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Revision 1.23 by root, Sun Mar 25 21:19:13 2007 UTC vs.
Revision 1.42 by root, Thu Jun 14 23:58:57 2007 UTC

86package JSON::XS; 86package JSON::XS;
87 87
88use strict; 88use strict;
89 89
90BEGIN { 90BEGIN {
91 our $VERSION = '0.8'; 91 our $VERSION = '1.24';
92 our @ISA = qw(Exporter); 92 our @ISA = qw(Exporter);
93 93
94 our @EXPORT = qw(to_json from_json objToJson jsonToObj); 94 our @EXPORT = qw(to_json from_json objToJson jsonToObj);
95 require Exporter; 95 require Exporter;
96 96
154 154
155If C<$enable> is true (or missing), then the C<encode> method will not 155If C<$enable> is true (or missing), then the C<encode> method will not
156generate characters outside the code range C<0..127> (which is ASCII). Any 156generate characters outside the code range C<0..127> (which is ASCII). Any
157unicode characters outside that range will be escaped using either a 157unicode characters outside that range will be escaped using either a
158single \uXXXX (BMP characters) or a double \uHHHH\uLLLLL escape sequence, 158single \uXXXX (BMP characters) or a double \uHHHH\uLLLLL escape sequence,
159as per RFC4627. 159as per RFC4627. The resulting encoded JSON text can be treated as a native
160unicode string, an ascii-encoded, latin1-encoded or UTF-8 encoded string,
161or any other superset of ASCII.
160 162
161If C<$enable> is false, then the C<encode> method will not escape Unicode 163If C<$enable> is false, then the C<encode> method will not escape Unicode
162characters unless required by the JSON syntax. This results in a faster 164characters unless required by the JSON syntax or other flags. This results
163and more compact format. 165in a faster and more compact format.
166
167The main use for this flag is to produce JSON texts that can be
168transmitted over a 7-bit channel, as the encoded JSON texts will not
169contain any 8 bit characters.
164 170
165 JSON::XS->new->ascii (1)->encode ([chr 0x10401]) 171 JSON::XS->new->ascii (1)->encode ([chr 0x10401])
166 => ["\ud801\udc01"] 172 => ["\ud801\udc01"]
173
174=item $json = $json->latin1 ([$enable])
175
176If C<$enable> is true (or missing), then the C<encode> method will encode
177the resulting JSON text as latin1 (or iso-8859-1), escaping any characters
178outside the code range C<0..255>. The resulting string can be treated as a
179latin1-encoded JSON text or a native unicode string. The C<decode> method
180will not be affected in any way by this flag, as C<decode> by default
181expects unicode, which is a strict superset of latin1.
182
183If C<$enable> is false, then the C<encode> method will not escape Unicode
184characters unless required by the JSON syntax or other flags.
185
186The main use for this flag is efficiently encoding binary data as JSON
187text, as most octets will not be escaped, resulting in a smaller encoded
188size. The disadvantage is that the resulting JSON text is encoded
189in latin1 (and must correctly be treated as such when storing and
190transfering), a rare encoding for JSON. It is therefore most useful when
191you want to store data structures known to contain binary data efficiently
192in files or databases, not when talking to other JSON encoders/decoders.
193
194 JSON::XS->new->latin1->encode (["\x{89}\x{abc}"]
195 => ["\x{89}\\u0abc"] # (perl syntax, U+abc escaped, U+89 not)
167 196
168=item $json = $json->utf8 ([$enable]) 197=item $json = $json->utf8 ([$enable])
169 198
170If C<$enable> is true (or missing), then the C<encode> method will encode 199If C<$enable> is true (or missing), then the C<encode> method will encode
171the JSON result into UTF-8, as required by many protocols, while the 200the JSON result into UTF-8, as required by many protocols, while the
284 => "Hello, World!" 313 => "Hello, World!"
285 314
286=item $json = $json->shrink ([$enable]) 315=item $json = $json->shrink ([$enable])
287 316
288Perl usually over-allocates memory a bit when allocating space for 317Perl usually over-allocates memory a bit when allocating space for
289strings. This flag optionally resizes strings generated by either 318strings. This flag optionally resizes strings generated by either
290C<encode> or C<decode> to their minimum size possible. This can save 319C<encode> or C<decode> to their minimum size possible. This can save
291memory when your JSON texts are either very very long or you have many 320memory when your JSON texts are either very very long or you have many
292short strings. It will also try to downgrade any strings to octet-form 321short strings. It will also try to downgrade any strings to octet-form
293if possible: perl stores strings internally either in an encoding called 322if possible: perl stores strings internally either in an encoding called
294UTF-X or in octet-form. The latter cannot store everything but uses less 323UTF-X or in octet-form. The latter cannot store everything but uses less
295space in general. 324space in general (and some buggy Perl or C code might even rely on that
325internal representation being used).
296 326
327The actual definition of what shrink does might change in future versions,
328but it will always try to save space at the expense of time.
329
297If C<$enable> is true (or missing), the string returned by C<encode> will be shrunk-to-fit, 330If C<$enable> is true (or missing), the string returned by C<encode> will
298while all strings generated by C<decode> will also be shrunk-to-fit. 331be shrunk-to-fit, while all strings generated by C<decode> will also be
332shrunk-to-fit.
299 333
300If C<$enable> is false, then the normal perl allocation algorithms are used. 334If C<$enable> is false, then the normal perl allocation algorithms are used.
301If you work with your data, then this is likely to be faster. 335If you work with your data, then this is likely to be faster.
302 336
303In the future, this setting might control other things, such as converting 337In the future, this setting might control other things, such as converting
304strings that look like integers or floats into integers or floats 338strings that look like integers or floats into integers or floats
305internally (there is no difference on the Perl level), saving space. 339internally (there is no difference on the Perl level), saving space.
306 340
307=item $json = $json->max_depth ([$maximum_nesting_depth]) 341=item $json = $json->max_depth ([$maximum_nesting_depth])
308 342
309Sets the maximum nesting level (default C<8192>) accepted while encoding 343Sets the maximum nesting level (default C<512>) accepted while encoding
310or decoding. If the JSON text or Perl data structure has an equal or 344or decoding. If the JSON text or Perl data structure has an equal or
311higher nesting level then this limit, then the encoder and decoder will 345higher nesting level then this limit, then the encoder and decoder will
312stop and croak at that point. 346stop and croak at that point.
313 347
314Nesting level is defined by number of hash- or arrayrefs that the encoder 348Nesting level is defined by number of hash- or arrayrefs that the encoder
340 374
341JSON numbers and strings become simple Perl scalars. JSON arrays become 375JSON numbers and strings become simple Perl scalars. JSON arrays become
342Perl arrayrefs and JSON objects become Perl hashrefs. C<true> becomes 376Perl arrayrefs and JSON objects become Perl hashrefs. C<true> becomes
343C<1>, C<false> becomes C<0> and C<null> becomes C<undef>. 377C<1>, C<false> becomes C<0> and C<null> becomes C<undef>.
344 378
379=item ($perl_scalar, $characters) = $json->decode_prefix ($json_text)
380
381This works like the C<decode> method, but instead of raising an exception
382when there is trailing garbage after the first JSON object, it will
383silently stop parsing there and return the number of characters consumed
384so far.
385
386This is useful if your JSON texts are not delimited by an outer protocol
387(which is not the brightest thing to do in the first place) and you need
388to know where the JSON text ends.
389
390 JSON::XS->new->decode_prefix ("[1] the tail")
391 => ([], 3)
392
345=back 393=back
346 394
347 395
348=head1 MAPPING 396=head1 MAPPING
349 397
353(what you put in comes out as something equivalent). 401(what you put in comes out as something equivalent).
354 402
355For the more enlightened: note that in the following descriptions, 403For the more enlightened: note that in the following descriptions,
356lowercase I<perl> refers to the Perl interpreter, while uppcercase I<Perl> 404lowercase I<perl> refers to the Perl interpreter, while uppcercase I<Perl>
357refers to the abstract Perl language itself. 405refers to the abstract Perl language itself.
406
358 407
359=head2 JSON -> PERL 408=head2 JSON -> PERL
360 409
361=over 4 410=over 4
362 411
394 443
395A JSON null atom becomes C<undef> in Perl. 444A JSON null atom becomes C<undef> in Perl.
396 445
397=back 446=back
398 447
448
399=head2 PERL -> JSON 449=head2 PERL -> JSON
400 450
401The mapping from Perl to JSON is slightly more difficult, as Perl is a 451The mapping from Perl to JSON is slightly more difficult, as Perl is a
402truly typeless language, so we can only guess which JSON type is meant by 452truly typeless language, so we can only guess which JSON type is meant by
403a Perl value. 453a Perl value.
405=over 4 455=over 4
406 456
407=item hash references 457=item hash references
408 458
409Perl hash references become JSON objects. As there is no inherent ordering 459Perl hash references become JSON objects. As there is no inherent ordering
410in hash keys, they will usually be encoded in a pseudo-random order that 460in hash keys (or JSON objects), they will usually be encoded in a
411can change between runs of the same program but stays generally the same 461pseudo-random order that can change between runs of the same program but
412within a single run of a program. JSON::XS can optionally sort the hash 462stays generally the same within a single run of a program. JSON::XS can
413keys (determined by the I<canonical> flag), so the same datastructure 463optionally sort the hash keys (determined by the I<canonical> flag), so
414will serialise to the same JSON text (given same settings and version of 464the same datastructure will serialise to the same JSON text (given same
415JSON::XS), but this incurs a runtime overhead. 465settings and version of JSON::XS), but this incurs a runtime overhead
466and is only rarely useful, e.g. when you want to compare some JSON text
467against another for equality.
416 468
417=item array references 469=item array references
418 470
419Perl array references become JSON arrays. 471Perl array references become JSON arrays.
472
473=item other references
474
475Other unblessed references are generally not allowed and will cause an
476exception to be thrown, except for references to the integers C<0> and
477C<1>, which get turned into C<false> and C<true> atoms in JSON. You can
478also use C<JSON::XS::false> and C<JSON::XS::true> to improve readability.
479
480 to_json [\0,JSON::XS::true] # yields [false,true]
420 481
421=item blessed objects 482=item blessed objects
422 483
423Blessed objects are not allowed. JSON::XS currently tries to encode their 484Blessed objects are not allowed. JSON::XS currently tries to encode their
424underlying representation (hash- or arrayref), but this behaviour might 485underlying representation (hash- or arrayref), but this behaviour might
456 $x += 0; # numify it, ensuring it will be dumped as a number 517 $x += 0; # numify it, ensuring it will be dumped as a number
457 $x *= 1; # same thing, the choise is yours. 518 $x *= 1; # same thing, the choise is yours.
458 519
459You can not currently output JSON booleans or force the type in other, 520You can not currently output JSON booleans or force the type in other,
460less obscure, ways. Tell me if you need this capability. 521less obscure, ways. Tell me if you need this capability.
461
462=item circular data structures
463
464Those will be encoded until memory or stackspace runs out.
465 522
466=back 523=back
467 524
468 525
469=head1 COMPARISON 526=head1 COMPARISON
550 607
551Does not check input for validity. 608Does not check input for validity.
552 609
553=back 610=back
554 611
612
613=head2 JSON and YAML
614
615You often hear that JSON is a subset (or a close subset) of YAML. This is,
616however, a mass hysteria and very far from the truth. In general, there is
617no way to configure JSON::XS to output a data structure as valid YAML.
618
619If you really must use JSON::XS to generate YAML, you should use this
620algorithm (subject to change in future versions):
621
622 my $to_yaml = JSON::XS->new->utf8->space_after (1);
623 my $yaml = $to_yaml->encode ($ref) . "\n";
624
625This will usually generate JSON texts that also parse as valid
626YAML. Please note that YAML has hardcoded limits on (simple) object key
627lengths that JSON doesn't have, so you should make sure that your hash
628keys are noticably shorter than the 1024 characters YAML allows.
629
630There might be other incompatibilities that I am not aware of. In general
631you should not try to generate YAML with a JSON generator or vice versa,
632or try to parse JSON with a YAML parser or vice versa: chances are high
633that you will run into severe interoperability problems.
634
635
555=head2 SPEED 636=head2 SPEED
556 637
557It seems that JSON::XS is surprisingly fast, as shown in the following 638It seems that JSON::XS is surprisingly fast, as shown in the following
558tables. They have been generated with the help of the C<eg/bench> program 639tables. They have been generated with the help of the C<eg/bench> program
559in the JSON::XS distribution, to make it easy to compare on your own 640in the JSON::XS distribution, to make it easy to compare on your own
560system. 641system.
561 642
562First comes a comparison between various modules using a very short JSON 643First comes a comparison between various modules using a very short
563string: 644single-line JSON string:
564 645
565 {"method": "handleMessage", "params": ["user1", "we were just talking"], "id": null} 646 {"method": "handleMessage", "params": ["user1", "we were just talking"], \
647 "id": null, "array":[1,11,234,-5,1e5,1e7, true, false]}
566 648
567It shows the number of encodes/decodes per second (JSON::XS uses the 649It shows the number of encodes/decodes per second (JSON::XS uses
568functional interface, while JSON::XS/2 uses the OO interface with 650the functional interface, while JSON::XS/2 uses the OO interface
569pretty-printing and hashkey sorting enabled). Higher is better: 651with pretty-printing and hashkey sorting enabled, JSON::XS/3 enables
652shrink). Higher is better:
570 653
571 module | encode | decode | 654 module | encode | decode |
572 -----------|------------|------------| 655 -----------|------------|------------|
573 JSON | 11488.516 | 7823.035 | 656 JSON | 7645.468 | 4208.613 |
574 JSON::DWIW | 94708.054 | 129094.260 | 657 JSON::DWIW | 40721.398 | 77101.176 |
575 JSON::PC | 63884.157 | 128528.212 | 658 JSON::PC | 65948.176 | 78251.940 |
576 JSON::Syck | 34898.677 | 42096.911 | 659 JSON::Syck | 22844.793 | 26479.192 |
577 JSON::XS | 654027.064 | 396423.669 | 660 JSON::XS | 388361.481 | 199728.762 |
578 JSON::XS/2 | 371564.190 | 371725.613 | 661 JSON::XS/2 | 218453.333 | 192399.266 |
662 JSON::XS/3 | 338250.323 | 192399.266 |
663 Storable | 15779.925 | 14169.946 |
579 -----------+------------+------------+ 664 -----------+------------+------------+
580 665
581That is, JSON::XS is more than six times faster than JSON::DWIW on 666That is, JSON::XS is about five times faster than JSON::DWIW on encoding,
582encoding, more than three times faster on decoding, and about thirty times 667about three times faster on decoding, and over fourty times faster
583faster than JSON, even with pretty-printing and key sorting. 668than JSON, even with pretty-printing and key sorting. It also compares
669favourably to Storable for small amounts of data.
584 670
585Using a longer test string (roughly 18KB, generated from Yahoo! Locals 671Using a longer test string (roughly 18KB, generated from Yahoo! Locals
586search API (http://nanoref.com/yahooapis/mgPdGg): 672search API (http://nanoref.com/yahooapis/mgPdGg):
587 673
588 module | encode | decode | 674 module | encode | decode |
589 -----------|------------|------------| 675 -----------|------------|------------|
590 JSON | 273.023 | 44.674 | 676 JSON | 254.685 | 37.665 |
591 JSON::DWIW | 1089.383 | 1145.704 | 677 JSON::DWIW | 843.343 | 1049.731 |
592 JSON::PC | 3097.419 | 2393.921 | 678 JSON::PC | 3602.116 | 2307.352 |
593 JSON::Syck | 514.060 | 843.053 | 679 JSON::Syck | 505.107 | 787.899 |
594 JSON::XS | 6479.668 | 3636.364 | 680 JSON::XS | 5747.196 | 3690.220 |
595 JSON::XS/2 | 3774.221 | 3599.124 | 681 JSON::XS/2 | 3968.121 | 3676.634 |
682 JSON::XS/3 | 6105.246 | 3662.508 |
683 Storable | 4417.337 | 5285.161 |
596 -----------+------------+------------+ 684 -----------+------------+------------+
597 685
598Again, JSON::XS leads by far. 686Again, JSON::XS leads by far (except for Storable which non-surprisingly
687decodes faster).
599 688
600On large strings containing lots of high unicode characters, some modules 689On large strings containing lots of high unicode characters, some modules
601(such as JSON::PC) seem to decode faster than JSON::XS, but the result 690(such as JSON::PC) seem to decode faster than JSON::XS, but the result
602will be broken due to missing (or wrong) unicode handling. Others refuse 691will be broken due to missing (or wrong) unicode handling. Others refuse
603to decode or encode properly, so it was impossible to prepare a fair 692to decode or encode properly, so it was impossible to prepare a fair
620usually a good indication of the size of the resources required to decode 709usually a good indication of the size of the resources required to decode
621it into a Perl structure. 710it into a Perl structure.
622 711
623Third, JSON::XS recurses using the C stack when decoding objects and 712Third, JSON::XS recurses using the C stack when decoding objects and
624arrays. The C stack is a limited resource: for instance, on my amd64 713arrays. The C stack is a limited resource: for instance, on my amd64
625machine with 8MB of stack size I can decode around 180k nested arrays 714machine with 8MB of stack size I can decode around 180k nested arrays but
626but only 14k nested JSON objects. If that is exceeded, the program 715only 14k nested JSON objects (due to perl itself recursing deeply on croak
716to free the temporary). If that is exceeded, the program crashes. to be
627crashes. Thats why the default nesting limit is set to 8192. If your 717conservative, the default nesting limit is set to 512. If your process
628process has a smaller stack, you should adjust this setting accordingly 718has a smaller stack, you should adjust this setting accordingly with the
629with the C<max_depth> method. 719C<max_depth> method.
630 720
631And last but least, something else could bomb you that I forgot to think 721And last but least, something else could bomb you that I forgot to think
632of. In that case, you get to keep the pieces. I am alway sopen for hints, 722of. In that case, you get to keep the pieces. I am always open for hints,
633though... 723though...
724
725If you are using JSON::XS to return packets to consumption
726by javascript scripts in a browser you should have a look at
727L<http://jpsykes.com/47/practical-csrf-and-json-security> to see wether
728you are vulnerable to some common attack vectors (which really are browser
729design bugs, but it is still you who will have to deal with it, as major
730browser developers care only for features, not about doing security
731right).
634 732
635 733
636=head1 BUGS 734=head1 BUGS
637 735
638While the goal of this module is to be correct, that unfortunately does 736While the goal of this module is to be correct, that unfortunately does
640still relatively early in its development. If you keep reporting bugs they 738still relatively early in its development. If you keep reporting bugs they
641will be fixed swiftly, though. 739will be fixed swiftly, though.
642 740
643=cut 741=cut
644 742
743sub true() { \1 }
744sub false() { \0 }
745
6451; 7461;
646 747
647=head1 AUTHOR 748=head1 AUTHOR
648 749
649 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de> 750 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de>

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