Question

I have the following array structure:

Array
(
    [t] => 812
    [0] => Array
    (
        [5] => 649
        [6] => 12
    )

    [2] => Array
    (
        [0] => 10
    )

    [3] => Array
    (
        [0] => 1
    )

    [4] => Array
    (
        [0] => 152
    )
)

At the moment all the array indexes (apart from t) are integers.

I want to convert it to it’s JSON equivalent using json_encode(), but when I do so any of the arrays that have just one index in them (index 0) get converted into an integer rather than an array.

E.g.

[2] => Array
(
    [0] => 10
)

gets converted to..

{"2":[10]

instead of..

{"2":[0:10]

It’d be fine for the JSON to use string indexes rather than integers if that fixed the problem..

{"2":["0":10]}

Any thoughts on how I can solve this one?

Answer 1

They are not converted to a single integer, but to an array with only one element!

In JSON square brackets [] denote an array, while curly brackets {} denote an object.

If you want to force json_encode to output objects, like in your example, you can choose the option JSON_FORCE_OBJECT (see docu):

$encoded = json_encode( yourArray, JSON_FORCE_OBJECT );