How to return null instead of empty array or empty object?

Question

By default php json_encode() returns "[]" empty brackets for empty array. Also, it's possible to change to return "{}" brackets:

<?php

  $result = array();
  $json = json_encode($result, JSON_FORCE_OBJECT);
  print($json);

The thing is need to fix web services to return null instead of empty brackets if array if empty. Is there any easy and standard way?

one simple if condition doesn't seem easy enough for you?

Your Common Sense
– Your Common Sense

2013-07-23 14:05:31 +00:00
Commented Jul 23, 2013 at 14:05 — Your Common Sense
– Your Common Sense, Commented Jul 23, 2013 at 14:05

nvanesch · Accepted Answer · 2013-07-23 14:27:53Z

2

I understand you would have deep nested structures and you want to replace empty leaves with null.

If that is the case you could simply find and replace.

$result = array("test" => array("Foo"=> new stdClass()), "testy" => array());
$json = json_encode($result);
$strippedJson = str_replace(array('[]', '{}'), 'null', $json);

Will give this json:

{"test":{"Foo":null},"testy":null}

Please note that it replaces empty leaves, but it does not replace branches only containing null leaves.

answered Jul 23, 2013 at 14:27

nvanesch

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pythonian29033 · Accepted Answer · 2013-07-23 14:07:49Z

0

can't you do this?:

print ($json == '[]') ? null : $json;

answered Jul 23, 2013 at 14:07

pythonian29033

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1 Comment

Centurion Over a year ago

Webservices contain quite a big nested data structure, so a lot of manual checks would be needed.

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