Question

If I use json_encode() on an array like this:

return json_encode(array( 'foo' => 'bar'));

The return is:

{'foo' : 'bar'}

The key is passed as a literal, and that is tripping up my script. What I really need is:

{ foo : 'bar' }

Does json_encode do that or do I have to strip the quotes out myself with some ugly regex?

Answer 1

When I test this portion of code :

echo json_encode(array( 'foo' => 'bar'));
die;

I get :

{"foo":"bar"}

Which is valid JSON.

(Note these are double-quotes, and not simple-quotes as you posted)

The ouput you are asking for :

{ foo : 'bar' }

is valid Javascript, but is not valid JSON — so json_encode will not return that.

See json.org for the specification of the JSON format — which is a subset of Javascript, and not Javascript itself.

Instead of “stripping the quotes out myself with some ugly regex“, you should adapt your code, so it accepts valid JSON : this is way better, in my opinion.