;;; json.el --- JavaScript Object Notation parser / generator -*- lexical-binding: t -*-

;; Copyright (C) 2006-2026 Free Software Foundation, Inc.

;; Author: Theresa O'Connor <ted@oconnor.cx>
;; Version: 1.5
;; Keywords: convenience

;; This file is part of GNU Emacs.

;; GNU Emacs is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
;; it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
;; the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
;; (at your option) any later version.

;; GNU Emacs is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
;; but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
;; MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
;; GNU General Public License for more details.

;; You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
;; along with GNU Emacs.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.

;;; Commentary:

;; This is a library for parsing and generating JSON (JavaScript Object
;; Notation).

;; Learn all about JSON here: <URL:https://json.org/>.

;; The user-serviceable entry points for the parser are the functions
;; `json-read' and `json-read-from-string'.  The encoder has a single
;; entry point, `json-encode'.

;; Since there are several natural representations of key-value pair
;; mappings in Elisp (alist, plist, hash-table), `json-read' allows you
;; to specify which you'd prefer (see `json-object-type' and
;; `json-array-type').

;; Similarly, since `false' and `null' are distinct in JSON, you can
;; distinguish them by binding `json-false' and `json-null' as desired.

;;; Organization:

;; Historically json.el used the prefix `json-read-' for decoding and
;; the prefix `json-encode-' for encoding.  Many of these definitions
;; are used by external packages since few were marked as internal.
;; Optimizing the encoder to manipulate a buffer rather than strings
;; while minimizing code duplication therefore necessitated a new
;; namespace `json--print-'.  This rendered many encoding functions
;; obsolete and unused, but those considered externally useful are
;; kept for backward compatibility and as a public API.

;;; History:

;; 2006-03-11 - Initial version.
;; 2006-03-13 - Added JSON generation in addition to parsing. Various
;;              other cleanups, bugfixes, and improvements.
;; 2006-12-29 - XEmacs support, from Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>.
;; 2008-02-21 - Installed in GNU Emacs.
;; 2011-10-17 - Patch `json-alist-p' and `json-plist-p' to avoid recursion -tzz
;; 2012-10-25 - Added pretty-printed reformatting -Ryan Crum (ryan@ryancrum.org)
;; 2019-02-02 - Pretty-printing now uses replace-region-contents and support for
;;              minimization -tsdh

;;; Code:

(require 'map)
(require 'subr-x)

;;;; Parameters

(defvar json-object-type 'alist
  "Type to convert JSON objects to.
Must be one of `alist', `plist', or `hash-table'.  Consider let-binding
this around your call to `json-read' instead of `setq'ing it.  Ordering
is maintained for `alist' and `plist', but not for `hash-table'.")

(defvar json-array-type 'vector
  "Type to convert JSON arrays to.
Must be one of `vector' or `list'.  Consider let-binding this around
your call to `json-read' instead of `setq'ing it.")

(defvar json-key-type nil
  "Type to convert JSON keys to.
Must be one of `string', `symbol', `keyword', or nil.

If nil, `json-read' will guess the type based on the value of
`json-object-type':

    If `json-object-type' is:   nil will be interpreted as:
      `hash-table'                `string'
      `alist'                     `symbol'
      `plist'                     `keyword'

Note that values other than `string' might behave strangely for
Sufficiently Weird keys.  Consider let-binding this around your call to
`json-read' instead of `setq'ing it.")

(defvar json-false :json-false
  "Value to use when reading JSON `false'.
If this has the same value as `json-null', you might not be able to tell
the difference between `false' and `null'.  Consider let-binding this
around your call to `json-read' instead of `setq'ing it.")

(defvar json-null nil
  "Value to use when reading JSON `null'.
If this has the same value as `json-false', you might not be able to
tell the difference between `false' and `null'.  Consider let-binding
this around your call to `json-read' instead of `setq'ing it.")

(defvar json-encoding-separator ","
  "Value to use as an element separator when encoding.")

(defvar json-encoding-default-indentation "  "
  "String used for a single indentation level during encoding.
This value is repeated for each further nested element.
Used only when `json-encoding-pretty-print' is non-nil.")

(defvar json--print-indentation-prefix "\n"
  "String used to start indentation during encoding.
Used only when `json-encoding-pretty-print' is non-nil.")

(defvar json--print-indentation-depth 0
  "Current indentation level during encoding.
Dictates repetitions of `json-encoding-default-indentation'.
Used only when `json-encoding-pretty-print' is non-nil.")

(defvar json--print-keyval-separator ":"
  "String used to separate key-value pairs during encoding.")

(defvar json-encoding-pretty-print nil
  "If non-nil, then the output of `json-encode' will be pretty-printed.")

(defvar json-encoding-lisp-style-closings nil
  "If non-nil, delimiters ] and } will be formatted Lisp-style.
This means they will be placed on the same line as the last
element of the respective array or object, without indentation.
Used only when `json-encoding-pretty-print' is non-nil.")

(defvar json-encoding-object-sort-predicate nil
  "Sorting predicate for JSON object keys during encoding.
If nil, no sorting is performed.  Else, JSON object keys are
ordered by the specified sort predicate during encoding.  For
instance, setting this to `value<' will have JSON object keys
ordered alphabetically.")

(defvar json-pre-element-read-function nil
  "If non-nil, a function to call before reading a JSON array or object.
It is called by `json-read-array' and `json-read-object',
respectively, with one argument, which is the current JSON key.")

(defvar json-post-element-read-function nil
  "If non-nil, a function to call after reading a JSON array or object.
It is called by `json-read-array' and `json-read-object',
respectively, with no arguments.")



;;;; Utilities

(define-obsolete-function-alias 'json-join #'string-join "28.1")

(defun json-alist-p (list)
  "Non-nil if and only if LIST is an alist with simple keys."
  (declare (pure t) (side-effect-free error-free))
  (while (and (consp (car-safe list))
              (atom (caar list))
              (setq list (cdr list))))
  (null list))

(defun json-plist-p (list)
  "Non-nil if and only if LIST is a plist with keyword keys."
  (declare (pure t) (side-effect-free error-free))
  (while (and (keywordp (car-safe list))
              (consp (cdr list))
              (setq list (cddr list))))
  (null list))

(defun json--plist-nreverse (plist)
  "Return PLIST in reverse order.
Unlike `nreverse', this keeps the ordering of each property
relative to its value intact.  Like `nreverse', this function may
destructively modify PLIST to produce the result."
  (let (prev (next (cddr plist)))
    (while next
      (setcdr (cdr plist) prev)
      (setq prev plist plist next next (cddr next))
      (setcdr (cdr plist) prev)))
  plist)

;; Encoder utilities

(defmacro json--with-output-to-string (&rest body)
  "Eval BODY in a temporary buffer bound to `standard-output'.
Return the resulting buffer contents as a string."
  (declare (indent 0) (debug t))
  `(with-output-to-string
     (with-current-buffer standard-output
       ;; This affords decent performance gains.
       (setq-local inhibit-modification-hooks t)
       ,@body)))

(defmacro json--with-indentation (&rest body)
  "Eval BODY with the JSON encoding nesting incremented by one step.
This macro sets up appropriate variable bindings for
`json--print-indentation' to produce the correct indentation when
`json-encoding-pretty-print' is non-nil."
  (declare (debug t) (indent 0))
  `(let ((json--print-indentation-prefix
          (if json-encoding-pretty-print json--print-indentation-prefix ""))
         (json--print-keyval-separator (if json-encoding-pretty-print ": " ":"))
         (json--print-indentation-depth (1+ json--print-indentation-depth)))
     ,@body))

(defun json--print-indentation ()
  "Insert the current indentation for JSON encoding at point.
Has no effect if `json-encoding-pretty-print' is nil."
  (when json-encoding-pretty-print
    (insert json--print-indentation-prefix)
    (dotimes (_ json--print-indentation-depth)
      (insert json-encoding-default-indentation))))

;; Reader utilities

(define-inline json-advance (&optional n)
  "Advance N characters forward, or 1 character if N is nil.
On reaching the end of the accessible region of the buffer, stop
and signal an error."
  (inline-quote (forward-char ,n)))

(define-inline json-peek ()
  "Return the character at point.
At the end of the accessible region of the buffer, return 0."
  (inline-quote (following-char)))

(define-inline json-pop ()
  "Advance past the character at point, returning it.
Signal `json-end-of-file' if called at the end of the buffer."
  (inline-quote
   (prog1 (or (char-after)
              (signal 'json-end-of-file ()))
     (json-advance))))

(define-inline json-skip-whitespace ()
  "Skip past the whitespace at point."
  ;; See
  ;; https://www.ecma-international.org/publications/files/ECMA-ST/ECMA-404.pdf
  ;; or https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc7159#section-2 for the
  ;; definition of whitespace in JSON.
  (inline-quote (skip-chars-forward "\t\n\r ")))

;; Error conditions

(define-error 'json-error "Unknown JSON error")
(define-error 'json-readtable-error "JSON readtable error" 'json-error)
(define-error 'json-unknown-keyword "Unrecognized keyword" 'json-error)
(define-error 'json-number-format "Invalid number format" 'json-error)
(define-error 'json-string-escape "Bad Unicode escape" 'json-error)
(define-error 'json-string-format "Bad string format" 'json-error)
(define-error 'json-key-format "Bad JSON object key" 'json-error)
(define-error 'json-object-format "Bad JSON object" 'json-error)
(define-error 'json-array-format "Bad JSON array" 'json-error)
(define-error 'json-end-of-file "End of file while parsing JSON"
  '(end-of-file json-error))



;;;; Paths

(defvar json--path '()
  "Keeps track of the path during recursive calls to `json-read'.
Used internally by `json-path-to-position'.")

(defun json--record-path (key)
  "Record the KEY to the current JSON path.
Used internally by `json-path-to-position'."
  (push (cons (point) key) json--path))

(defun json--check-position (position)
  "Check if the last parsed JSON structure passed POSITION.
Used internally by `json-path-to-position'."
  (let ((start (caar json--path)))
    (when (< start position (1+ (point)))
      (throw :json-path (list :path (nreverse (mapcar #'cdr json--path))
                              :match-start start
                              :match-end (point)))))
  (pop json--path))

(defun json-path-to-position (position &optional string)
  "Return the path to the JSON element at POSITION.

When STRING is provided, return the path to the position in the
string, else to the position in the current buffer.

The return value is a property list with the following
properties:

:path        -- A list of strings and numbers forming the path to
                the JSON element at the given position.  Strings
                denote object names, while numbers denote array
                indices.

:match-start -- Position where the matched JSON element begins.

:match-end   -- Position where the matched JSON element ends.

This can, for instance, be useful to determine the path to a JSON
element in a deeply nested structure."
  (save-excursion
    (unless string
      (goto-char (point-min)))
    (let* ((json--path '())
           (json-pre-element-read-function #'json--record-path)
           (json-post-element-read-function
            (lambda () (json--check-position position)))
           (path (catch :json-path
                   (if string
                       (json-read-from-string string)
                     (json-read)))))
      (when (plist-get path :path)
        path))))



;;;; Keywords

(defconst json-keywords '("true" "false" "null")
  "List of JSON keywords.")
(make-obsolete-variable 'json-keywords "it is no longer used." "28.1")

;; Keyword parsing

;; Characters that can follow a JSON value.
(rx-define json--post-value (| (in "\t\n\r ,]}") eos))

(defun json-read-keyword (keyword)
  "Read the expected JSON KEYWORD at point."
  (prog1 (cond ((equal keyword "true")  t)
               ((equal keyword "false") json-false)
               ((equal keyword "null")  json-null)
               (t (signal 'json-unknown-keyword (list keyword))))
    (or (looking-at-p keyword)
        (signal 'json-unknown-keyword (list (thing-at-point 'word))))
    (json-advance (length keyword))
    (or (looking-at-p (rx json--post-value))
        (signal 'json-unknown-keyword (list (thing-at-point 'word))))
    (json-skip-whitespace)))

;; Keyword encoding

(defun json-encode-keyword (keyword)
  "Encode KEYWORD as a JSON value."
  (declare (side-effect-free t))
  (cond ((eq keyword t)          "true")
        ((eq keyword json-false) "false")
        ((eq keyword json-null)  "null")))

(defun json--print-keyword (keyword)
  "Insert KEYWORD as a JSON value at point.
Return nil if KEYWORD is not recognized as a JSON keyword."
  (prog1 (setq keyword (json-encode-keyword keyword))
    (and keyword (insert keyword))))

;;;; Numbers

;; Number parsing

(rx-define json--number
  (: (? ?-)                                   ; Sign.
     (| (: (in "1-9") (* digit)) ?0)          ; Integer.
     (? ?. (+ digit))                         ; Fraction.
     (? (in "Ee") (? (in ?+ ?-)) (+ digit)))) ; Exponent.

(defun json-read-number (&optional _sign)
  "Read the JSON number following point."
  (declare (advertised-calling-convention () "28.1"))
  (or (looking-at (rx json--number))
      (signal 'json-number-format (list (point))))
  (goto-char (match-end 0))
  (prog1 (string-to-number (match-string 0))
    (or (looking-at-p (rx json--post-value))
        (signal 'json-number-format (list (point))))
    (json-skip-whitespace)))

;; Number encoding

(define-obsolete-function-alias 'json-encode-number #'json-encode "28.1")

;;;; Strings

(defconst json-special-chars
  '((?\" . ?\")
    (?\\ . ?\\)
    (?b . ?\b)
    (?f . ?\f)
    (?n . ?\n)
    (?r . ?\r)
    (?t . ?\t))
  "Characters which are escaped in JSON, with their Elisp counterparts.")

;; String parsing

(defun json--decode-utf-16-surrogates (high low)
  "Return the code point represented by the UTF-16 surrogates HIGH and LOW."
  (+ (ash (- high #xD800) 10) (- low #xDC00) #x10000))

(defun json-read-escaped-char ()
  "Read the JSON string escaped character at point."
  ;; Skip over the '\'.
  (json-advance)
  (let ((char (json-pop)))
    (cond
     ((cdr (assq char json-special-chars)))
     ((/= char ?u) char)
     ;; Special-case UTF-16 surrogate pairs,
     ;; cf. <https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc7159#section-7>.  Note that
     ;; this clause overlaps with the next one and therefore has to
     ;; come first.
     ((looking-at
       (rx (group (any "Dd") (any "89ABab") (= 2 xdigit))
           "\\u" (group (any "Dd") (any "C-Fc-f") (= 2 xdigit))))
      (json-advance 10)
      (json--decode-utf-16-surrogates
       (string-to-number (match-string 1) 16)
       (string-to-number (match-string 2) 16)))
     ((looking-at (rx (= 4 xdigit)))
      (json-advance 4)
      (string-to-number (match-string 0) 16))
     (t
      (signal 'json-string-escape (list (point)))))))

(defun json-read-string ()
  "Read the JSON string at point."
  ;; Skip over the '"'.
  (json-advance)
  (let ((characters '())
        (char (json-peek)))
    (while (/= char ?\")
      (when (< char 32)
        (if (zerop char)
            (signal 'json-end-of-file ())
          (signal 'json-string-format (list char))))
      (push (if (= char ?\\)
                (json-read-escaped-char)
              (json-advance)
              char)
            characters)
      (setq char (json-peek)))
    ;; Skip over the '"'.
    (json-advance)
    (if characters
        (concat (nreverse characters))
      "")))

;; String encoding

(defun json--print-string (string &optional from)
  "Insert a JSON representation of STRING at point.
FROM is the index of STRING to start from and defaults to 0."
  (insert ?\")
  (goto-char (prog1 (point) (princ string)))
  (and from (delete-char from))
  ;; Escape only quotation mark, backslash, and the control
  ;; characters U+0000 to U+001F (RFC 4627, ECMA-404).
  (while (re-search-forward (rx (in ?\" ?\\ cntrl)) nil 'move)
    (let ((char (preceding-char)))
      (delete-char -1)
      (insert ?\\ (or
                   ;; Special JSON character (\n, \r, etc.).
                   (car (rassq char json-special-chars))
                   ;; Fallback: UCS code point in \uNNNN form.
                   (format "u%04x" char)))))
  (insert ?\")
  string)

(defun json-encode-string (string)
  "Return a JSON representation of STRING."
  (json--with-output-to-string (json--print-string string)))

(defun json--print-stringlike (object)
  "Insert OBJECT encoded as a JSON string at point.
Return nil if OBJECT cannot be encoded as a JSON string."
  (cond ((stringp object)  (json--print-string object))
        ((keywordp object) (json--print-string (symbol-name object) 1))
        ((symbolp object)  (json--print-string (symbol-name object)))))

(defun json--print-key (object)
  "Insert a JSON key representation of OBJECT at point.
Signal `json-key-format' if it cannot be encoded as a string."
  (or (json--print-stringlike object)
      (signal 'json-key-format (list object))))

(defun json-encode-key (object)
  "Return a JSON representation of OBJECT.
If the resulting JSON object isn't a valid JSON object key,
this signals `json-key-format'."
  (declare (obsolete json-encode "28.1"))
  (json--with-output-to-string (json--print-key object)))

;;;; Objects

;; JSON object parsing

(defun json-new-object ()
  "Create a new Elisp object corresponding to an empty JSON object.
Please see the documentation of `json-object-type'."
  (and (eq json-object-type 'hash-table)
       (make-hash-table :test #'equal)))

(defun json-add-to-object (object key value)
  "Add a new KEY -> VALUE association to OBJECT.
Returns the updated object, which you should save, e.g.:
    (setq obj (json-add-to-object obj \"foo\" \"bar\"))
Please see the documentation of `json-object-type' and `json-key-type'."
  (let ((json-key-type
         (cond (json-key-type)
               ((eq json-object-type 'hash-table) 'string)
               ((eq json-object-type 'alist)      'symbol)
               ((eq json-object-type 'plist)      'keyword))))
    (setq key
          (cond ((eq json-key-type 'string)
                 key)
                ((eq json-key-type 'symbol)
                 (intern key))
                ((eq json-key-type 'keyword)
                 (intern (concat ":" key)))))
    (cond ((eq json-object-type 'hash-table)
           (puthash key value object)
           object)
          ((eq json-object-type 'alist)
           (cons (cons key value) object))
          ((eq json-object-type 'plist)
           (cons key (cons value object))))))

(defun json-read-object ()
  "Read the JSON object at point."
  ;; Skip over the '{'.
  (json-advance)
  (json-skip-whitespace)
  ;; Read key/value pairs until '}'.
  (let ((elements (json-new-object))
        key value)
    (while (/= (json-peek) ?\})
      (json-skip-whitespace)
      (setq key (json-read-string))
      (json-skip-whitespace)
      (if (= (json-peek) ?:)
          (json-advance)
        (signal 'json-object-format (list ":" (json-peek))))
      (json-skip-whitespace)
      (when json-pre-element-read-function
        (funcall json-pre-element-read-function key))
      (setq value (json-read))
      (when json-post-element-read-function
        (funcall json-post-element-read-function))
      (setq elements (json-add-to-object elements key value))
      (json-skip-whitespace)
      (when (/= (json-peek) ?\})
        (if (= (json-peek) ?,)
            (json-advance)
          (signal 'json-object-format (list "," (json-peek))))))
    ;; Skip over the '}'.
    (json-advance)
    (pcase json-object-type
      ('alist (nreverse elements))
      ('plist (json--plist-nreverse elements))
      (_ elements))))

;; JSON object encoding

(defun json--print-pair (key val)
  "Insert JSON representation of KEY-VAL pair at point.
This always inserts a trailing `json-encoding-separator'."
  (json--print-indentation)
  (json--print-key key)
  (insert json--print-keyval-separator)
  (json--print val)
  (insert json-encoding-separator))

(defun json--print-map (map)
  "Insert JSON object representation of MAP at point.
This works for any MAP satisfying `mapp'."
  (insert ?\{)
  (unless (map-empty-p map)
    (json--with-indentation
      (map-do #'json--print-pair map)
      (delete-char (- (length json-encoding-separator))))
    (or json-encoding-lisp-style-closings
        (json--print-indentation)))
  (insert ?\}))

(defun json--print-unordered-map (map)
  "Like `json--print-map', but optionally sort MAP first.
If `json-encoding-object-sort-predicate' is non-nil, this first
transforms an unsortable MAP into a sortable alist."
  (if (and json-encoding-object-sort-predicate
           (not (map-empty-p map)))
      (json--print-alist (map-pairs map) t)
    (json--print-map map)))

;; Hash table encoding

(define-obsolete-function-alias 'json-encode-hash-table #'json-encode "28.1")

;; List encoding (including alists and plists)

(defun json--print-alist (alist &optional destructive)
  "Insert a JSON representation of ALIST at point.
Sort ALIST first if `json-encoding-object-sort-predicate' is
non-nil.  Sorting can optionally be DESTRUCTIVE for speed."
  (json--print-map (let ((pred json-encoding-object-sort-predicate))
                     (if (and pred alist)
                         (sort alist :key #'car :lessp pred
                               :in-place destructive)
                       alist))))

;; The following two are unused but useful to keep around due to the
;; inherent ambiguity of lists.

(defun json-encode-alist (alist)
  "Return a JSON representation of ALIST."
  (json--with-output-to-string (json--print-alist alist)))

(defun json-encode-plist (plist)
  "Return a JSON representation of PLIST."
  (json--with-output-to-string (json--print-unordered-map plist)))

(defun json--print-list (list)
  "Like `json-encode-list', but insert the JSON at point."
  (cond ((json-alist-p list) (json--print-alist list))
        ((json-plist-p list) (json--print-unordered-map list))
        ((listp list)        (json--print-array list))
        ((signal 'json-error (list list)))))

(defun json-encode-list (list)
  "Return a JSON representation of LIST.
Tries to DWIM: alists and plists become JSON objects, while
simple lists become JSON arrays."
  (declare (obsolete json-encode "28.1"))
  (json--with-output-to-string (json--print-list list)))

;;;; Arrays

;; Array parsing

(defun json-read-array ()
  "Read the JSON array at point."
  ;; Skip over the '['.
  (json-advance)
  (json-skip-whitespace)
  ;; Read values until ']'.
  (let (elements
        (len 0))
    (while (/= (json-peek) ?\])
      (json-skip-whitespace)
      (when json-pre-element-read-function
        (funcall json-pre-element-read-function len)
        (setq len (1+ len)))
      (push (json-read) elements)
      (when json-post-element-read-function
        (funcall json-post-element-read-function))
      (json-skip-whitespace)
      (when (/= (json-peek) ?\])
        (if (= (json-peek) ?,)
            (json-advance)
          (signal 'json-array-format (list "," (json-peek))))))
    ;; Skip over the ']'.
    (json-advance)
    (pcase json-array-type
      ('vector (nreverse (vconcat elements)))
      ('list (nreverse elements)))))

;; Array encoding

(defun json--print-array (array)
  "Like `json-encode-array', but insert the JSON at point."
  (insert ?\[)
  (unless (length= array 0)
    (json--with-indentation
      (json--print-indentation)
      (let ((first t))
        (mapc (lambda (elt)
                (if first
                    (setq first nil)
                  (insert json-encoding-separator)
                  (json--print-indentation))
                (json--print elt))
              array)))
    (or json-encoding-lisp-style-closings
        (json--print-indentation)))
  (insert ?\]))

(defun json-encode-array (array)
  "Return a JSON representation of ARRAY.
ARRAY can also be a list."
  (json--with-output-to-string (json--print-array array)))



;;;; Reader

(defmacro json-readtable-dispatch (char)
  "Dispatch reader function for CHAR at point.
If CHAR is nil, signal `json-end-of-file'."
  (declare (debug t))
  (macroexp-let2 nil char char
    `(cond ,@(map-apply
              (lambda (key expr)
                `((eq ,char ,key) ,expr))
              `((?\" ,#'json-read-string)
                (?\[ ,#'json-read-array)
                (?\{ ,#'json-read-object)
                (?n  ,#'json-read-keyword "null")
                (?f  ,#'json-read-keyword "false")
                (?t  ,#'json-read-keyword "true")
                ,@(mapcar (lambda (c) (list c #'json-read-number))
                          '(?- ?0 ?1 ?2 ?3 ?4 ?5 ?6 ?7 ?8 ?9))))
           (,char (signal 'json-readtable-error (list ,char)))
           (t     (signal 'json-end-of-file ())))))

(defun json-read ()
  "Parse and return the JSON object following point.
Advances point just past JSON object.

If called with the following JSON after point

  {\"a\": [1, 2, {\"c\": false}],
   \"b\": \"foo\"}

you will get the following structure returned:

  ((a .
      [1 2
         ((c . :json-false))])
   (b . \"foo\"))"
  (json-skip-whitespace)
  (json-readtable-dispatch (char-after)))

;; Syntactic sugar for the reader

(defun json-read-from-string (string)
  "Read the JSON object contained in STRING and return it."
  (with-temp-buffer
    (insert string)
    (goto-char (point-min))
    (json-read)))

(defun json-read-file (file)
  "Read the first JSON object contained in FILE and return it."
  (with-temp-buffer
    (insert-file-contents file)
    (json-read)))



;;;; Encoder

(defun json--print (object)
  "Like `json-encode', but insert or print the JSON at point."
  (cond ((json--print-keyword object))
        ((listp object)         (json--print-list object))
        ((json--print-stringlike object))
        ((numberp object)       (prin1 object))
        ((arrayp object)        (json--print-array object))
        ((hash-table-p object)  (json--print-unordered-map object))
        ((signal 'json-error (list object)))))

(defun json-encode (object)
  "Return a JSON representation of OBJECT as a string.

OBJECT should have a structure like one returned by `json-read'.
If an error is detected during encoding, an error based on
`json-error' is signaled."
  (json--with-output-to-string (json--print object)))

;;;; Pretty printing & minimizing

(defun json-pretty-print-buffer (&optional minimize)
  "Pretty-print current buffer.
With prefix argument MINIMIZE, minimize it instead."
  (interactive "P")
  (json-pretty-print (point-min) (point-max) minimize))

(defvar json-pretty-print-max-secs 2.0
  "Maximum time for `json-pretty-print's comparison.
The function `json-pretty-print' uses `replace-region-contents'
\(which see) passing the value of this variable as argument
MAX-SECS.")

(defun json-pretty-print (begin end &optional minimize)
  "Pretty-print selected region.
With prefix argument MINIMIZE, minimize it instead."
  (interactive "r\nP")
  (let ((json-encoding-pretty-print (null minimize))
        ;; Distinguish an empty object from 'null'.
        (json-null :json-null)
        ;; Ensure that ordering is maintained.
        (json-object-type 'alist)
        ;; Ensure that keys survive roundtrip (bug#24252, bug#42545).
        (json-key-type 'string)
        (orig-buf (current-buffer)))
    ;; Strategy: Repeatedly `json-read' from the original buffer and
    ;; write the pretty-printed snippet to a temporary buffer.
    ;; Use `replace-region-contents' to swap the original
    ;; region with the contents of the temporary buffer so that point,
    ;; marks, etc. are kept.
    ;; Stop as soon as we get an error from `json-read'.
    (with-temp-buffer
      (let ((tmp-buf (current-buffer)))
        ;; This apparently affords decent performance gains in `json--print'.
        (setq-local inhibit-modification-hooks t)
        (set-buffer orig-buf)
        (save-excursion
          (save-restriction
            (narrow-to-region begin end)
            (goto-char begin)
            (while
                (progn
                  (skip-chars-forward " \t\n")
                  (condition-case nil
                      (let ((beg (point))
                            (json (json-read))
                            (standard-output tmp-buf))
                        (with-current-buffer tmp-buf
                          (erase-buffer) (json--print json))
                        (replace-region-contents
                         beg (point) tmp-buf
                         json-pretty-print-max-secs
                         ;; FIXME: What's a good value here?  Can we use
                         ;; something better, e.g., by deriving a value
                         ;; from the size of the region?
                         64)
                        'keep-going)
                    ;; EOF is expected because we json-read until we hit
                    ;; the end of the narrow region.
                    (json-end-of-file nil))))))))))

(defun json-pretty-print-buffer-ordered (&optional minimize)
  "Pretty-print current buffer with object keys ordered.
With prefix argument MINIMIZE, minimize it instead."
  (interactive "P")
  (let ((json-encoding-object-sort-predicate #'value<))
    (json-pretty-print-buffer minimize)))

(defun json-pretty-print-ordered (begin end &optional minimize)
  "Pretty-print the region with object keys ordered.
With prefix argument MINIMIZE, minimize it instead."
  (interactive "r\nP")
  (let ((json-encoding-object-sort-predicate #'value<))
    (json-pretty-print begin end minimize)))

(provide 'json)

;;; json.el ends here
