JSON decode string in PHP (array of arrays) Special characters

Question

So I have this issue when converting a JSON string to a PHP array. The data is sent via HTTP POST so I'm aware there may be some decoding needed.

Could anyone lay an insight on how I would use json_decode() in PHP to convert this string to an array? "[[\"37\",\"text\",\"\\\"\\\"\"],[\"38\",\"text\",\"\\\"\\\"\"],[\"39\",\"text\",\"\\\"one word two words. Hello? \\\\\\\"escape\\\\\\\" lol\\\"\"]]"

The input was:

[
    ["37", "text", ""],
    ["38", "text", ""],
    ["39", "text", userInputtedString]
]

Where userInputtedString is: one word two words. Hello? "escape" lol

^ Or any other Unicode values

Is that actually what you're getting in the request? If so, something in the bit that's doing the posting appears to have gone a bit screwy. — Jonnix
– Jonnix, Commented Jun 7, 2016 at 11:37
Or you have an addslashes somewhere, or potentially magic quotes turned on, or both. etc — Jonnix
– Jonnix, Commented Jun 7, 2016 at 11:39
@JonStirling Yeah, it's just coming from Javascript as an AJAX parameter. Just with the standard JSON.stringify() on the array in javascript. It's so strange... — Lewis Smallwood
– Lewis Smallwood, Commented Jun 7, 2016 at 11:41

DsRaj · Accepted Answer · 2016-06-07 12:00:44Z

2

Use utf8_encode before json_decode

$str = "[[\"37\",\"text\",\"\\\"\\\"\"],[\"38\",\"text\",\"\\\"\\\"\"],[\"39\",\"text\",\"\\\"one word two words. Hello? \\\\\\\"escape\\\\\\\" lol\\\"\"]]";
$str = utf8_encode($str);
$str = json_decode($str,JSON_UNESCAPED_SLASHES);

answered Jun 7, 2016 at 12:00

DsRaj

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1 Comment

Lewis Smallwood Over a year ago

This kinda solved it, thank you. I had to perform the utf8 encode in Javascript before passing the input through a POST

Swakeert Jain · Accepted Answer · 2016-06-07 11:40:47Z

1

What seems to be the problem?

Simply use json_decode like you mentioned.

$ans = json_decode($_POST["name-of-var"]);

This should do it.

answered Jun 7, 2016 at 11:40

Swakeert Jain

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2 Comments

Lewis Smallwood Over a year ago

It just returns NULL. Sorry, I should have been more specific

Lewis Smallwood Over a year ago

Ah interesting, it looks like my POST input isn't sanitised. Thank you!

Hiren Makwana · Accepted Answer · 2016-06-07 11:45:35Z

1

You could also use uft8_encode (to send to HTML) and uft8_decode (to receive) but not the right way

answered Jun 7, 2016 at 11:45

Hiren Makwana

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