What is the json in php?


A common use of JSON is to read data from a web server, and display the data in a web page.

This chapter will teach you how to exchange JSON data between the client and a PHP server.


The PHP File

PHP has some built-in functions to handle JSON.

Objects in PHP can be converted into JSON by using the PHP function json_encode():

PHP file

$myObj->name = "John";
$myObj->age = 30;
$myObj->city = "New York";

$myJSON = json_encode($myObj);

echo $myJSON;
?>

Show PHP file »

The Client JavaScript

Here is a JavaScript on the client, using an AJAX call to request the PHP file from the example above:

Example

Use JSON.parse() to convert the result into a JavaScript object:

const xmlhttp = new XMLHttpRequest();
xmlhttp.onload = function() {
  const myObj = JSON.parse(this.responseText);
  document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = myObj.name;
}
xmlhttp.open("GET", "demo_file.php");
xmlhttp.send();

Try it Yourself »



PHP Array

Arrays in PHP will also be converted into JSON when using the PHP function json_encode():

PHP file

$myArr = array("John", "Mary", "Peter", "Sally");

$myJSON = json_encode($myArr);

echo $myJSON;
?>

Show PHP file »

The Client JavaScript

Here is a JavaScript on the client, using an AJAX call to request the PHP file from the array example above:

Example

Use JSON.parse() to convert the result into a JavaScript array:

var xmlhttp = new XMLHttpRequest();
xmlhttp.onload = function() {
  const myObj = JSON.parse(this.responseText);
  document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = myObj[2];
}
xmlhttp.open("GET", "demo_file_array.php", true);
xmlhttp.send();

Try it Yourself »


PHP Database

PHP is a server side programming language, and can be used to access a database.

Imagine you have a database on your server, and you want to send a request to it from the client where you ask for the 10 first rows in a table called "customers".

On the client, make a JSON object that describes the numbers of rows you want to return.

Before you send the request to the server, convert the JSON object into a string and send it as a parameter to the url of the PHP page:

Example

Use JSON.stringify() to convert the JavaScript object into JSON:

const limit = {"limit":10};
const dbParam = JSON.stringify(limit);
xmlhttp = new XMLHttpRequest();
xmlhttp.onload = function() {
  document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = this.responseText;
}
xmlhttp.open("GET","json_demo_db.php?x=" + dbParam);
xmlhttp.send();

Try it Yourself »

Example explained:

  • Define an object containing a "limit" property and value.
  • Convert the object into a JSON string.
  • Send a request to the PHP file, with the JSON string as a parameter.
  • Wait until the request returns with the result (as JSON)
  • Display the result received from the PHP file.

Take a look at the PHP file:

PHP file

header("Content-Type: application/json; charset=UTF-8");
$obj = json_decode($_GET["x"], false);

$conn = new mysqli("myServer", "myUser", "myPassword", "Northwind");
$stmt = $conn->prepare("SELECT name FROM customers LIMIT ?");
$stmt->bind_param("s", $obj->limit);
$stmt->execute();
$result = $stmt->get_result();
$outp = $result->fetch_all(MYSQLI_ASSOC);

echo json_encode($outp);
?>

PHP File explained:

  • Convert the request into an object, using the PHP function json_decode().
  • Access the database, and fill an array with the requested data.
  • Add the array to an object, and return the object as JSON using the json_encode() function.

Use the Data

Example

xmlhttp.onload = function() {
  const myObj = JSON.parse(this.responseText);
  let text = "";
  for (let x in myObj) {
    text += myObj[x].name + "
";
  }
  document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = text;
}

Try it Yourself »


PHP Method = POST

When sending data to the server, it is often best to use the HTTP POST method.

To send AJAX requests using the POST method, specify the method, and the correct header.

The data sent to the server must now be an argument to the send() method:

Example

const dbParam = JSON.stringify({"limit":10});
const xmlhttp = new XMLHttpRequest();
xmlhttp.onload = function() {
  const myObj = JSON.parse(this.responseText);
  let text ="";
  for (let x in myObj) {
    text += myObj[x].name + "
";
  }
  document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = text;
}
xmlhttp.open("POST", "json_demo_db_post.php");
xmlhttp.setRequestHeader("Content-type", "application/x-www-form-urlencoded");
xmlhttp.send("x=" + dbParam);

Try it Yourself »

The only difference in the PHP file is the method for getting the transferred data.

PHP file

Use $_POST instead of $_GET:

header("Content-Type: application/json; charset=UTF-8");
$obj = json_decode($_POST["x"], false);

$conn = new mysqli("myServer", "myUser", "myPassword", "Northwind");
$stmt = $conn->prepare("SELECT name FROM customers LIMIT ?");
$stmt->bind_param("s", $obj->limit);
$stmt->execute();
$result = $stmt->get_result();
$outp = $result->fetch_all(MYSQLI_ASSOC);

echo json_encode($outp);
?>



Why JSON is used in PHP?

JSON is portable because parsers and writers are available for many, many languages. This means that JSON that a PHP script generates can be very easily understood by a JavaScript script. It is the best way to transmit complex structures like arrays and objects, and have it still be compatible with multiple languages.

What is JSON and why it is used?

JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) is a standard text-based format for representing structured data based on JavaScript object syntax. It is commonly used for transmitting data in web applications (e.g., sending some data from the server to the client, so it can be displayed on a web page, or vice versa).

What is JSON vs PHP?

JavaScript Object Notation is a lightweight data-interchange format. It is easy for humans to read and write. It is easy for machines to parse and generate. It is based on a subset of the JavaScript Programming Language; PHP: A popular general-purpose scripting language that is especially suited to web development.

What JSON means?

JavaScript Object Notation, more commonly known by the acronym JSON, is an open data interchange format that is both human and machine-readable. Despite the name JavaScript Object Notation, JSON is independent of any programming language and is a common API output in a wide variety of applications.