnToUpdate" id="ColumnToUpdate" value="EconomyColumns">
<fieldset>
<div class="input-box">
<label for="lonnr" id="lonnr_label">lonnr</label> <input type="text" name="lonnr" id="lonnr" minlength="3" class="text-input" required />
</div>
<div class="input-box">
<label for="debnr" id="debnr_label">debnr</label> <input type="text" name="debnr" id="debnr" class="text-input" />
</div>
<div class="input-box">
<label for="orgnr" id="orgnr_label">orgnr</label> <input type="text" name="orgnr" id="orgnr" class="text-input" />
</div>
<button type="submit" form="EconomyColumns1" value="Submit">Send</button>
</fieldset>
</form>
<form name="Initials2" id="Initials2" action="">
<div class="form_response"></div>
<input type="hidden" name="UserID" id="UserID" value="1"> <input type="hidden" name="ColumnToUpdate" id="ColumnToUpdate" value="InitialsColumn">
<fieldset>
<div class="input-box">
<label for="Initials" id="Initials">Initials</label> <input type="text" name="Initials" id="Initials" minlength="3" maxlength="3" class="text-input" required />
</div>
<button type="submit" form="Initials2" value="Submit">Send</button>
</fieldset>
</form>
<form name="EconomyColumns1" id="EconomyColumns1" action="">
<div class="form_response"></div>
<input type="hidden" name="UserID" id="UserID" value="1"> <input type="hidden" name="ColumnToUpdate" id="ColumnToUpdate" value="EconomyColumns">
<fieldset>
<div class="input-box">
<label for="lonnr" id="lonnr_label">lonnr</label> <input type="text" name="lonnr" id="lonnr" minlength="3" class="text-input" required />
</div>
<div class="input-box">
<label for="debnr" id="debnr_label">debnr</label> <input type="text" name="debnr" id="debnr" class="text-input" />
</div>
<div class="input-box">
<label for="orgnr" id="orgnr_label">orgnr</label> <input type="text" name="orgnr" id="orgnr" class="text-input" />
</div>
<button type="submit" form="EconomyColumns1" value="Submit">Send</button>
</fieldset>
</form>

This is what you want...?
the HTML
<h2>Form 1</h2>
<form>
<div class="message"></div>
<input type="text" name="name-a">
<button type="submit">Submit</button>
</form>
<h2>Form 2</h2>
<form>
<div class="message"></div>
<input type="text" name="name-b">
<button type="submit">Submit</button>
</form>
then jQuery
$('form').submit(function(e){
e.preventDefault();
let data = $(this).serialize();
let msgBox = $(this).find('.message');
$.ajax({
type: 'POST',
url: 'update_userdata.asp',
data: dataString,
success: function(){
msgBox.html("Put your html message here that will display according to the submited form");
// Once we have the message we show the message box
msgBox.css('display', 'block');
}
});
});
and some CSS
.message {
border: 1px solid red;
padding: 4px;
text-align: center;
width: 100px;
margin: 4px;
display: none;
}
the working demo https://jsfiddle.net/jozsefk/1yw7c9x3/ Please note, that this is just an example to show you how to do it and you must adapt this to your code.
Also this will display your input name and value if exists based on a form submited.

Here is the code I have last tried:
<div class="message" style="background-color: #28a745;"></div>
</div>
<form name="Initials1" id="Initials1" action="">
<input type="hidden" name="UserID" id="UserID" value="1">
<input type="hidden" name="ColumnToUpdate" id="ColumnToUpdate" value="InitialsColumn">
<fieldset>
<div class="input-box">
<label for="Initials" id="Initials">Initials</label>
<input type="text" name="Initials" id="Initials" minlength="3" maxlength="3" class="text-input" required/>
</div>
<button type="submit" form="Initials1" value="Submit">Send</button>
</fieldset>
</form>
<script>
$('form').submit(function(e){
e.preventDefault();
let data = $(this).serialize();
let msgBox = $(this).find('.message');
$.ajax({
type: 'POST',
url: 'update_userdata.asp',
data: dataString,
success: function(){
msgBox.html("<p>Hello World!</p>");
// Once we have the message we show the message box
msgBox.css('display', 'block');
}
});
});
</script>
The message CSS from you is still in the doc aswell

Toggle Button doesn't seem to be working?

Hi I'm sure I've written this code properly as I followed in the tutorial. I want the #booking-button to be clicked which should 'toggle' the #btn element to disappear. Essentially one is a box which contains information about a car and when user clicks 'Click here to Book' it should open the form. But for some reason it doesn't. I'm thinking it may have something to do with the CSS but I'm not sure.
Any tips on this?
<div class="form-wrapper">
<form action="#">
<label for="name">Name*</label>
<input placeholder="Your Name" class="full" type="text"id="name">
<br>
<label for="email">Email</label>
<input placeholder="Your Email" class="full" type="text"id="name">
<br>
<label for="hire-start-date">Hire Start Date</label>
<input type="date" id="depart">
<br>
<label for="hire-end-date">Hire End Date</label>
<input type="date" id="depart">
<br>
<button class="book-now">Book Now</button>
</form>
</div>
<div class="car-info" id="btn">
<button id="booking-button">Click Here to Book</button>
</div>
</div>
$(document).ready(function() {
$('#booking-button').on('click', () =>
{ $('#btn').toggle(); });
});

Now the form appears when user clicks Click Here to Book, while this button disappears.
<script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/jquery/3.3.1/jquery.min.js"></script>
<div class="form-wrapper">
<form action="#" id="car-info" style="display: none;">
<label for="name">Name*</label>
<input placeholder="Your Name" class="full" type="text"id="name">
<br>
<label for="email">Email</label>
<input placeholder="Your Email" class="full" type="text"id="name">
<br>
<label for="hire-start-date">Hire Start Date</label>
<input type="date" id="depart">
<br>
<label for="hire-end-date">Hire End Date</label>
<input type="date" id="depart">
<br>
<button class="book-now">Book Now</button>
</form>
</div>
<div id="btn">
<button id="booking-button">Click Here to Book</button>
</div>
<script>
$(document).ready(function() {
$('#booking-button').on('click', () => {
$('#car-info').toggle();
$('#btn').toggle();
});
});
</script>

Show/Hide elements JavaScript

I am attempting to create forms that are hidden on each page. I figure I had to make a separate functions for each button and form that I wanted to hide. So my logic was to use the same code on separate JS pages but changing the id and function names on each JS page.
However when I do so, using the exact same code the button works on one page and not on the other page.
This is a start of many layers I'm trying to learn, such as opening form on same page and transition it to appear using jQuery.
The 1st code was this, it works but I would like to append and add to it
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="EN">
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<head>
<title>button test</title>
<script>
window.onload = function() {
document.getElementById("tkform").style.display = "none";
}
window.onload = function() {
document.getElementById("cleanForm").style.display = "none";
}
function openForm() {
document.getElementById("cleanForm").style.display = "block";
}
function closeForm() {
document.getElementById("cleanForm").style.display = "none";
}
function optkForm() {
document.getElementById("tkForm").style.display = "block";
}
function clstkForm() {
document.getElementById("tkForm").style.display = "none";
}
</script>
</head>
<body>
<h3>
I am attempting to create forms that are hidden on each page. I figure I had to make a separate functions for each button and form that I wanted to hide. So my logic was to use the same code on separate JS pages but changing the id and function names
on each JS page. However when I do so, using the exact same code the button works on one page and not on the other page. This is a start of many layers I'm trying to learn, such as opening form on same page and transition it to appear using jquery.
1. The 1st code was this, it works but I would like to append and add to it
</h3>
<p>
HTML
</p>
<button onclick="openForm()" style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center" ;>
Get an Estimate</button>
<button onclick="closeForm()">Close Form</button>
<form class="cleanform" id="cleanForm" action="/action_page.php">
<legend>Book a Visit</legend>
<p>Please fill out your information below.</p>
<br>
<p id="text" style="display:none">Checkbox is CHECKED!</p>
<div class="columns">
<div class="item">
<label for="fname">First Name<span>*</span></label>
<input id="fname" type="text" name="fname" />
</div>
<div class="item">
<label for="lname"> Last Name<span>*</span></label>
<input id="lname" type="text" name="lname" />
</div>
<div class="item">
<label for="eaddress">Email Address<span>*</span></label>
<input id="eaddress" type="text" name="eaddress" />
</div>
<div class="item">
<label for="zipcode">Zip Code<span>*</span></label>
<input id="zipcode" type="text" name="zipcode" pattern="[0-9] {5}" title="5 digit Zip" />
</div>
</div>
<fieldset>
<legend style="background-color: rgb(221, 210, 210)">
<p>Service Frequency</p>
</legend>
<div class="columns">
<p>Is This a One-Time or Recurring Clean?</p>
<div class="item">
<br>
<label for="myCheck">One-Time Cleaning</label>
<input type="checkbox" id="myCheck" onclick="myFunction()">
<label for="myCheck">Recurring Service</label>
<input type="checkbox" id="myCheck" onclick="myFunction()">
</div>
</div>
<div class="columns">
<p>Do You need a Move In/Move Out clean?</p>
<div class="item">
<br>
<label for="myCheck">Yes</label>
<input type="checkbox" id="myCheck" onclick="myFunction()">
<label for="myCheck">No</label>
<input type="checkbox" id="myCheck" onclick="myFunction()">
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
<div class="columns">
<div class="item">
<label for="bedrooms">Bedrooms:<span>*</span></label>
<input type="number" id="bedrooms" name="bedrooms" min="0" ; max="8" ; name="bedroom" placeholder="0" />
</div>
<div class="item">
<label for="bathroom">Bathrooms:<span>*</span></label>
<input type="number" id="bathrooms" name="bathrooms" min="0" ; max="20" placeholder="0" />
</div>
<div class="item">
<label for="sqrfoot">Square Foot:<span>*</span></label>
<input type="text" id="sqrfoot" name="sqrfoot" placeholder="Total Square Foot">
</div>
</div>
<input type="submit" name="Book Now">
</form>
<p style="background-color: yellow;">
2. This is code that I copied and reformatted for use on a separate page, yet it does not work. What am I missing here?
</p>
<p>
HTML
</p>
<button onclick="optkForm()">
Open Form</button>
<button onclick="clstkForm()">Close Form</button>
<form class="tkform" id="tkform" method="post" action="URL_to_script">
<fieldset>
<legend>Turn Key Service</legend>
<p>
<label class="question" for="the_name">Name:</label>
<input type="text" id="the_name" name="the_name" placeholder="Enter Your Full Name" size="24" />
</p>
<p>
<label class="question" for="the_email">Email:</label>
<input type="text" id="the_email" name="the_email" placeholder="Email" size="32" required/>
</p>
<p>
<label class="question" for="the_addy">Address:</label>
<input type="text" id="the_addy" name="the_addy" placeholder="Street Address" size="32" required/>
</p>
<p>
<label class="question" for="the_zip">Zip:</label>
<input type="text" id="the_zip" name="the_zip" placeholder="ZipCode" size="12" required pattern="[0-9] {5}" />
</p>
<p>
<label class="question" for="the_name">Bedrooms:</label>
<input type="number" id="bedrooms" name="bedrooms" min="0" max="8" size="2" required/>
</p>
<p>
<label class="question" for="the_name">Bathrooms:</label>
<input type="number" id="bathrooms" name="bathrooms" min="1" max="20" size="2" required/>
</p>
<p>
<label class="question" for="sqft">Squarefoot:</label>
<input type="text" id="sqft" name="squarefoot" placeholder="Sqrft" size="12" required/>
</p>
<p>
<label class="question" for="the_message">Message:</label>
<textarea id="the_message" name="the_message" placeholder="Enter Your Message Here" rows="7" cols="55" vertical-align="top">
</textarea>
</p>
</fieldset>
<button input type="submit">Submit</button>
</div>
</div>
</form>
</body>
</html>

The description looks mixed in. However if you are looking for why the button is not working for the "tkform", then you need to change the id of the "tkform" either in the call to action functions:
function optkForm() {
document.getElementById("tkForm").style.display = "block";
}
function clstkForm() {
document.getElementById("tkForm").style.display = "none";
}
or
in the form HTML description
<form class="tkform" id="tkform" method="post" action="URL_to_script">
</form>
"tkform" & "tkForm" are two different IDs.

radio button selection using javascript?

I need help for i had develop the radio buttons one is cheque and anothewr one is online- transfer when ever user click cheque it displays one form and if user click online-transfer it display another form using java script ok it is working but click one radio button after refresh the browser no form can be displayed.Here is below attached my code please verify and suggest me.
html code:
<html>
<head>
<script text="text/javascript">
function optionChanged()
{
var a=document.withdrawform;
if(a.withdraw_by[0].checked)
{
a.reset();a.withdraw_by[0].checked=true;
document.getElementById("cheque_msg").style.visibility="visible";
document.getElementById("cheque_msg").style.display="block";
document.getElementById("accountInfo").style.visibility="hidden";
document.getElementById("accountInfo").style.display="none";
}
else
{
a.reset();a.withdraw_by[1].checked=true;
document.getElementById("accountInfo").style.visibility="visible";
document.getElementById("accountInfo").style.display="block";
document.getElementById("cheque_msg").style.visibility="hidden";
document.getElementById("cheque_msg").style.display="none";
}
}
</script>
</head>
<body>
<!--<a target="popup" onclick="window.open('https://www.facebook.com/','name','width=600,height=400')">Open page in new window</a>-->
<div class="main_content">
<p class="ca_head">Withdraw Cash</p>
<ul class="step_bar">
<li>1. Give your information</li>
<li class="active">2. Select Withdraw Option</li>
</ul>
<form id="withdrawform" name="withdrawform" method="post" action="withdraw-confirmation.html" onsubmit="clearErrors();">
<input type="hidden" name="bankAccount" id="bankAccount" value="0"/>
<input type="hidden" name="monthlyWithdraw" id="monthlyWithdraw" value="0"/>
<input type="hidden" name="withdrawableBalance" id="withdrawableBalance" value="0.37"/>
<input type="hidden" id="ecsCharge" value="0"/>
<input type="hidden" id="chequeCharge" value="0"/>
<input type="hidden" id="freeWithdrawCount" value="0"/>
<input type="hidden" id="withdrawError" value=""/>
<input type="hidden" name="ifsc" id="ifsc" value="N"/>
<div class="content_area">
<h3 class="sub_head">Submit your withdraw request for processing</h3>
<div class="form_row">
<label>Your Withdrawable Balance <strong>:</strong></label>
<strong><span class="rupeefont">r </span> 0.37</strong>
</div>
<div class="form_row">
<label for="new_mobile">Withdraw by <strong>:</strong></label>
<div class="flt_lt wid_256" id="withdraw_options">
<label class="lbl_flt">
<input type="radio" name="withdraw_by" id="withdraw_by" onclick="optionChanged()" value="Cheque" /> Cheque
</label>
<label class="lbl_flt">
<input type="radio" name="withdraw_by" id="withdraw_by" onclick="optionChanged()" value="Online Transfer"/> Online Transfer
</label>
</div>
</div>
<div id="cheque_msg" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"><span><p style="color:RED" align="justify">Please Note that Withdrawal by cheque would take upto 12 working days. Online Transfer is a much faster
option.Also, cheque would be dispatched to your regsitered mailing address.Submit your withdrawal request only if the address below is valid.If you wish to
update your address,please write to fairplay#RummyNo1.com along with your address proof.
</p>
<div class="form_row">
<label for="trackAmount">Enter the Amount <strong>:</strong></label>
<input type="text" name="trackAmount" id="trackAmount" class="flt_lt" style="width:138px;" maxlength="15"/>
</div>
</div>
<div id="accountInfo" style="display: none;">
<div class="form_row" style="position:relative;">
<div class="form_row">
<label for="accountNumber">Account number <strong>:</strong></label>
<input type="text" maxlength="45" name="accountNumber" id="accountNumber" class="flt_lt" style="width:138px;"/>
</div>
<div class="form_row">
<label for="reAccountNumber">Re enter account number <strong>:</strong></label>
<input type="text" maxlength="45" name="reAccountNumber" id="reAccountNumber" class="flt_lt" style="width:138px;"/>
</div>
<div class="form_row">
<label for="micr">MICR Code <!-- <img src="https://rcmg.in/rc/icon_info.png" border="0" />--> <strong> :</strong></label>
<input type="text" maxlength="9" name="micr" id="micr" class="flt_lt" style="width:138px;" />
</div>
<div class="form_row">
<label for="reMicr">Re enter MICR code <strong>:</strong></label>
<input type="text" maxlength="9" name="reMicr" id="reMicr" class="flt_lt" style="width:138px;"/>
</div>
<div class="form_row">
<label for="ifsc_code">IFSC Code <!-- <img src="https://rcmg.in/rc/icon_info.png" border="0" />--> <strong>:</strong></label>
<input type="text" maxlength="11" name="ifsc_code" id="ifsc_code" class="flt_lt" style="width:138px;" onkeypress="return onlyAlphaNumericsForIfsc(event)" />
</div>
<div class="form_row">
<label for="bank_name">Bank Name <strong>:</strong></label>
<input type="text" maxlength="30" name="bank_name" id="bank_name" class="flt_lt" style="width:138px;" onkeypress="return onlyAlphaNumerics(event)" />
</div>
<div class="form_row">
<label for="branch_name">Branch Name <strong>:</strong></label>
<input type="text" maxlength="30" name="branch_name" id="branch_name" class="flt_lt" style="width:138px;" onkeypress="return onlyAlphaNumerics(event)" />
</div>
</div>
<div class="form_row">
<label for="trackAmount">Enter the Amount <strong>:</strong></label>
<input type="text" name="trackAmount" id="trackAmount" class="flt_lt" style="width:138px;" maxlength="15"/>
</div>
<div class="form_row" id="withdrawButton">
<label> </label>
<input type="submit" name="submit_btn" title="Continue" value="Continue" class="btn_submit" id="withdrawsubmit"/>
</div>
<p class="info_txt">
For more information on service charges and withdrawing cash from your account,
click here.
</p>
<!-- -->
</div>
</form>
</div>
</body>
</html>

Make form run a javascript function?

How can I make my form run a function when submit is clicked?
<form id="commentForm" name="comment">
<fieldset>
<label for="name">Name <span>(required)</span></label>
<input type="text" class="text" id="name" value="" />
<label for="email">Email <span>(will not be published) (required)</span></label>
<input type="text" class="text" id="email" value="" />
<label for="website">Website</label>
<input type="text" class="text" id="website" value="" />
<label for="message">Message <span>(required)</span></label>
<textarea id="message" class="textarea" rows="10"></textarea>
<input type="submit" name="submit" class="submit" id="submit_btn" value="Submit Comment" action="JavaScript: ajax_add_comment();">
</fieldset>
...
I am trying running the following function:
function ajax_add_comment () {
alert ("testing");
}

Use onclick attribute instead of action.

You could use jQuery, and use the .submit() function.
You can give the form an id and then attach the submit function to it.
Example:
<form id="execute"....
</form>
<script type="javascript">
$("#execute").submit(function(){
alert("i've submitted this form");
});
</script>
make sure you have included the jquery js file.
<script src="http://code.jquery.com/jquery.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script>

You can use the onsubmit event to execute JavaScript code when the form is submitted. For example:
<script>
function ajax_add_comment () {
alert ("testing");
}
</script>
<form id="commentForm" name="comment">
<fieldset>
<label for="name">Name <span>(required)</span></label>
<input type="text" class="text" id="name" value="" />
<label for="email">Email <span>(will not be published) (required)</span></label>
<input type="text" class="text" id="email" value="" />
<label for="website">Website</label>
<input type="text" class="text" id="website" value="" />
<label for="message">Message <span>(required)</span></label>
<textarea id="message" class="textarea" rows="10"></textarea>
<input type="submit" name="submit" class="submit" id="submit_btn" value="Submit Comment" onsubmit="ajax_add_comment();">
</fieldset>
Thank you!