JSON API

NZ_Kiwis

Using PHP how can I create a API which returns a JSON object?

jeepin81

sneakyimp

// first, create your object:
$obj = new stdClass;
$obj->var1 = "first var";
$obj->var2 = "second var";

// then you can output the object encoded as json
echo json_encode($obj);

laserlight

While sneakyimp's suggestion should work, in the end an object in JSON is basically an "unordered set of name/value pairs". So, you may find it simpler to just write:

// first, create your object:
$obj = ['var1' => 'first var', 'var2' => 'second var'];

// then you can output the object encoded as json
echo json_encode($obj);

NogDog

It's probably a good idea to use [man]header/man to specify an "application/json" Content-Type for the output.

sneakyimp

laserlight;11053025 wrote:
While sneakyimp's suggestion should work, in the end an object in JSON is basically an "unordered set of name/value pairs". So, you may find it simpler to just write:
// first, create your object:
$obj = ['var1' => 'first var', 'var2' => 'second var'];

// then you can output the object encoded as json
echo json_encode($obj);

The array notation is certainly more compact and probably a bit more readable. It also results in a JSON object (i.e., there are curly brackets instead of square brackets in the output). You can also check out the JSON_* constants for additional options.