---
title: "json"
description: "JSON encoding and decoding"
weight: 80
type: "docs"
---

JSON encoding and decoding.

```javascript
var json = use('json')
```

## Encoding

### json.encode(value, space, replacer, whitelist)

Convert a value to JSON text. With no `space` argument, output is pretty-printed with 1-space indent. Pass `false` or `0` for compact single-line output.

```javascript
json.encode({a: 1, b: 2})
// '{ "a": 1, "b": 2 }'

// Compact (no whitespace)
json.encode({a: 1, b: 2}, false)
// '{"a":1,"b":2}'

// Pretty print with 2-space indent
json.encode({a: 1, b: 2}, 2)
// '{
//   "a": 1,
//   "b": 2
// }'
```

**Parameters:**

- **value** — the value to encode
- **space** — indentation: number of spaces, string, or `false`/`0` for compact output. Default is pretty-printed.
- **replacer** — function to transform values
- **whitelist** — array of keys to include

```javascript
// With replacer
json.encode({a: 1, b: 2}, null, function(key, value) {
  if (key == "b") return value * 10
  return value
})
// '{"a":1,"b":20}'

// With whitelist
json.encode({a: 1, b: 2, c: 3}, null, null, ["a", "c"])
// '{"a":1,"c":3}'
```

## Decoding

### json.decode(text, reviver)

Parse JSON text to a value.

```javascript
json.decode('{"a":1,"b":2}')
// {a: 1, b: 2}

json.decode('[1, 2, 3]')
// [1, 2, 3]
```

**Parameters:**

- **text** — JSON string to parse
- **reviver** — function to transform parsed values

```javascript
// With reviver
json.decode('{"date":"2024-01-15"}', function(key, value) {
  if (key == "date") return parse_date(value)
  return value
})
```

## Example

```javascript
var json = use('json')

// Save configuration
var config = {
  debug: true,
  maxRetries: 3,
  endpoints: ["api.example.com"]
}
var config_text = json.encode(config, 2)

// Load configuration
var loaded = json.decode(config_text)
print(loaded.debug)  // true
```