Convert PHP Object To JSON | PHP Array To JSON

Since JSON is a ubiquitous data format for sharing and storing data, a PHP backend must allow JSON data processing. In this tutorial, we’ll learn about the JSON format and convert PHP Object to JSON.

Contents

• Definitions
  • Array
  • Object
  • Json
  • json_encode Function
  • json_decode Function
• PHP Array to JSON
• JSON To PHP Array
• PHP Object to JSON
• Conclusion

Definitions

Array

Array is a data structure that contains a group of elements. In case you want to go deeper in arrays, click here to get it done using the official documentation.

Object

Object is an individual instance of the data structure defined by a class.

Example

Object 1	Object 2
Name: Anisha Age: 24	Name: Josie Age: 29

JSON

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is one of the most popular open-standard file formats used for storing and sharing data

json_encode()

It is an inbuild php function  that is used to convert PHP array or object into JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) representation.

json_decode()

Takes a JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) encoded string and converts it into a PHP variable.

Convert PHP Array to JSON

First create an array.

$person = array('name' => 'Rhyley', 'email' => 'rhyley@company.com');

To convert it we use json_encode($person). Print the array and the json.

 $person = array('name' => 'Rhyley', 'email' => 'rhyley@company.com');

 print_r($person);

 echo "---------------- \n";

 echo json_encode($person);

Output

Array
(
    [name] => Rhyley
    [email] => rhyley@company.com
)
---------------- 
{"name":"Rhyley","email":"rhyley@company.com"}

Convert JSON To PHP Array

For JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) to PHP Array we use json_decode.

$json = json_encode($person);

// print the array
print_r(json_decode($json));

Output

(
    [name] => Rhyley
    [email] => rhyley@company.com
)

Convert PHP Object to JSON

Let’s understand how we can JSON_encode a PHP object by creating an instance of Fruits.

<?php
class Fruit {
  // Properties
  public $name;
  public $color;

  // Methods
  function set_name($name) {
    $this->name = $name;
  }

  function set_color($color){
      $this->color = $color;
  }

  function get_name() {
    return $this->name;
  }

  function get_color(){
      return $this->color;
  }
}

$blackberries = new Fruit();
$blackberries->set_name('Blackberries');
$blackberries->set_color('Violet');

echo print_r($blackberries);

Output

Fruit Object
(
    [name] => Blackberries
    [color] => Violet
)

To convert a PHP Object to JSON we use json_encode.

echo json_encode($blackberries);

Output

{"name":"Blackberries","color":"Violet"}

Conclusion

Now you can manipulate the data as well as you want. With this understanding of processing JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) data using PHP, go ahead and encode your PHP objects into JSON and share them across the internet.

We suggest you to continue learning more about arrays.

Thanks for reading!