JSON Functions
**************

.[perex]
[api:Nette\Utils\Json] is a static class with JSON encoding and decoding functions. It handles vulnerabilities in different PHP versions and throws exceptions on errors.


Installation:

```shell
composer require nette/utils
```

All examples assume the following class alias is defined:

```php
use Nette\Utils\Json;
```


Usage
=====


encode(mixed $value, int $flags=0): string .[method]
----------------------------------------------------

Converts `$value` to JSON format. The flag can be `Json::PRETTY`, which formats JSON for easier reading and clarity, and `Json::ESCAPE_UNICODE` for ASCII output.

```php
Json::encode($value); // returns JSON
Json::encode($value, Json::PRETTY); // returns readable JSON
Json::encode($value, Json::PRETTY | Json::ESCAPE_UNICODE); // combination
```

It throws an `Nette\Utils\JsonException` exception on error.

```php
try {
	$json = Json::encode($value);
} catch (Nette\Utils\JsonException $e) {
	// Exception handling
}
```


decode(string $json, int $flags=0): mixed .[method]
---------------------------------------------------

Parses JSON to PHP value. The flag can be `Json::FORCE_ARRAY`, which forces an array instead of an object as the return value.

```php
Json::decode('{"variable": true}'); // returns an object of stdClass
Json::decode('{"variable": true}', Json::FORCE_ARRAY); // returns an array
Json::decode('true'); // return true
```

It throws an `Nette\Utils\JsonException` exception on error.

```php
try {
	$value = Json::decode($json);
} catch (Nette\Utils\JsonException $e) {
	// Exception handling
}
```


How to Send a JSON from a Presenter?
====================================

You can use the `$this->sendJson($data)` method, which can be called, for example, in the `action*()` method, see [Sending a Response|application:presenters#Sending a Response].