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Revision 1.108 by root, Tue Jul 15 11:29:29 2008 UTC vs.
Revision 1.139 by root, Thu May 23 09:31:32 2013 UTC

49to write yet another JSON module? While it seems there are many JSON 49to write yet another JSON module? While it seems there are many JSON
50modules, none of them correctly handle all corner cases, and in most cases 50modules, none of them correctly handle all corner cases, and in most cases
51their maintainers are unresponsive, gone missing, or not listening to bug 51their maintainers are unresponsive, gone missing, or not listening to bug
52reports for other reasons. 52reports for other reasons.
53 53
54See COMPARISON, below, for a comparison to some other JSON modules.
55
56See MAPPING, below, on how JSON::XS maps perl values to JSON values and 54See MAPPING, below, on how JSON::XS maps perl values to JSON values and
57vice versa. 55vice versa.
58 56
59=head2 FEATURES 57=head2 FEATURES
60 58
66so, and even documents what "correct" means. 64so, and even documents what "correct" means.
67 65
68=item * round-trip integrity 66=item * round-trip integrity
69 67
70When you serialise a perl data structure using only data types supported 68When you serialise a perl data structure using only data types supported
71by JSON, the deserialised data structure is identical on the Perl level. 69by JSON and Perl, the deserialised data structure is identical on the Perl
72(e.g. the string "2.0" doesn't suddenly become "2" just because it looks 70level. (e.g. the string "2.0" doesn't suddenly become "2" just because
73like a number). There minor I<are> exceptions to this, read the MAPPING 71it looks like a number). There I<are> minor exceptions to this, read the
74section below to learn about those. 72MAPPING section below to learn about those.
75 73
76=item * strict checking of JSON correctness 74=item * strict checking of JSON correctness
77 75
78There is no guessing, no generating of illegal JSON texts by default, 76There is no guessing, no generating of illegal JSON texts by default,
79and only JSON is accepted as input by default (the latter is a security 77and only JSON is accepted as input by default (the latter is a security
101 99
102=cut 100=cut
103 101
104package JSON::XS; 102package JSON::XS;
105 103
106use strict; 104use common::sense;
107 105
108our $VERSION = '2.22'; 106our $VERSION = 2.34;
109our @ISA = qw(Exporter); 107our @ISA = qw(Exporter);
110 108
111our @EXPORT = qw(encode_json decode_json to_json from_json); 109our @EXPORT = qw(encode_json decode_json to_json from_json);
112 110
113sub to_json($) { 111sub to_json($) {
434If C<$enable> is true (or missing), then the C<encode> method will output JSON objects 432If C<$enable> is true (or missing), then the C<encode> method will output JSON objects
435by sorting their keys. This is adding a comparatively high overhead. 433by sorting their keys. This is adding a comparatively high overhead.
436 434
437If C<$enable> is false, then the C<encode> method will output key-value 435If C<$enable> is false, then the C<encode> method will output key-value
438pairs in the order Perl stores them (which will likely change between runs 436pairs in the order Perl stores them (which will likely change between runs
439of the same script). 437of the same script, and can change even within the same run from 5.18
438onwards).
440 439
441This option is useful if you want the same data structure to be encoded as 440This option is useful if you want the same data structure to be encoded as
442the same JSON text (given the same overall settings). If it is disabled, 441the same JSON text (given the same overall settings). If it is disabled,
443the same hash might be encoded differently even if contains the same data, 442the same hash might be encoded differently even if contains the same data,
444as key-value pairs have no inherent ordering in Perl. 443as key-value pairs have no inherent ordering in Perl.
445 444
446This setting has no effect when decoding JSON texts. 445This setting has no effect when decoding JSON texts.
446
447This setting has currently no effect on tied hashes.
447 448
448=item $json = $json->allow_nonref ([$enable]) 449=item $json = $json->allow_nonref ([$enable])
449 450
450=item $enabled = $json->get_allow_nonref 451=item $enabled = $json->get_allow_nonref
451 452
713calls). 714calls).
714 715
715JSON::XS will only attempt to parse the JSON text once it is sure it 716JSON::XS will only attempt to parse the JSON text once it is sure it
716has enough text to get a decisive result, using a very simple but 717has enough text to get a decisive result, using a very simple but
717truly incremental parser. This means that it sometimes won't stop as 718truly incremental parser. This means that it sometimes won't stop as
718early as the full parser, for example, it doesn't detect parenthese 719early as the full parser, for example, it doesn't detect mismatched
719mismatches. The only thing it guarantees is that it starts decoding as 720parentheses. The only thing it guarantees is that it starts decoding as
720soon as a syntactically valid JSON text has been seen. This means you need 721soon as a syntactically valid JSON text has been seen. This means you need
721to set resource limits (e.g. C<max_size>) to ensure the parser will stop 722to set resource limits (e.g. C<max_size>) to ensure the parser will stop
722parsing in the presence if syntax errors. 723parsing in the presence if syntax errors.
723 724
724The following methods implement this incremental parser. 725The following methods implement this incremental parser.
751objects or arrays, instead they must be concatenated back-to-back. If 752objects or arrays, instead they must be concatenated back-to-back. If
752an error occurs, an exception will be raised as in the scalar context 753an error occurs, an exception will be raised as in the scalar context
753case. Note that in this case, any previously-parsed JSON texts will be 754case. Note that in this case, any previously-parsed JSON texts will be
754lost. 755lost.
755 756
757Example: Parse some JSON arrays/objects in a given string and return
758them.
759
760 my @objs = JSON::XS->new->incr_parse ("[5][7][1,2]");
761
756=item $lvalue_string = $json->incr_text 762=item $lvalue_string = $json->incr_text
757 763
758This method returns the currently stored JSON fragment as an lvalue, that 764This method returns the currently stored JSON fragment as an lvalue, that
759is, you can manipulate it. This I<only> works when a preceding call to 765is, you can manipulate it. This I<only> works when a preceding call to
760C<incr_parse> in I<scalar context> successfully returned an object. Under 766C<incr_parse> in I<scalar context> successfully returned an object. Under
767JSON object or b) parsing multiple JSON objects separated by non-JSON text 773JSON object or b) parsing multiple JSON objects separated by non-JSON text
768(such as commas). 774(such as commas).
769 775
770=item $json->incr_skip 776=item $json->incr_skip
771 777
772This will reset the state of the incremental parser and will remove the 778This will reset the state of the incremental parser and will remove
773parsed text from the input buffer. This is useful after C<incr_parse> 779the parsed text from the input buffer so far. This is useful after
774died, in which case the input buffer and incremental parser state is left 780C<incr_parse> died, in which case the input buffer and incremental parser
775unchanged, to skip the text parsed so far and to reset the parse state. 781state is left unchanged, to skip the text parsed so far and to reset the
782parse state.
783
784The difference to C<incr_reset> is that only text until the parse error
785occured is removed.
776 786
777=item $json->incr_reset 787=item $json->incr_reset
778 788
779This completely resets the incremental parser, that is, after this call, 789This completely resets the incremental parser, that is, after this call,
780it will be as if the parser had never parsed anything. 790it will be as if the parser had never parsed anything.
781 791
782This is useful if you want ot repeatedly parse JSON objects and want to 792This is useful if you want to repeatedly parse JSON objects and want to
783ignore any trailing data, which means you have to reset the parser after 793ignore any trailing data, which means you have to reset the parser after
784each successful decode. 794each successful decode.
785 795
786=back 796=back
787 797
985Numbers containing a fractional or exponential part will always be 995Numbers containing a fractional or exponential part will always be
986represented as numeric (floating point) values, possibly at a loss of 996represented as numeric (floating point) values, possibly at a loss of
987precision (in which case you might lose perfect roundtripping ability, but 997precision (in which case you might lose perfect roundtripping ability, but
988the JSON number will still be re-encoded as a JSON number). 998the JSON number will still be re-encoded as a JSON number).
989 999
1000Note that precision is not accuracy - binary floating point values cannot
1001represent most decimal fractions exactly, and when converting from and to
1002floating point, JSON::XS only guarantees precision up to but not including
1003the leats significant bit.
1004
990=item true, false 1005=item true, false
991 1006
992These JSON atoms become C<JSON::XS::true> and C<JSON::XS::false>, 1007These JSON atoms become C<JSON::XS::true> and C<JSON::XS::false>,
993respectively. They are overloaded to act almost exactly like the numbers 1008respectively. They are overloaded to act almost exactly like the numbers
994C<1> and C<0>. You can check whether a scalar is a JSON boolean by using 1009C<1> and C<0>. You can check whether a scalar is a JSON boolean by using
1081 1096
1082You can not currently force the type in other, less obscure, ways. Tell me 1097You can not currently force the type in other, less obscure, ways. Tell me
1083if you need this capability (but don't forget to explain why it's needed 1098if you need this capability (but don't forget to explain why it's needed
1084:). 1099:).
1085 1100
1101Note that numerical precision has the same meaning as under Perl (so
1102binary to decimal conversion follows the same rules as in Perl, which
1103can differ to other languages). Also, your perl interpreter might expose
1104extensions to the floating point numbers of your platform, such as
1105infinities or NaN's - these cannot be represented in JSON, and it is an
1106error to pass those in.
1107
1086=back 1108=back
1087 1109
1088 1110
1089=head1 ENCODING/CODESET FLAG NOTES 1111=head1 ENCODING/CODESET FLAG NOTES
1090 1112
1182proper subset of most 8-bit and multibyte encodings in use in the world. 1204proper subset of most 8-bit and multibyte encodings in use in the world.
1183 1205
1184=back 1206=back
1185 1207
1186 1208
1209=head2 JSON and ECMAscript
1210
1211JSON syntax is based on how literals are represented in javascript (the
1212not-standardised predecessor of ECMAscript) which is presumably why it is
1213called "JavaScript Object Notation".
1214
1215However, JSON is not a subset (and also not a superset of course) of
1216ECMAscript (the standard) or javascript (whatever browsers actually
1217implement).
1218
1219If you want to use javascript's C<eval> function to "parse" JSON, you
1220might run into parse errors for valid JSON texts, or the resulting data
1221structure might not be queryable:
1222
1223One of the problems is that U+2028 and U+2029 are valid characters inside
1224JSON strings, but are not allowed in ECMAscript string literals, so the
1225following Perl fragment will not output something that can be guaranteed
1226to be parsable by javascript's C<eval>:
1227
1228 use JSON::XS;
1229
1230 print encode_json [chr 0x2028];
1231
1232The right fix for this is to use a proper JSON parser in your javascript
1233programs, and not rely on C<eval> (see for example Douglas Crockford's
1234F<json2.js> parser).
1235
1236If this is not an option, you can, as a stop-gap measure, simply encode to
1237ASCII-only JSON:
1238
1239 use JSON::XS;
1240
1241 print JSON::XS->new->ascii->encode ([chr 0x2028]);
1242
1243Note that this will enlarge the resulting JSON text quite a bit if you
1244have many non-ASCII characters. You might be tempted to run some regexes
1245to only escape U+2028 and U+2029, e.g.:
1246
1247 # DO NOT USE THIS!
1248 my $json = JSON::XS->new->utf8->encode ([chr 0x2028]);
1249 $json =~ s/\xe2\x80\xa8/\\u2028/g; # escape U+2028
1250 $json =~ s/\xe2\x80\xa9/\\u2029/g; # escape U+2029
1251 print $json;
1252
1253Note that I<this is a bad idea>: the above only works for U+2028 and
1254U+2029 and thus only for fully ECMAscript-compliant parsers. Many existing
1255javascript implementations, however, have issues with other characters as
1256well - using C<eval> naively simply I<will> cause problems.
1257
1258Another problem is that some javascript implementations reserve
1259some property names for their own purposes (which probably makes
1260them non-ECMAscript-compliant). For example, Iceweasel reserves the
1261C<__proto__> property name for its own purposes.
1262
1263If that is a problem, you could parse try to filter the resulting JSON
1264output for these property strings, e.g.:
1265
1266 $json =~ s/"__proto__"\s*:/"__proto__renamed":/g;
1267
1268This works because C<__proto__> is not valid outside of strings, so every
1269occurence of C<"__proto__"\s*:> must be a string used as property name.
1270
1271If you know of other incompatibilities, please let me know.
1272
1273
1187=head2 JSON and YAML 1274=head2 JSON and YAML
1188 1275
1189You often hear that JSON is a subset of YAML. This is, however, a mass 1276You often hear that JSON is a subset of YAML. This is, however, a mass
1190hysteria(*) and very far from the truth (as of the time of this writing), 1277hysteria(*) and very far from the truth (as of the time of this writing),
1191so let me state it clearly: I<in general, there is no way to configure 1278so let me state it clearly: I<in general, there is no way to configure
1199 my $yaml = $to_yaml->encode ($ref) . "\n"; 1286 my $yaml = $to_yaml->encode ($ref) . "\n";
1200 1287
1201This will I<usually> generate JSON texts that also parse as valid 1288This will I<usually> generate JSON texts that also parse as valid
1202YAML. Please note that YAML has hardcoded limits on (simple) object key 1289YAML. Please note that YAML has hardcoded limits on (simple) object key
1203lengths that JSON doesn't have and also has different and incompatible 1290lengths that JSON doesn't have and also has different and incompatible
1204unicode handling, so you should make sure that your hash keys are 1291unicode character escape syntax, so you should make sure that your hash
1205noticeably shorter than the 1024 "stream characters" YAML allows and that 1292keys are noticeably shorter than the 1024 "stream characters" YAML allows
1206you do not have characters with codepoint values outside the Unicode BMP 1293and that you do not have characters with codepoint values outside the
1207(basic multilingual page). YAML also does not allow C<\/> sequences in 1294Unicode BMP (basic multilingual page). YAML also does not allow C<\/>
1208strings (which JSON::XS does not I<currently> generate, but other JSON 1295sequences in strings (which JSON::XS does not I<currently> generate, but
1209generators might). 1296other JSON generators might).
1210 1297
1211There might be other incompatibilities that I am not aware of (or the YAML 1298There might be other incompatibilities that I am not aware of (or the YAML
1212specification has been changed yet again - it does so quite often). In 1299specification has been changed yet again - it does so quite often). In
1213general you should not try to generate YAML with a JSON generator or vice 1300general you should not try to generate YAML with a JSON generator or vice
1214versa, or try to parse JSON with a YAML parser or vice versa: chances are 1301versa, or try to parse JSON with a YAML parser or vice versa: chances are
1233that difficult or long) and finally make YAML compatible to it, and 1320that difficult or long) and finally make YAML compatible to it, and
1234educating users about the changes, instead of spreading lies about the 1321educating users about the changes, instead of spreading lies about the
1235real compatibility for many I<years> and trying to silence people who 1322real compatibility for many I<years> and trying to silence people who
1236point out that it isn't true. 1323point out that it isn't true.
1237 1324
1325Addendum/2009: the YAML 1.2 spec is still incompatible with JSON, even
1326though the incompatibilities have been documented (and are known to Brian)
1327for many years and the spec makes explicit claims that YAML is a superset
1328of JSON. It would be so easy to fix, but apparently, bullying people and
1329corrupting userdata is so much easier.
1330
1238=back 1331=back
1239 1332
1240 1333
1241=head2 SPEED 1334=head2 SPEED
1242 1335
1249a very short single-line JSON string (also available at 1342a very short single-line JSON string (also available at
1250L<http://dist.schmorp.de/misc/json/short.json>). 1343L<http://dist.schmorp.de/misc/json/short.json>).
1251 1344
1252 {"method": "handleMessage", "params": ["user1", 1345 {"method": "handleMessage", "params": ["user1",
1253 "we were just talking"], "id": null, "array":[1,11,234,-5,1e5,1e7, 1346 "we were just talking"], "id": null, "array":[1,11,234,-5,1e5,1e7,
1254 true, false]} 1347 1, 0]}
1255 1348
1256It shows the number of encodes/decodes per second (JSON::XS uses 1349It shows the number of encodes/decodes per second (JSON::XS uses
1257the functional interface, while JSON::XS/2 uses the OO interface 1350the functional interface, while JSON::XS/2 uses the OO interface
1258with pretty-printing and hashkey sorting enabled, JSON::XS/3 enables 1351with pretty-printing and hashkey sorting enabled, JSON::XS/3 enables
1259shrink). Higher is better: 1352shrink. JSON::DWIW/DS uses the deserialise function, while JSON::DWIW::FJ
1353uses the from_json method). Higher is better:
1260 1354
1261 module | encode | decode | 1355 module | encode | decode |
1262 -----------|------------|------------| 1356 --------------|------------|------------|
1263 JSON 1.x | 4990.842 | 4088.813 | 1357 JSON::DWIW/DS | 86302.551 | 102300.098 |
1264 JSON::DWIW | 51653.990 | 71575.154 | 1358 JSON::DWIW/FJ | 86302.551 | 75983.768 |
1265 JSON::PC | 65948.176 | 74631.744 | 1359 JSON::PP | 15827.562 | 6638.658 |
1266 JSON::PP | 8931.652 | 3817.168 | 1360 JSON::Syck | 63358.066 | 47662.545 |
1267 JSON::Syck | 24877.248 | 27776.848 | 1361 JSON::XS | 511500.488 | 511500.488 |
1268 JSON::XS | 388361.481 | 227951.304 | 1362 JSON::XS/2 | 291271.111 | 388361.481 |
1269 JSON::XS/2 | 227951.304 | 218453.333 | 1363 JSON::XS/3 | 361577.931 | 361577.931 |
1270 JSON::XS/3 | 338250.323 | 218453.333 | 1364 Storable | 66788.280 | 265462.278 |
1271 Storable | 16500.016 | 135300.129 |
1272 -----------+------------+------------+ 1365 --------------+------------+------------+
1273 1366
1274That is, JSON::XS is about five times faster than JSON::DWIW on encoding, 1367That is, JSON::XS is almost six times faster than JSON::DWIW on encoding,
1275about three times faster on decoding, and over forty times faster 1368about five times faster on decoding, and over thirty to seventy times
1276than JSON, even with pretty-printing and key sorting. It also compares 1369faster than JSON's pure perl implementation. It also compares favourably
1277favourably to Storable for small amounts of data. 1370to Storable for small amounts of data.
1278 1371
1279Using a longer test string (roughly 18KB, generated from Yahoo! Locals 1372Using a longer test string (roughly 18KB, generated from Yahoo! Locals
1280search API (L<http://dist.schmorp.de/misc/json/long.json>). 1373search API (L<http://dist.schmorp.de/misc/json/long.json>).
1281 1374
1282 module | encode | decode | 1375 module | encode | decode |
1283 -----------|------------|------------| 1376 --------------|------------|------------|
1284 JSON 1.x | 55.260 | 34.971 | 1377 JSON::DWIW/DS | 1647.927 | 2673.916 |
1285 JSON::DWIW | 825.228 | 1082.513 | 1378 JSON::DWIW/FJ | 1630.249 | 2596.128 |
1286 JSON::PC | 3571.444 | 2394.829 |
1287 JSON::PP | 210.987 | 32.574 | 1379 JSON::PP | 400.640 | 62.311 |
1288 JSON::Syck | 552.551 | 787.544 | 1380 JSON::Syck | 1481.040 | 1524.869 |
1289 JSON::XS | 5780.463 | 4854.519 | 1381 JSON::XS | 20661.596 | 9541.183 |
1290 JSON::XS/2 | 3869.998 | 4798.975 | 1382 JSON::XS/2 | 10683.403 | 9416.938 |
1291 JSON::XS/3 | 5862.880 | 4798.975 | 1383 JSON::XS/3 | 20661.596 | 9400.054 |
1292 Storable | 4445.002 | 5235.027 | 1384 Storable | 19765.806 | 10000.725 |
1293 -----------+------------+------------+ 1385 --------------+------------+------------+
1294 1386
1295Again, JSON::XS leads by far (except for Storable which non-surprisingly 1387Again, JSON::XS leads by far (except for Storable which non-surprisingly
1296decodes faster). 1388decodes a bit faster).
1297 1389
1298On large strings containing lots of high Unicode characters, some modules 1390On large strings containing lots of high Unicode characters, some modules
1299(such as JSON::PC) seem to decode faster than JSON::XS, but the result 1391(such as JSON::PC) seem to decode faster than JSON::XS, but the result
1300will be broken due to missing (or wrong) Unicode handling. Others refuse 1392will be broken due to missing (or wrong) Unicode handling. Others refuse
1301to decode or encode properly, so it was impossible to prepare a fair 1393to decode or encode properly, so it was impossible to prepare a fair
1337information you might want to make sure that exceptions thrown by JSON::XS 1429information you might want to make sure that exceptions thrown by JSON::XS
1338will not end up in front of untrusted eyes. 1430will not end up in front of untrusted eyes.
1339 1431
1340If you are using JSON::XS to return packets to consumption 1432If you are using JSON::XS to return packets to consumption
1341by JavaScript scripts in a browser you should have a look at 1433by JavaScript scripts in a browser you should have a look at
1342L<http://jpsykes.com/47/practical-csrf-and-json-security> to see whether 1434L<http://blog.archive.jpsykes.com/47/practical-csrf-and-json-security/> to
1343you are vulnerable to some common attack vectors (which really are browser 1435see whether you are vulnerable to some common attack vectors (which really
1344design bugs, but it is still you who will have to deal with it, as major 1436are browser design bugs, but it is still you who will have to deal with
1345browser developers care only for features, not about getting security 1437it, as major browser developers care only for features, not about getting
1346right). 1438security right).
1347 1439
1348 1440
1349=head1 THREADS 1441=head1 THREADS
1350 1442
1351This module is I<not> guaranteed to be thread safe and there are no 1443This module is I<not> guaranteed to be thread safe and there are no
1352plans to change this until Perl gets thread support (as opposed to the 1444plans to change this until Perl gets thread support (as opposed to the
1353horribly slow so-called "threads" which are simply slow and bloated 1445horribly slow so-called "threads" which are simply slow and bloated
1354process simulations - use fork, it's I<much> faster, cheaper, better). 1446process simulations - use fork, it's I<much> faster, cheaper, better).
1355 1447
1356(It might actually work, but you have been warned). 1448(It might actually work, but you have been warned).
1449
1450
1451=head1 THE PERILS OF SETLOCALE
1452
1453Sometimes people avoid the Perl locale support and directly call the
1454system's setlocale function with C<LC_ALL>.
1455
1456This breaks both perl and modules such as JSON::XS, as stringification of
1457numbers no longer works correcly (e.g. C<$x = 0.1; print "$x"+1> might
1458print C<1>, and JSON::XS might output illegal JSON as JSON::XS relies on
1459perl to stringify numbers).
1460
1461The solution is simple: don't call C<setlocale>, or use it for only those
1462categories you need, such as C<LC_MESSAGES> or C<LC_CTYPE>.
1463
1464If you need C<LC_NUMERIC>, you should enable it only around the code that
1465actually needs it (avoiding stringification of numbers), and restore it
1466afterwards.
1357 1467
1358 1468
1359=head1 BUGS 1469=head1 BUGS
1360 1470
1361While the goal of this module is to be correct, that unfortunately does 1471While the goal of this module is to be correct, that unfortunately does

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