How to Encode and Decode JSON Data in PHP

In this article, we will explain to you how to encode and decode JSON data in PHP. the JSON is an intermediate language because we can easily to use readable, and lightweight in any language. here we will give you a simple example of how to encode and decode JSON data in PHP.

What is JSON?

JSON is JavaScript Object Notation. JSON is a lightweight data format used to communicate data from a server to a client-side.

How to print JSON file data in PHP

we sometimes need to parse the JSON file in PHP. In the following code sample, you will learn how you can print data from JSON files in PHP.

{
"first_name":"abc",
"last_name":"xyz",
"gender":"Male"
}

{

"first_name":"abc",

"last_name":"xyz",

"gender":"Male"

}

We have the following script to read the generated JSON file and print the required output above:

<?php
    $data = file_get_contents ('here add JSON Path');
    $json = json_decode($data, true);

    echo ('<pre>');
    print_r ($json);
    echo ('</pre>');

    echo $json->first_name;
    echo $json->last_name;
    echo $json->gender;
?>

<?php

$data = file_get_contents ('here add JSON Path');

$json = json_decode($data, true);

echo ('<pre>');

print_r ($json);

echo ('</pre>');

echo $json->first_name;

echo $json->last_name;

echo $json->gender;

Convert a PHP array to JSON

<?php
	$data = array('first_name'=>'abc','last_name'=>'xyz','gender'=>'Male');
	echo json_encode($data);
	//output
	{"first_name":"abc","last_name":"xyz","gender":"Male"}
<div style="clear:both; margin-top:0em; margin-bottom:1em;"><a href="https://xpertphp.com/php-datatables-crud-example/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" class="udaaf2cfc18e8abe2c2e4cdd1ade86737"><div style="padding-left:1em; padding-right:1em;"><span class="ctaText">See also</span>  <span class="postTitle">PHP Datatables CRUD Example</span></div></a></div>
?>

<?php

$data = array('first_name'=>'abc','last_name'=>'xyz','gender'=>'Male');

echo json_encode($data);

//output

{"first_name":"abc","last_name":"xyz","gender":"Male"}

How to print JSON data in PHP

We can easily convert JSON data in PHP and print the variable. so you can see our example.

<?php

	$data = '{"first_name":"abc","last_name":"xyz","gender":"Male"}';
	
	$json = json_decode($data, true);
 
    echo ('<pre>');
    print_r ($json);
    echo ('</pre>');
 
    echo $json->first_name;
    echo $json->last_name;
    echo $json->gender;

?>

<?php

$data = '{"first_name":"abc","last_name":"xyz","gender":"Male"}';

$json = json_decode($data, true);

echo ('<pre>');

print_r ($json);

echo ('</pre>');

echo $json->first_name;

echo $json->last_name;

echo $json->gender;