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Comparing JSON-XS/README (file contents):
Revision 1.14 by root, Sat Jun 23 23:50:03 2007 UTC vs.
Revision 1.17 by root, Mon Aug 27 02:03:23 2007 UTC

7 # exported functions, they croak on error 7 # exported functions, they croak on error
8 # and expect/generate UTF-8 8 # and expect/generate UTF-8
9 9
10 $utf8_encoded_json_text = to_json $perl_hash_or_arrayref; 10 $utf8_encoded_json_text = to_json $perl_hash_or_arrayref;
11 $perl_hash_or_arrayref = from_json $utf8_encoded_json_text; 11 $perl_hash_or_arrayref = from_json $utf8_encoded_json_text;
12
13 # objToJson and jsonToObj aliases to to_json and from_json
14 # are exported for compatibility to the JSON module,
15 # but should not be used in new code.
16 12
17 # OO-interface 13 # OO-interface
18 14
19 $coder = JSON::XS->new->ascii->pretty->allow_nonref; 15 $coder = JSON::XS->new->ascii->pretty->allow_nonref;
20 $pretty_printed_unencoded = $coder->encode ($perl_scalar); 16 $pretty_printed_unencoded = $coder->encode ($perl_scalar);
244 240
245 Example, space_before and indent disabled, space_after enabled: 241 Example, space_before and indent disabled, space_after enabled:
246 242
247 {"key": "value"} 243 {"key": "value"}
248 244
245 $json = $json->relaxed ([$enable])
246 If $enable is true (or missing), then "decode" will accept some
247 extensions to normal JSON syntax (see below). "encode" will not be
248 affected in anyway. *Be aware that this option makes you accept
249 invalid JSON texts as if they were valid!*. I suggest only to use
250 this option to parse application-specific files written by humans
251 (configuration files, resource files etc.)
252
253 If $enable is false (the default), then "decode" will only accept
254 valid JSON texts.
255
256 Currently accepted extensions are:
257
258 * list items can have an end-comma
259 JSON *separates* array elements and key-value pairs with commas.
260 This can be annoying if you write JSON texts manually and want
261 to be able to quickly append elements, so this extension accepts
262 comma at the end of such items not just between them:
263
264 [
265 1,
266 2, <- this comma not normally allowed
267 ]
268 {
269 "k1": "v1",
270 "k2": "v2", <- this comma not normally allowed
271 }
272
249 $json = $json->canonical ([$enable]) 273 $json = $json->canonical ([$enable])
250 If $enable is true (or missing), then the "encode" method will 274 If $enable is true (or missing), then the "encode" method will
251 output JSON objects by sorting their keys. This is adding a 275 output JSON objects by sorting their keys. This is adding a
252 comparatively high overhead. 276 comparatively high overhead.
253 277
277 Example, encode a Perl scalar as JSON value with enabled 301 Example, encode a Perl scalar as JSON value with enabled
278 "allow_nonref", resulting in an invalid JSON text: 302 "allow_nonref", resulting in an invalid JSON text:
279 303
280 JSON::XS->new->allow_nonref->encode ("Hello, World!") 304 JSON::XS->new->allow_nonref->encode ("Hello, World!")
281 => "Hello, World!" 305 => "Hello, World!"
306
307 $json = $json->allow_blessed ([$enable])
308 If $enable is true (or missing), then the "encode" method will not
309 barf when it encounters a blessed reference. Instead, the value of
310 the convert_blessed option will decide wether "null"
311 ("convert_blessed" disabled or no "to_json" method found) or a
312 representation of the object ("convert_blessed" enabled and
313 "to_json" method found) is being encoded. Has no effect on "decode".
314
315 If $enable is false (the default), then "encode" will throw an
316 exception when it encounters a blessed object.
317
318 $json = $json->convert_blessed ([$enable])
319 If $enable is true (or missing), then "encode", upon encountering a
320 blessed object, will check for the availability of the "TO_JSON"
321 method on the object's class. If found, it will be called in scalar
322 context and the resulting scalar will be encoded instead of the
323 object. If no "TO_JSON" method is found, the value of
324 "allow_blessed" will decide what to do.
325
326 The "TO_JSON" method may safely call die if it wants. If "TO_JSON"
327 returns other blessed objects, those will be handled in the same
328 way. "TO_JSON" must take care of not causing an endless recursion
329 cycle (== crash) in this case. The name of "TO_JSON" was chosen
330 because other methods called by the Perl core (== not by the user of
331 the object) are usually in upper case letters and to avoid
332 collisions with the "to_json" function.
333
334 This setting does not yet influence "decode" in any way, but in the
335 future, global hooks might get installed that influence "decode" and
336 are enabled by this setting.
337
338 If $enable is false, then the "allow_blessed" setting will decide
339 what to do when a blessed object is found.
340
341 $json = $json->filter_json_object ([$coderef->($hashref)])
342 When $coderef is specified, it will be called from "decode" each
343 time it decodes a JSON object. The only argument is a reference to
344 the newly-created hash. If the code references returns a single
345 scalar (which need not be a reference), this value (i.e. a copy of
346 that scalar to avoid aliasing) is inserted into the deserialised
347 data structure. If it returns an empty list (NOTE: *not* "undef",
348 which is a valid scalar), the original deserialised hash will be
349 inserted. This setting can slow down decoding considerably.
350
351 When $coderef is omitted or undefined, any existing callback will be
352 removed and "decode" will not change the deserialised hash in any
353 way.
354
355 Example, convert all JSON objects into the integer 5:
356
357 my $js = JSON::XS->new->filter_json_object (sub { 5 });
358 # returns [5]
359 $js->decode ('[{}]')
360 # throw an exception because allow_nonref is not enabled
361 # so a lone 5 is not allowed.
362 $js->decode ('{"a":1, "b":2}');
363
364 $json = $json->filter_json_single_key_object ($key [=>
365 $coderef->($value)])
366 Works remotely similar to "filter_json_object", but is only called
367 for JSON objects having a single key named $key.
368
369 This $coderef is called before the one specified via
370 "filter_json_object", if any. It gets passed the single value in the
371 JSON object. If it returns a single value, it will be inserted into
372 the data structure. If it returns nothing (not even "undef" but the
373 empty list), the callback from "filter_json_object" will be called
374 next, as if no single-key callback were specified.
375
376 If $coderef is omitted or undefined, the corresponding callback will
377 be disabled. There can only ever be one callback for a given key.
378
379 As this callback gets called less often then the
380 "filter_json_object" one, decoding speed will not usually suffer as
381 much. Therefore, single-key objects make excellent targets to
382 serialise Perl objects into, especially as single-key JSON objects
383 are as close to the type-tagged value concept as JSON gets (its
384 basically an ID/VALUE tuple). Of course, JSON does not support this
385 in any way, so you need to make sure your data never looks like a
386 serialised Perl hash.
387
388 Typical names for the single object key are "__class_whatever__", or
389 "$__dollars_are_rarely_used__$" or "}ugly_brace_placement", or even
390 things like "__class_md5sum(classname)__", to reduce the risk of
391 clashing with real hashes.
392
393 Example, decode JSON objects of the form "{ "__widget__" => <id> }"
394 into the corresponding $WIDGET{<id>} object:
395
396 # return whatever is in $WIDGET{5}:
397 JSON::XS
398 ->new
399 ->filter_json_single_key_object (__widget__ => sub {
400 $WIDGET{ $_[0] }
401 })
402 ->decode ('{"__widget__": 5')
403
404 # this can be used with a TO_JSON method in some "widget" class
405 # for serialisation to json:
406 sub WidgetBase::TO_JSON {
407 my ($self) = @_;
408
409 unless ($self->{id}) {
410 $self->{id} = ..get..some..id..;
411 $WIDGET{$self->{id}} = $self;
412 }
413
414 { __widget__ => $self->{id} }
415 }
282 416
283 $json = $json->shrink ([$enable]) 417 $json = $json->shrink ([$enable])
284 Perl usually over-allocates memory a bit when allocating space for 418 Perl usually over-allocates memory a bit when allocating space for
285 strings. This flag optionally resizes strings generated by either 419 strings. This flag optionally resizes strings generated by either
286 "encode" or "decode" to their minimum size possible. This can save 420 "encode" or "decode" to their minimum size possible. This can save
319 crossed to reach a given character in a string. 453 crossed to reach a given character in a string.
320 454
321 Setting the maximum depth to one disallows any nesting, so that 455 Setting the maximum depth to one disallows any nesting, so that
322 ensures that the object is only a single hash/object or array. 456 ensures that the object is only a single hash/object or array.
323 457
324 The argument to "max_depth" will be rounded up to the next nearest 458 The argument to "max_depth" will be rounded up to the next highest
325 power of two. 459 power of two. If no argument is given, the highest possible setting
460 will be used, which is rarely useful.
461
462 See SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS, below, for more info on why this is
463 useful.
464
465 $json = $json->max_size ([$maximum_string_size])
466 Set the maximum length a JSON text may have (in bytes) where
467 decoding is being attempted. The default is 0, meaning no limit.
468 When "decode" is called on a string longer then this number of
469 characters it will not attempt to decode the string but throw an
470 exception. This setting has no effect on "encode" (yet).
471
472 The argument to "max_size" will be rounded up to the next highest
473 power of two (so may be more than requested). If no argument is
474 given, the limit check will be deactivated (same as when 0 is
475 specified).
326 476
327 See SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS, below, for more info on why this is 477 See SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS, below, for more info on why this is
328 useful. 478 useful.
329 479
330 $json_text = $json->encode ($perl_scalar) 480 $json_text = $json->encode ($perl_scalar)
380 A JSON string becomes a string scalar in Perl - Unicode codepoints 530 A JSON string becomes a string scalar in Perl - Unicode codepoints
381 in JSON are represented by the same codepoints in the Perl string, 531 in JSON are represented by the same codepoints in the Perl string,
382 so no manual decoding is necessary. 532 so no manual decoding is necessary.
383 533
384 number 534 number
385 A JSON number becomes either an integer or numeric (floating point) 535 A JSON number becomes either an integer, numeric (floating point) or
386 scalar in perl, depending on its range and any fractional parts. On 536 string scalar in perl, depending on its range and any fractional
387 the Perl level, there is no difference between those as Perl handles 537 parts. On the Perl level, there is no difference between those as
388 all the conversion details, but an integer may take slightly less 538 Perl handles all the conversion details, but an integer may take
389 memory and might represent more values exactly than (floating point) 539 slightly less memory and might represent more values exactly than
390 numbers. 540 (floating point) numbers.
541
542 If the number consists of digits only, JSON::XS will try to
543 represent it as an integer value. If that fails, it will try to
544 represent it as a numeric (floating point) value if that is possible
545 without loss of precision. Otherwise it will preserve the number as
546 a string value.
547
548 Numbers containing a fractional or exponential part will always be
549 represented as numeric (floating point) values, possibly at a loss
550 of precision.
551
552 This might create round-tripping problems as numbers might become
553 strings, but as Perl is typeless there is no other way to do it.
391 554
392 true, false 555 true, false
393 These JSON atoms become "JSON::XS::true" and "JSON::XS::false", 556 These JSON atoms become "JSON::XS::true" and "JSON::XS::false",
394 respectively. They are overloaded to act almost exactly like the 557 respectively. They are overloaded to act almost exactly like the
395 numbers 1 and 0. You can check wether a scalar is a JSON boolean by 558 numbers 1 and 0. You can check wether a scalar is a JSON boolean by
588 It shows the number of encodes/decodes per second (JSON::XS uses the 751 It shows the number of encodes/decodes per second (JSON::XS uses the
589 functional interface, while JSON::XS/2 uses the OO interface with 752 functional interface, while JSON::XS/2 uses the OO interface with
590 pretty-printing and hashkey sorting enabled, JSON::XS/3 enables shrink). 753 pretty-printing and hashkey sorting enabled, JSON::XS/3 enables shrink).
591 Higher is better: 754 Higher is better:
592 755
756 Storable | 15779.925 | 14169.946 |
757 -----------+------------+------------+
593 module | encode | decode | 758 module | encode | decode |
594 -----------|------------|------------| 759 -----------|------------|------------|
595 JSON | 7645.468 | 4208.613 | 760 JSON | 4990.842 | 4088.813 |
596 JSON::DWIW | 40721.398 | 77101.176 | 761 JSON::DWIW | 51653.990 | 71575.154 |
597 JSON::PC | 65948.176 | 78251.940 | 762 JSON::PC | 65948.176 | 74631.744 |
598 JSON::Syck | 22844.793 | 26479.192 | 763 JSON::PP | 8931.652 | 3817.168 |
764 JSON::Syck | 24877.248 | 27776.848 |
599 JSON::XS | 388361.481 | 199728.762 | 765 JSON::XS | 388361.481 | 227951.304 |
600 JSON::XS/2 | 218453.333 | 192399.266 | 766 JSON::XS/2 | 227951.304 | 218453.333 |
601 JSON::XS/3 | 338250.323 | 192399.266 | 767 JSON::XS/3 | 338250.323 | 218453.333 |
602 Storable | 15779.925 | 14169.946 | 768 Storable | 16500.016 | 135300.129 |
603 -----------+------------+------------+ 769 -----------+------------+------------+
604 770
605 That is, JSON::XS is about five times faster than JSON::DWIW on 771 That is, JSON::XS is about five times faster than JSON::DWIW on
606 encoding, about three times faster on decoding, and over fourty times 772 encoding, about three times faster on decoding, and over fourty times
607 faster than JSON, even with pretty-printing and key sorting. It also 773 faster than JSON, even with pretty-printing and key sorting. It also
610 Using a longer test string (roughly 18KB, generated from Yahoo! Locals 776 Using a longer test string (roughly 18KB, generated from Yahoo! Locals
611 search API (http://nanoref.com/yahooapis/mgPdGg): 777 search API (http://nanoref.com/yahooapis/mgPdGg):
612 778
613 module | encode | decode | 779 module | encode | decode |
614 -----------|------------|------------| 780 -----------|------------|------------|
615 JSON | 254.685 | 37.665 | 781 JSON | 55.260 | 34.971 |
616 JSON::DWIW | 843.343 | 1049.731 | 782 JSON::DWIW | 825.228 | 1082.513 |
617 JSON::PC | 3602.116 | 2307.352 | 783 JSON::PC | 3571.444 | 2394.829 |
784 JSON::PP | 210.987 | 32.574 |
618 JSON::Syck | 505.107 | 787.899 | 785 JSON::Syck | 552.551 | 787.544 |
619 JSON::XS | 5747.196 | 3690.220 | 786 JSON::XS | 5780.463 | 4854.519 |
620 JSON::XS/2 | 3968.121 | 3676.634 | 787 JSON::XS/2 | 3869.998 | 4798.975 |
621 JSON::XS/3 | 6105.246 | 3662.508 | 788 JSON::XS/3 | 5862.880 | 4798.975 |
622 Storable | 4417.337 | 5285.161 | 789 Storable | 4445.002 | 5235.027 |
623 -----------+------------+------------+ 790 -----------+------------+------------+
624 791
625 Again, JSON::XS leads by far (except for Storable which non-surprisingly 792 Again, JSON::XS leads by far (except for Storable which non-surprisingly
626 decodes faster). 793 decodes faster).
627 794
642 Second, you need to avoid resource-starving attacks. That means you 809 Second, you need to avoid resource-starving attacks. That means you
643 should limit the size of JSON texts you accept, or make sure then when 810 should limit the size of JSON texts you accept, or make sure then when
644 your resources run out, thats just fine (e.g. by using a separate 811 your resources run out, thats just fine (e.g. by using a separate
645 process that can crash safely). The size of a JSON text in octets or 812 process that can crash safely). The size of a JSON text in octets or
646 characters is usually a good indication of the size of the resources 813 characters is usually a good indication of the size of the resources
647 required to decode it into a Perl structure. 814 required to decode it into a Perl structure. While JSON::XS can check
815 the size of the JSON text, it might be too late when you already have it
816 in memory, so you might want to check the size before you accept the
817 string.
648 818
649 Third, JSON::XS recurses using the C stack when decoding objects and 819 Third, JSON::XS recurses using the C stack when decoding objects and
650 arrays. The C stack is a limited resource: for instance, on my amd64 820 arrays. The C stack is a limited resource: for instance, on my amd64
651 machine with 8MB of stack size I can decode around 180k nested arrays 821 machine with 8MB of stack size I can decode around 180k nested arrays
652 but only 14k nested JSON objects (due to perl itself recursing deeply on 822 but only 14k nested JSON objects (due to perl itself recursing deeply on

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