A simple script to prevent users from clicking a button or link many thousand times.

jquery.click-stopper.js

(function($) {
  /**
   * Jquery function to attach/detach click stopping.
   *   Call on link or input: $('selector').clickStopper({message: 'Optional message'});
   *   Destroy by calling again.
   */
  $.fn.clickStopper = function(options) {
    // return this to maintain chainability
    return this.each(function() {
      if ($(this).hasClass('click-stopper-processed')) {
        detach($(this));
      }
      else {
        attach($(this), options);
      }
    });
  }
  /**
   * Private variables and methods
   */
  var defaultMessage = 'Loading...';
  /**
   * Attach our behavior to an element.
   */
  function attach($el, options) {
    $el.addClass('click-stopper-processed');
    options = options || {};
    if ($el.is('a')) {
      options.originalValue = $el.text();
    }
    else {
      options.originalValue = $el.val();
    }
    $el.data('click-stopper-options', options);
    $el.click(handleClick);
  }
  /**
   * Detach our behavior from an element.
   */
  function detach($el) {
    $el.unbind('click');
    $el.removeClass('click-stopper-processed').removeClass('clicked');
    var options = $el.data('click-stopper-options');
    $el.data('click-stopper-options', {});
    if ($el.is('a')) {
      $el.text(options.originalValue);
    }
    if ($el.is('input')) {
      $el.val(options.originalValue);
      $el.parents('form').unbind('submit');
    }
  }
  /**
   * Click handler
   */
  function handleClick() {
    if (!$(this).hasClass('clicked')) {
      var options = $(this).data('click-stopper-options');
      if ($(this).is('a')) {
        $(this).text(options.message || defaultMessage);
      }
      else {
        $(this).val(options.message || defaultMessage);
      }
      $(this).css({opacity: .75});
      $(this).addClass('clicked');
    }
    else {
      if ($(this).is('input')) {
        $(this).parents('form').submit(function() {
          return false;
        });
      }
      if ($(this).is('a')) {
        return false;
      }
    }
  }
})(jQuery);