XF 2.1 Converting array to json

[mjda]

Is there a function already built into XF that will do this? I'm trying to store an array in the database, but I'd like to convert it to json first.

I should mention that json_encode isn't working. It just returns NULL.

 

[Kirby]

json_encode is correct. Are you 100% sure that your input data is valid UTF-8?

Which PHP version do you use? Unless it is really ancient (eg. < 5.5), json_encode should not return null on error.

Did you check json_last_error()?

 

[mjda]

json_encode is correct. Are you 100% sure that your input data is valid UTF-8?

Which PHP version do you use? Unless it is really ancient (eg. < 5.5), json_encode should not return null on error.

Did you check json_last_error()?

I'm using PHP 7.3. The data is pulled from the xf_thread table so I'd assume it's utf8. I'll try to figure out for sure tonight when I'm home.

I, honestly, didn't even know json_last_error existed so I'll check it tonight too.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Chris D]

As you're using PHP 7.3, try:

$json = json_encode($data, JSON_THROW_ON_ERROR);

That will throw a JsonException with details of the failure.

FWIW after PHP 5.5 there is also json_last_error_msg.

 

[mjda]

Well, I'm guessing now that my array must not be valid UTF-8?

I had the script echo the results of $json = json_encode($data) as well as json_last_error_msg() and that resulted in {} No error

Further testing is required...

 

[mjda]

Got it working now. Turns out you need to be working with an array rather than a PHP object. Doh! Thanks for the help, y'all.

 

[Jake B.]

Got it working now. Turns out you need to be working with an array rather than a PHP object. Doh! Thanks for the help, y'all.

What type of object was it? json_encode should work with objects, though in some circumstances I suppose you may get some unexpected results

 

[mjda]

What type of object was it? json_encode should work with objects, though in some circumstances I suppose you may get some unexpected results

It was fetched by using a simple finder \XF::finder('XF:Thread'). I'm not sure why it wouldn't encode it, but I ended up having to run a loop to convert everything within the object to an array, and then encode those.

 

[Liam W]

It was fetched by using a simple finder \XF::finder('XF:Thread'). I'm not sure why it wouldn't encode it, but I ended up having to run a loop to convert everything within the object to an array, and then encode those.

You can't really serialize/jsonify entities, as their content is state and context dependent.