json_decode

(PHP 5 >= 5.2.0, PHP 7, PHP 8, PECL json >= 1.2.0)

json_decodeDecodes a JSON string

Description

json_decode(
    string $json,
    ?bool $associative = null,
    int $depth = 512,
    int $flags = 0
): mixed

Takes a JSON encoded string and converts it into a PHP variable.

Parameters

json

The json string being decoded.

This function only works with UTF-8 encoded strings.

Note:

PHP implements a superset of JSON as specified in the original » RFC 7159.

associative

When true, JSON objects will be returned as associative arrays; when false, JSON objects will be returned as objects. When null, JSON objects will be returned as associative arrays or objects depending on whether JSON_OBJECT_AS_ARRAY is set in the flags.

depth

Maximum nesting depth of the structure being decoded. The value must be greater than 0, and less than or equal to 2147483647.

flags

Bitmask of JSON_BIGINT_AS_STRING, JSON_INVALID_UTF8_IGNORE, JSON_INVALID_UTF8_SUBSTITUTE, JSON_OBJECT_AS_ARRAY, JSON_THROW_ON_ERROR. The behaviour of these constants is described on the JSON constants page.

Return Values

Returns the value encoded in json in appropriate PHP type. Values true, false and null are returned as true, false and null respectively. null is returned if the json cannot be decoded or if the encoded data is deeper than the nesting limit.

Errors/Exceptions

If depth is outside the allowed range, a ValueError is thrown as of PHP 8.0.0, while previously, an error of level E_WARNING was raised.

Changelog

Version Description
7.3.0 JSON_THROW_ON_ERROR flags was added.
7.2.0 associative is nullable now.
7.2.0 JSON_INVALID_UTF8_IGNORE, and JSON_INVALID_UTF8_SUBSTITUTE flags were added.
7.1.0 An empty JSON key ("") can be encoded to the empty object property instead of using a key with value _empty_.

Examples

Example #1 json_decode() examples

<?php
$json 
'{"a":1,"b":2,"c":3,"d":4,"e":5}';

var_dump(json_decode($json));
var_dump(json_decode($jsontrue));

?>

The above example will output:

object(stdClass)#1 (5) {
    ["a"] => int(1)
    ["b"] => int(2)
    ["c"] => int(3)
    ["d"] => int(4)
    ["e"] => int(5)
}

array(5) {
    ["a"] => int(1)
    ["b"] => int(2)
    ["c"] => int(3)
    ["d"] => int(4)
    ["e"] => int(5)
}

Example #2 Accessing invalid object properties

Accessing elements within an object that contain characters not permitted under PHP's naming convention (e.g. the hyphen) can be accomplished by encapsulating the element name within braces and the apostrophe.

<?php

$json 
'{"foo-bar": 12345}';

$obj json_decode($json);
print 
$obj->{'foo-bar'}; // 12345

?>

Example #3 common mistakes using json_decode()

<?php

// the following strings are valid JavaScript but not valid JSON

// the name and value must be enclosed in double quotes
// single quotes are not valid 
$bad_json "{ 'bar': 'baz' }";
json_decode($bad_json); // null

// the name must be enclosed in double quotes
$bad_json '{ bar: "baz" }';
json_decode($bad_json); // null

// trailing commas are not allowed
$bad_json '{ bar: "baz", }';
json_decode($bad_json); // null

?>

Example #4 depth errors

<?php
// Encode some data with a maximum depth  of 4 (array -> array -> array -> string)
$json json_encode(
    array(
        
=> array(
            
'English' => array(
                
'One',
                
'January'
            
),
            
'French' => array(
                
'Une',
                
'Janvier'
            
)
        )
    )
);

// Show the errors for different depths.
var_dump(json_decode($jsontrue4));
echo 
'Last error: 'json_last_error_msg(), PHP_EOLPHP_EOL;

var_dump(json_decode($jsontrue3));
echo 
'Last error: 'json_last_error_msg(), PHP_EOLPHP_EOL;
?>

The above example will output:

array(1) {
  [1]=>
  array(2) {
    ["English"]=>
    array(2) {
      [0]=>
      string(3) "One"
      [1]=>
      string(7) "January"
    }
    ["French"]=>
    array(2) {
      [0]=>
      string(3) "Une"
      [1]=>
      string(7) "Janvier"
    }
  }
}
Last error: No error

NULL
Last error: Maximum stack depth exceeded

Example #5 json_decode() of large integers

<?php
$json 
'{"number": 12345678901234567890}';

var_dump(json_decode($json));
var_dump(json_decode($jsonfalse512JSON_BIGINT_AS_STRING));

?>

The above example will output:

object(stdClass)#1 (1) {
  ["number"]=>
  float(1.2345678901235E+19)
}
object(stdClass)#1 (1) {
  ["number"]=>
  string(20) "12345678901234567890"
}

Notes

Note:

The JSON spec is not JavaScript, but a subset of JavaScript.

Note:

In the event of a failure to decode, json_last_error() can be used to determine the exact nature of the error.

See Also

Here you can write a comment


Please enter at least 10 characters.
Loading... Please wait.
* Pflichtangabe
There are no comments available yet.

PHP cURL Tutorial: Using cURL to Make HTTP Requests

cURL is a powerful PHP extension that allows you to communicate with different servers using various protocols, including HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, and more. ...

TheMax

Autor : TheMax
Category: PHP-Tutorials

Midjourney Tutorial - Instructions for beginners

There is an informative video about Midjourney, the tool for creating digital images using artificial intelligence, entitled "Midjourney tutorial in German - instructions for beginners" ...

Mike94

Autor : Mike94
Category: KI Tutorials

Basics of views in MySQL

Views in a MySQL database offer the option of creating a virtual table based on the result of an SQL query. This virtual table can be queried like a normal table without changing the underlying data. ...

admin

Autor : admin
Category: mySQL-Tutorials

Publish a tutorial

Share your knowledge with other developers worldwide

Share your knowledge with other developers worldwide

You are a professional in your field and want to share your knowledge, then sign up now and share it with our PHP community

learn more

Publish a tutorial