PHP ActiveX

Understanding JSON Array vs JSON Object

See more JSON Examples

This example explains the difference between a JSON Array and a JSON Object. A JSON Array begins with "[" and ends with "]", whereas a JSON Object begins with "{" and ends with "}".

Elements contained in a JSON array are accessed by index, whereas elements in a JSON object are typically accessed by name (but can also be accessed by index).

PHP ActiveX

<?php

$success = 0;

// A JSON array should be loaded into a Chilkat JSON array,
// whereas a JSON object should be loaded into a Chilkat JSON object.

// A JSON array may contain objects, and a JSON object may contains arrays, but
// it is the top-level (outermost) element that defines whether the JSON
// document is an array or an object.
// An array begins and ends with "[" ... "]"
// An object begins and ends with "{" ... "}"

// For example, an array containing 2 objects:
$strJsonArray = '[ { \'name\': \'Bill\' }, { \'name\': \'Ted\' } ]';

// Load it into a JSON array.
$jsonA = new COM("Chilkat.JsonArray");
$success = $jsonA->Load($strJsonArray);
print 'number of array elements: ' . $jsonA->Size . "\n";

// This is an object containing an array:
$strJsonObj = '{ \'characters\': [ \'Bill\', \'Ted\' ] }';

// Load it into a JSON object.
$jsonO = new COM("Chilkat.JsonObject");
$success = $jsonO->Load($strJsonObj);
print 'number of object members: ' . $jsonO->Size . "\n";

?>