JSON Encode - PHP

json_encode() is a PHP function that converts a PHP value to a JSON string. JSON, or JavaScript Object Notation, is a lightweight data interchange format that is easy for humans to read and write and easy for machines to parse and generate.

Syntax

string json_encode ( mixed $value [, int $options = 0 [, int $depth = 512 ]] )

• $value: The value being encoded. Can be any type except a resource.
• $options (optional): Bitmask consisting of JSON_FORCE_OBJECT, JSON_NUMERIC_CHECK, JSON_PRETTY_PRINT, JSON_UNESCAPED_UNICODE, JSON_UNESCAPED_SLASHES, and JSON_PARTIAL_OUTPUT_ON_ERROR. Default is 0.
• $depth (optional): Maximum depth. Must be greater than 0. Default is 512.

Example Usage

$data = array(
    "name" => "John Doe",
    "age" => 30,
    "city" => "New York"
);

$json = json_encode($data);

echo $json;

The output will be:

{"name":"John Doe","age":30,"city":"New York"}

Options

• JSON_FORCE_OBJECT: Encodes associative arrays as objects instead of arrays.
• JSON_NUMERIC_CHECK: Encodes numeric strings as numbers.
• JSON_PRETTY_PRINT: Formats the output with whitespace and indentation.
• JSON_UNESCAPED_UNICODE: Does not escape Unicode characters.
• JSON_UNESCAPED_SLASHES: Does not escape / characters.
• JSON_PARTIAL_OUTPUT_ON_ERROR: Returns partial output if an error occurs during encoding.

Conclusion

With json_encode(), programmers can easily convert a PHP value to a JSON string. This function is essential for sending and receiving data between PHP and client-side JavaScript applications. However, be aware of the available options when encoding values to ensure the desired output.