NAME

JSON::Tiny - Minimalistic JSON. No dependencies.

SYNOPSIS

  use JSON::Tiny qw(decode_json encode_json);

  my $bytes = encode_json {foo => [1, 2], bar => 'hello!', baz => \1};
  my $hash  = decode_json $bytes;

DESCRIPTION

JSON::Tiny is a minimalistic standalone adaptation of Mojo::JSON, from the Mojolicious framework. It is a single-source-file module with under 300 lines of code and core-only dependencies.

Features include transparent Unicode support, speed, small memory footprint, and a minimal code base ideal for bundling or inlining. Along with Mojo::JSON, it is among the fastest pure-Perl implementations of RFC 7159 <http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc7159>.

JSON::Tiny supports normal Perl data types like scalar, array reference, hash reference, and will try to call the TO_JSON method on blessed references, or stringify them if it doesn't exist.

Differentiating between strings and numbers in Perl is hard; depending on how it has been used, a scalar can be both at the same time. The string value has a higher precedence unless both representations are equivalent.

  [1, -2, 3]     -> [1, -2, 3]
  {"foo": "bar"} -> {foo => 'bar'}

Literal names will be translated to and from JSON::Tiny constants or a similar native Perl value.

  true  -> JSON::Tiny->true
  false -> JSON::Tiny->false
  null  -> undef

Scalar references will be used to generate Booleans, based on if their values are true or false.

  \1 => true
  \0 => false

The two Unicode whitespace characters "u2028" and "u2029" will always be escaped to make JSONP easier, and the character "/" to prevent XSS attacks.

FUNCTIONS

JSON::Tiny implements the following functions, which can be imported individually.

decode_json

  my $value = decode_json $bytes;

Decode JSON to Perl value and die if decoding fails.

encode_json

  my $bytes = encode_json {foo => 'bar'};

Encode Perl value to JSON.

false

  my $false = false;

False value, used because Perl has no equivalent.

from_json

  my $value = from_json $chars;

Decode JSON text that is not "UTF-8" encoded to Perl value and die if decoding fails.

j

  my $bytes = j [1, 2, 3];
  my $bytes = j {foo => 'bar'};
  my $value = j $bytes;

Encode Perl data structure (which may only be an array reference or hash reference) or decode JSON. An "undef" return value indicates a bare "null". Dies if decoding fails.

to_json

  my $chars = to_json {i => '♥ Perl'};

Encode Perl value to JSON text without "UTF-8" encoding it.

true

  my $true = true;

True value, used because Perl has no native equivalent.

More on Booleans

A reference to a scalar (even if blessed) is encoded as a Boolean value unless it has a TO_JSON method.

  my $json = $j->encode( { b => \1, a => \0 } ); # {"b":true,"a":false}

Boolean false and true values returned when JSON is decoded are JSON::Tiny::_Bool objects with overloaded stringification.

Advanced option: Users requiring a plain old literal 0 or 1, may set "$JSON::Tiny::FALSE = 0;" and "$JSON::Tiny::TRUE = 1;". Any value, including blessed references will work. This must be set prior to calling a JSON decoding function. Use "local" to limit scope.

Tiny

JSON::Tiny compared with JSON::PP from the JSON distribution:

JSON::PP is configurable, but more complex. JSON::Tiny offers sane defaults, and no configuration.
Download and install with "cpanm": JSON::PP, 5.2 seconds. JSON::Tiny, 1.9 seconds.
Minimal Dependencies: Both JSON::PP and JSON::Tiny only use core dependencies. JSON::Tiny requires Perl 5.8.4, while JSON::PP requires 5.6.
Simple Design: JSON has 2254 lines of code, six modules and five files. Distribution: 85KB.
JSON::Tiny has under 300 lines of code; an embeddable single-file module. Distribution: 18KB.
JSON::PP has 42 functions and methods. JSON::Tiny has seven.
Performance:
```
             Rate   JSON_PP JSON_Tiny
  JSON_PP   304/s        --      -52%
  JSON_Tiny 636/s      109%        --
    
```
JSON uses JSON::XS if it's available, in which case JSON wins. See "examples/json_bench.pl" for benchmark code.

JSON::Tiny's lightweight design reduces its startup time compared to the JSON module. This may benefit frequently run applications like CGI.
Light Memory Needs: Memory usage was tested with <http://valgrind.org/valgrind> and Devel::MemoryTrace::Light by running "examples/json_pp.pl" and "examples/json_tiny.pl".
```
             valgrind  Devel::MemoryTrace::Light
  JSON::PP   5.1MB     3.7MB
  JSON::Tiny 4.5MB     2.6MB
    
```

CONFIGURATION AND ENVIRONMENT

No configuration.

DEPENDENCIES

Perl 5.8.4 or newer. Perl 5.10+ is recommended due to bugs in Perl 5.8's regular expression engine.

INCOMPATIBILITIES

Incompatible with Exporter versions older than 5.59 (ie, predating Perl 5.8.4).

AUTHOR

David Oswald, "<davido at cpan.org>"

Code and tests adapted from Mojo::JSON.

SUPPORT

Direct support requests to the author. Direct bug reports to CPAN's Request Tracker (RT).

You can find documentation for this module with the perldoc command.

  perldoc JSON::Tiny

You may look for additional information at:

Github: Development is hosted on Github at:
<http://www.github.com/daoswald/JSON-Tiny>
RT: CPAN's request tracker (bug reports)
<http://rt.cpan.org/NoAuth/Bugs.html?Dist=JSON-Tiny>
AnnoCPAN: Annotated CPAN documentation
<http://annocpan.org/dist/JSON-Tiny>
CPAN Ratings
<http://cpanratings.perl.org/d/JSON-Tiny>
Search CPAN
<http://search.cpan.org/dist/JSON-Tiny/>

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Mojolicious team for its lightweight JSON implementation. This module was adapted from Mojo::JSON because it is robust, minimal, and well tested. Mojo::JSON's tests were also adapted to a dependency-free design.

Christian Hansen, whos GitHub Gist <https://gist.github.com/chansen/810296> formed the basis for Mojo::JSON, and subsequently JSON::Tiny.

Randal Schwartz showed his pure-regexp JSON parser (PerlMonks <http://perlmonks.org/?node_id=995856>) to Los Angeles Perl Mongers (09/2012). He wasn't involved in JSON::Tiny, but exploring alternatives to his solution led to this project.

LICENSE AND COPYRIGHT

This program is free software, you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the Artistic License version 2.0.

See <http://www.perlfoundation.org/artistic_license_2_0> for more information.