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<!doctype html><html lang=en class=no-js> <head><meta charset=utf-8><meta name=viewport content="width=device-width,initial-scale=1"><meta name=author content="Niels Lohmann"><link href="https://json.nlohmann.me/features/element_access/unchecked_access/" rel="canonical"><link href=../ rel=prev><link href=../checked_access/ rel=next><link rel=icon href=../../../assets/images/favicon.png><meta name=generator content="mkdocs-1.6.1, mkdocs-material-9.7.7"><title>Unchecked access: operator[] - JSON for Modern C++</title><link rel=stylesheet href=../../../assets/stylesheets/main.ec1eaa64.min.css><link rel=stylesheet href=../../../assets/stylesheets/palette.ab4e12ef.min.css><link rel="stylesheet" href="../../../assets/external/fonts.googleapis.com/css.61a430c9.css"><style>:root{--md-text-font:"Roboto";--md-code-font:"JetBrains Mono"}</style><link rel=stylesheet href=../../../css/custom.css><script>__md_scope=new 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<!doctype html><html lang=en class=no-js> <head><meta charset=utf-8><meta name=viewport content="width=device-width,initial-scale=1"><meta name=author content="Niels Lohmann"><link href="https://json.nlohmann.me/features/element_access/unchecked_access/" rel="canonical"><link href=../ rel=prev><link href=../checked_access/ rel=next><link rel=icon href=../../../assets/images/favicon.png><meta name=generator content="mkdocs-1.6.1, mkdocs-material-9.7.7"><title>Unchecked access: operator[] - JSON for Modern C++</title><link rel=stylesheet href=../../../assets/stylesheets/main.ec1eaa64.min.css><link rel=stylesheet href=../../../assets/stylesheets/palette.ab4e12ef.min.css><link rel="stylesheet" href="../../../assets/external/fonts.googleapis.com/css.61a430c9.css"><style>:root{--md-text-font:"Roboto";--md-code-font:"JetBrains Mono"}</style><link rel=stylesheet href=../../../css/custom.css><script>__md_scope=new URL("../../..",location),__md_hash=e=>[...e].reduce(((e,_)=>(e<<5)-e+_.charCodeAt(0)),0),__md_get=(e,_=localStorage,t=__md_scope)=>JSON.parse(_.getItem(t.pathname+"."+e)),__md_set=(e,_,t=localStorage,a=__md_scope)=>{try{t.setItem(a.pathname+"."+e,JSON.stringify(_))}catch(e){}}</script></head> <body dir=ltr data-md-color-scheme=default data-md-color-primary=indigo data-md-color-accent=indigo> <input class=md-toggle data-md-toggle=drawer type=checkbox id=__drawer autocomplete=off> <input class=md-toggle data-md-toggle=search type=checkbox id=__search autocomplete=off> <label class=md-overlay for=__drawer></label> <div data-md-component=skip> <a href=#unchecked-access-operator class=md-skip> Skip to content </a> </div> <div data-md-component=announce> </div> <header class=md-header data-md-component=header> <nav class="md-header__inner md-grid" aria-label=Header> <a href=../../.. title="JSON for Modern C++" class="md-header__button md-logo" aria-label="JSON for Modern C++" data-md-component=logo> <svg xmlns=http://www.w3.org/2000/svg viewbox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M12 8a3 3 0 0 0 3-3 3 3 0 0 0-3-3 3 3 0 0 0-3 3 3 3 0 0 0 3 3m0 3.54C9.64 9.35 6.5 8 3 8v11c3.5 0 6.64 1.35 9 3.54 2.36-2.19 5.5-3.54 9-3.54V8c-3.5 0-6.64 1.35-9 3.54"/></svg> </a> <label class="md-header__button md-icon" for=__drawer> <svg xmlns=http://www.w3.org/2000/svg viewbox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M3 6h18v2H3zm0 5h18v2H3zm0 5h18v2H3z"/></svg> </label> <div class=md-header__title data-md-component=header-title> <div class=md-header__ellipsis> <div class=md-header__topic> <span class=md-ellipsis> JSON for Modern C++ </span> </div> <div class=md-header__topic data-md-component=header-topic> <span class=md-ellipsis> Unchecked access: operator[] </span> </div> </div> </div> <form class=md-header__option data-md-component=palette> <input class=md-option data-md-color-media="(prefers-color-scheme: light)" data-md-color-scheme=default data-md-color-primary=indigo data-md-color-accent=indigo 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6m8-9.31V4h-4.69L12 .69 8.69 4H4v4.69L.69 12 4 15.31V20h4.69L12 23.31 15.31 20H20v-4.69L23.31 12z"/></svg> </label> </form> <script>var palette=__md_get("__palette");if(palette&&palette.color){if("(prefers-color-scheme)"===palette.color.media){var media=matchMedia("(prefers-color-scheme: light)"),input=document.querySelector(media.matches?"[data-md-color-media='(prefers-color-scheme: light)']":"[data-md-color-media='(prefers-color-scheme: dark)']");palette.color.media=input.getAttribute("data-md-color-media"),palette.color.scheme=input.getAttribute("data-md-color-scheme"),palette.color.primary=input.getAttribute("data-md-color-primary"),palette.color.accent=input.getAttribute("data-md-color-accent")}for(var[key,value]of Object.entries(palette.color))document.body.setAttribute("data-md-color-"+key,value)}</script> <label class="md-header__button md-icon" for=__search> <svg xmlns=http://www.w3.org/2000/svg viewbox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M9.5 3A6.5 6.5 0 0 1 16 9.5c0 1.61-.59 3.09-1.56 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<span class=w> </span><span class=nt>"name"</span><span class=p>:</span><span class=w> </span><span class=s2>"Mary Smith"</span><span class=p>,</span>
<span class=w> </span><span class=nt>"age"</span><span class=p>:</span><span class=w> </span><span class=mi>42</span><span class=p>,</span>
<span class=w> </span><span class=nt>"hobbies"</span><span class=p>:</span><span class=w> </span><span class=p>[</span><span class=s2>"hiking"</span><span class=p>,</span><span class=w> </span><span class=s2>"reading"</span><span class=p>]</span>
<span class=p>}</span>
</code></pre></div> <p>Assume the value is parsed to a <code>json</code> variable <code>j</code>.</p> <table> <thead> <tr> <th>expression</th> <th>value</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td><code class=highlight><span class=n>j</span></code></td> <td><code class=highlight><span class=p>{</span><span class=nt>"name"</span><span class=p>:</span><span class=w> </span><span class=s2>"Mary Smith"</span><span class=p>,</span><span class=w> </span><span class=nt>"age"</span><span class=p>:</span><span class=w> </span><span class=mi>42</span><span class=p>,</span><span class=w> </span><span class=nt>"hobbies"</span><span class=p>:</span><span class=w> </span><span class=p>[</span><span class=s2>"hiking"</span><span class=p>,</span><span class=w> </span><span class=s2>"reading"</span><span class=p>]}</span></code></td> </tr> <tr> <td><code class=highlight><span class=n>j</span><span class=p>[</span><span class=s>"name"</span><span class=p>]</span></code></td> <td><code class=highlight><span class=s2>"Mary Smith"</span></code></td> </tr> <tr> <td><code class=highlight><span class=n>j</span><span class=p>[</span><span class=s>"age"</span><span class=p>]</span></code></td> <td><code class=highlight><span class=mi>42</span></code></td> </tr> <tr> <td><code class=highlight><span class=n>j</span><span class=p>[</span><span class=s>"hobbies"</span><span class=p>]</span></code></td> <td><code class=highlight><span class=p>[</span><span class=s2>"hiking"</span><span class=p>,</span><span class=w> </span><span class=s2>"reading"</span><span class=p>]</span></code></td> </tr> <tr> <td><code class=highlight><span class=n>j</span><span class=p>[</span><span class=s>"hobbies"</span><span class=p>][</span><span class=mi>0</span><span class=p>]</span></code></td> <td><code class=highlight><span class=s2>"hiking"</span></code></td> </tr> <tr> <td><code class=highlight><span class=n>j</span><span class=p>[</span><span class=s>"hobbies"</span><span class=p>][</span><span class=mi>1</span><span class=p>]</span></code></td> <td><code class=highlight><span class=s2>"reading"</span></code></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </details> <p>The return value is a reference, so it can modify the original value. In case the passed object key is non-existing, a <code class=highlight><span class=kc>null</span></code> value is inserted which can immediately be overwritten.</p> <details class=example> <summary>Write access</summary> <div class=highlight><pre><span></span><code><span class=n>j</span><span class=p>[</span><span class=s>"name"</span><span class=p>]</span><span class=w> </span><span class=o>=</span><span class=w> </span><span class=s>"John Smith"</span><span class=p>;</span>
</code></pre></div> <p>Assume the value is parsed to a <code>json</code> variable <code>j</code>.</p> <table> <thead> <tr> <th>expression</th> <th>value</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td><code class=highlight><span class=n>j</span></code></td> <td><code class=highlight><span class=p>{</span><span class=nt>"name"</span><span class=p>:</span><span class=w> </span><span class=s2>"Mary Smith"</span><span class=p>,</span><span class=w> </span><span class=nt>"age"</span><span class=p>:</span><span class=w> </span><span class=mi>42</span><span class=p>,</span><span class=w> </span><span class=nt>"hobbies"</span><span class=p>:</span><span class=w> </span><span class=p>[</span><span class=s2>"hiking"</span><span class=p>,</span><span class=w> </span><span class=s2>"reading"</span><span class=p>]}</span></code></td> </tr> <tr> <td><code class=highlight><span class=n>j</span><span class=p>[</span><span class=s>"name"</span><span class=p>]</span></code></td> <td><code class=highlight><span class=s2>"Mary Smith"</span></code></td> </tr> <tr> <td><code class=highlight><span class=n>j</span><span class=p>[</span><span class=s>"age"</span><span class=p>]</span></code></td> <td><code class=highlight><span class=mi>42</span></code></td> </tr> <tr> <td><code class=highlight><span class=n>j</span><span class=p>[</span><span class=s>"hobbies"</span><span class=p>]</span></code></td> <td><code class=highlight><span class=p>[</span><span class=s2>"hiking"</span><span class=p>,</span><span class=w> </span><span class=s2>"reading"</span><span class=p>]</span></code></td> </tr> <tr> <td><code class=highlight><span class=n>j</span><span class=p>[</span><span class=s>"hobbies"</span><span class=p>][</span><span class=mi>0</span><span class=p>]</span></code></td> <td><code class=highlight><span class=s2>"hiking"</span></code></td> </tr> <tr> <td><code class=highlight><span class=n>j</span><span class=p>[</span><span class=s>"hobbies"</span><span class=p>][</span><span class=mi>1</span><span class=p>]</span></code></td> <td><code class=highlight><span class=s2>"reading"</span></code></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </details> <p>The return value is a reference, so it can modify the original value. In case the passed object key is non-existing, a <code class=highlight><span class=kc>null</span></code> value is inserted which can immediately be overwritten.</p> <details class=example> <summary>Example: write access</summary> <div class=highlight><pre><span></span><code><span class=n>j</span><span class=p>[</span><span class=s>"name"</span><span class=p>]</span><span class=w> </span><span class=o>=</span><span class=w> </span><span class=s>"John Smith"</span><span class=p>;</span>
<span class=n>j</span><span class=p>[</span><span class=s>"maidenName"</span><span class=p>]</span><span class=w> </span><span class=o>=</span><span class=w> </span><span class=s>"Jones"</span><span class=p>;</span>
</code></pre></div> <p>This code produces the following <abbr title="JavaScript Object Notation">JSON</abbr> value:</p> <div class=highlight><pre><span></span><code><span class=p>{</span>
<span class=w> </span><span class=nt>"name"</span><span class=p>:</span><span class=w> </span><span class=s2>"John Smith"</span><span class=p>,</span>
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
<span class=w> </span><span class=nt>"age"</span><span class=p>:</span><span class=w> </span><span class=mi>42</span><span class=p>,</span>
<span class=w> </span><span class=nt>"hobbies"</span><span class=p>:</span><span class=w> </span><span class=p>[</span><span class=s2>"hiking"</span><span class=p>,</span><span class=w> </span><span class=s2>"reading"</span><span class=p>]</span>
<span class=p>}</span>
</code></pre></div> </details> <p>When accessing an invalid index (i.e., an index greater than or equal to the array size), the <abbr title="JavaScript Object Notation">JSON</abbr> array is resized such that the passed index is the new maximal index. Intermediate values are filled with <code class=highlight><span class=kc>null</span></code>.</p> <details class=example> <summary>Filling up arrays with <code class=highlight><span class=kc>null</span></code> values</summary> <div class=highlight><pre><span></span><code><span class=n>j</span><span class=p>[</span><span class=s>"hobbies"</span><span class=p>][</span><span class=mi>0</span><span class=p>]</span><span class=w> </span><span class=o>=</span><span class=w> </span><span class=s>"running"</span><span class=p>;</span>
</code></pre></div> </details> <p>When accessing an invalid index (i.e., an index greater than or equal to the array size), the <abbr title="JavaScript Object Notation">JSON</abbr> array is resized such that the passed index is the new maximal index. Intermediate values are filled with <code class=highlight><span class=kc>null</span></code>.</p> <details class=example> <summary>Example: filling up arrays with <code class=highlight><span class=kc>null</span></code> values</summary> <div class=highlight><pre><span></span><code><span class=n>j</span><span class=p>[</span><span class=s>"hobbies"</span><span class=p>][</span><span class=mi>0</span><span class=p>]</span><span class=w> </span><span class=o>=</span><span class=w> </span><span class=s>"running"</span><span class=p>;</span>
<span class=n>j</span><span class=p>[</span><span class=s>"hobbies"</span><span class=p>][</span><span class=mi>3</span><span class=p>]</span><span class=w> </span><span class=o>=</span><span class=w> </span><span class=s>"cooking"</span><span class=p>;</span>
</code></pre></div> <p>This code produces the following <abbr title="JavaScript Object Notation">JSON</abbr> value:</p> <div class=highlight><pre><span></span><code><span class=p>{</span>
<span class=w> </span><span class=nt>"name"</span><span class=p>:</span><span class=w> </span><span class=s2>"John Smith"</span><span class=p>,</span>
@@ -19,9 +19,9 @@
<span class=w> </span><span class=nt>"age"</span><span class=p>:</span><span class=w> </span><span class=mi>42</span><span class=p>,</span>
<span class=w> </span><span class=nt>"hobbies"</span><span class=p>:</span><span class=w> </span><span class=p>[</span><span class=s2>"running"</span><span class=p>,</span><span class=w> </span><span class=s2>"reading"</span><span class=p>,</span><span class=w> </span><span class=kc>null</span><span class=p>,</span><span class=w> </span><span class=s2>"cooking"</span><span class=p>]</span>
<span class=p>}</span>
</code></pre></div> </details> <h2 id=notes>Notes<a class=headerlink href=#notes title="Permanent link">&para;</a></h2> <div class="admonition info"> <p class=admonition-title>Design rationale</p> <p>The library behaves differently to <code class=highlight><span class=n>std</span><span class=o>::</span><span class=n>vector</span></code> and <code class=highlight><span class=n>std</span><span class=o>::</span><span class=n>map</span></code>:</p> <ul> <li><code class=highlight><span class=n>std</span><span class=o>::</span><span class=n>vector</span><span class=o>::</span><span class=k>operator</span><span class=p>[]</span></code> never inserts a new element.</li> <li><code class=highlight><span class=n>std</span><span class=o>::</span><span class=n>map</span><span class=o>::</span><span class=k>operator</span><span class=p>[]</span></code> is not available for const values.</li> </ul> <p>The type <code class=highlight><span class=n>json</span></code> wraps all <abbr title="JavaScript Object Notation">JSON</abbr> value types. It would be impossible to remove <a href=../../../api/basic_json/operator%5B%5D/ ><code>operator[]</code></a> for const objects. At the same time, inserting elements for non-const objects is really convenient as it avoids awkward <code>insert</code> calls. To this end, we decided to have an inserting non-const behavior for both arrays and objects.</p> </div> <div class="admonition info"> <p class=admonition-title>Info</p> <p>The access is unchecked. In case the passed object key does not exist or the passed array index is invalid, no exception is thrown.</p> </div> <div class="admonition danger"> <p class=admonition-title>Danger</p> <ul> <li>It is <strong>undefined behavior</strong> to access a const object with a non-existing key.</li> <li>It is <strong>undefined behavior</strong> to access a const array with an invalid index.</li> <li>In debug mode, an <strong>assertion</strong> will fire in both cases. You can disable assertions by defining the preprocessor symbol <code class=highlight><span class=n>NDEBUG</span></code> or redefine the macro <a href=../../macros/#json_assertx><code>JSON_ASSERT(x)</code></a>. See the documentation on <a href=../../assertions/ >runtime assertions</a> for more information.</li> </ul> </div> <div class="admonition failure"> <p class=admonition-title>Exceptions</p> <p><code>operator[]</code> can only be used with objects (with a string argument) or with arrays (with a numeric argument). For other types, a <a href=../../../home/exceptions/#jsonexceptiontype_error305><code>basic_json::type_error</code></a> is thrown.</p> </div> <h2 id=performance-reserving-array-capacity>Performance: reserving array capacity<a class=headerlink href=#performance-reserving-array-capacity title="Permanent link">&para;</a></h2> <p>There is no public <code>reserve(count)</code> member on <code>basic_json</code> for pre-allocating array capacity. If you are building a large array incrementally (e.g., via repeated <code>push_back()</code>) and know its final size ahead of time, you can reserve capacity via <code>get_ref()</code> to access the underlying <code>array_t</code> directly:</p> <div class=highlight><pre><span></span><code><span class=n>json</span><span class=w> </span><span class=n>j</span><span class=w> </span><span class=o>=</span><span class=w> </span><span class=n>json</span><span class=o>::</span><span class=n>array</span><span class=p>();</span>
</code></pre></div> </details> <h2 id=notes>Notes<a class=headerlink href=#notes title="Permanent link">&para;</a></h2> <div class="admonition info"> <p class=admonition-title>Design rationale</p> <p>The library behaves differently to <code class=highlight><span class=n>std</span><span class=o>::</span><span class=n>vector</span></code> and <code class=highlight><span class=n>std</span><span class=o>::</span><span class=n>map</span></code>:</p> <ul> <li><code class=highlight><span class=n>std</span><span class=o>::</span><span class=n>vector</span><span class=o>::</span><span class=k>operator</span><span class=p>[]</span></code> never inserts a new element.</li> <li><code class=highlight><span class=n>std</span><span class=o>::</span><span class=n>map</span><span class=o>::</span><span class=k>operator</span><span class=p>[]</span></code> is not available for const values.</li> </ul> <p>The type <code class=highlight><span class=n>json</span></code> wraps all <abbr title="JavaScript Object Notation">JSON</abbr> value types. It would be impossible to remove <a href=../../../api/basic_json/operator%5B%5D/ ><code>operator[]</code></a> for const objects. At the same time, inserting elements for non-const objects is really convenient as it avoids awkward <code>insert</code> calls. To this end, we decided to have an inserting non-const behavior for both arrays and objects.</p> </div> <div class="admonition info"> <p class=admonition-title>Info</p> <p>The access is unchecked. In case the passed object key does not exist or the passed array index is invalid, no exception is thrown.</p> </div> <div class="admonition danger"> <p class=admonition-title>Danger</p> <ul> <li>It is <strong>undefined behavior</strong> to access a const object with a non-existing key.</li> <li>It is <strong>undefined behavior</strong> to access a const array with an invalid index.</li> <li>In debug mode, an <strong>assertion</strong> will fire in both cases. You can disable assertions by defining the preprocessor symbol <code class=highlight><span class=n>NDEBUG</span></code> or redefine the macro <a href=../../../api/macros/json_assert/ ><code>JSON_ASSERT(x)</code></a>. See the documentation on <a href=../../assertions/ >runtime assertions</a> for more information.</li> </ul> </div> <div class="admonition failure"> <p class=admonition-title>Exceptions</p> <p><code>operator[]</code> can only be used with objects (with a string argument) or with arrays (with a numeric argument). For other types, a <a href=../../../home/exceptions/#jsonexceptiontype_error305><code>basic_json::type_error</code></a> is thrown.</p> </div> <h2 id=performance-reserving-array-capacity>Performance: reserving array capacity<a class=headerlink href=#performance-reserving-array-capacity title="Permanent link">&para;</a></h2> <p>There is no public <code>reserve(count)</code> member on <code>basic_json</code> for pre-allocating array capacity. If you are building a large array incrementally (e.g., via repeated <a href=../../../api/basic_json/push_back/ ><code>push_back()</code></a>) and know its final size ahead of time, you can reserve capacity via <a href=../../../api/basic_json/get_ref/ ><code>get_ref()</code></a> to access the underlying <code>array_t</code> directly:</p> <div class=highlight><pre><span></span><code><span class=n>json</span><span class=w> </span><span class=n>j</span><span class=w> </span><span class=o>=</span><span class=w> </span><span class=n>json</span><span class=o>::</span><span class=n>array</span><span class=p>();</span>
<span class=n>j</span><span class=p>.</span><span class=n>get_ref</span><span class=o>&lt;</span><span class=n>json</span><span class=o>::</span><span class=n>array_t</span><span class=o>&amp;&gt;</span><span class=p>().</span><span class=n>reserve</span><span class=p>(</span><span class=mi>1000</span><span class=p>);</span>
<span class=k>for</span><span class=w> </span><span class=p>(</span><span class=kt>int</span><span class=w> </span><span class=n>i</span><span class=w> </span><span class=o>=</span><span class=w> </span><span class=mi>0</span><span class=p>;</span><span class=w> </span><span class=n>i</span><span class=w> </span><span class=o>&lt;</span><span class=w> </span><span class=mi>1000</span><span class=p>;</span><span class=w> </span><span class=o>++</span><span class=n>i</span><span class=p>)</span><span class=w> </span><span class=p>{</span>
<span class=w> </span><span class=n>j</span><span class=p>.</span><span class=n>push_back</span><span class=p>(</span><span class=n>i</span><span class=p>);</span>
<span class=p>}</span>
</code></pre></div> <h2 id=summary>Summary<a class=headerlink href=#summary title="Permanent link">&para;</a></h2> <table> <thead> <tr> <th>scenario</th> <th>non-const value</th> <th>const value</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td>access to existing object key</td> <td>reference to existing value is returned</td> <td>const reference to existing value is returned</td> </tr> <tr> <td>access to valid array index</td> <td>reference to existing value is returned</td> <td>const reference to existing value is returned</td> </tr> <tr> <td>access to non-existing object key</td> <td>reference to newly inserted <code class=highlight><span class=kc>null</span></code> value is returned</td> <td><strong>undefined behavior</strong>; <a href=../../assertions/ >runtime assertion</a> in debug mode</td> </tr> <tr> <td>access to invalid array index</td> <td>reference to newly inserted <code class=highlight><span class=kc>null</span></code> value is returned; any index between previous maximal index and passed index are filled with <code class=highlight><span class=kc>null</span></code></td> <td><strong>undefined behavior</strong>; <a href=../../assertions/ >runtime assertion</a> in debug mode</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <!-- https://squidfunk.github.io/mkdocs-material/reference/tooltips/#adding-a-glossary --> <aside class=md-source-file> <span class=md-source-file__fact> <span class=md-icon title="Last update"> <svg xmlns=http://www.w3.org/2000/svg viewbox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M21 13.1c-.1 0-.3.1-.4.2l-1 1 2.1 2.1 1-1c.2-.2.2-.6 0-.8l-1.3-1.3c-.1-.1-.2-.2-.4-.2m-1.9 1.8-6.1 6V23h2.1l6.1-6.1zM12.5 7v5.2l4 2.4-1 1L11 13V7zM11 21.9c-5.1-.5-9-4.8-9-9.9C2 6.5 6.5 2 12 2c5.3 0 9.6 4.1 10 9.3-.3-.1-.6-.2-1-.2s-.7.1-1 .2C19.6 7.2 16.2 4 12 4c-4.4 0-8 3.6-8 8 0 4.1 3.1 7.5 7.1 7.9l-.1.2z"/></svg> </span> <span class="git-revision-date-localized-plugin git-revision-date-localized-plugin-date" title="October 2, 2026 09:23:55 UTC">October 2, 2026</span> </span> </aside> </article> </div> <script>var tabs=__md_get("__tabs");if(Array.isArray(tabs))e:for(var set of document.querySelectorAll(".tabbed-set")){var labels=set.querySelector(".tabbed-labels");for(var tab of tabs)for(var label of labels.getElementsByTagName("label"))if(label.innerText.trim()===tab){var input=document.getElementById(label.htmlFor);input.checked=!0;continue e}}</script> <script>var target=document.getElementById(location.hash.slice(1));target&&target.name&&(target.checked=target.name.startsWith("__tabbed_"))</script> </div> <button type=button class="md-top md-icon" data-md-component=top hidden> <svg xmlns=http://www.w3.org/2000/svg viewbox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M13 20h-2V8l-5.5 5.5-1.42-1.42L12 4.16l7.92 7.92-1.42 1.42L13 8z"/></svg> Back to top </button> </main> <footer class=md-footer> <div class="md-footer-meta md-typeset"> <div class="md-footer-meta__inner md-grid"> <div class=md-copyright> <div class=md-copyright__highlight> Copyright &copy; 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</code></pre></div> <h2 id=summary>Summary<a class=headerlink href=#summary title="Permanent link">&para;</a></h2> <table> <thead> <tr> <th>scenario</th> <th>non-const value</th> <th>const value</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td>access to existing object key</td> <td>reference to existing value is returned</td> <td>const reference to existing value is returned</td> </tr> <tr> <td>access to valid array index</td> <td>reference to existing value is returned</td> <td>const reference to existing value is returned</td> </tr> <tr> <td>access to non-existing object key</td> <td>reference to newly inserted <code class=highlight><span class=kc>null</span></code> value is returned</td> <td><strong>undefined behavior</strong>; <a href=../../assertions/ >runtime assertion</a> in debug mode</td> </tr> <tr> <td>access to invalid array index</td> <td>reference to newly inserted <code class=highlight><span class=kc>null</span></code> value is returned; any index between previous maximal index and passed index are filled with <code class=highlight><span class=kc>null</span></code></td> <td><strong>undefined behavior</strong>; <a href=../../assertions/ >runtime assertion</a> in debug mode</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <!-- https://squidfunk.github.io/mkdocs-material/reference/tooltips/#adding-a-glossary --> <aside class=md-source-file> <span class=md-source-file__fact> <span class=md-icon title="Last update"> <svg xmlns=http://www.w3.org/2000/svg viewbox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M21 13.1c-.1 0-.3.1-.4.2l-1 1 2.1 2.1 1-1c.2-.2.2-.6 0-.8l-1.3-1.3c-.1-.1-.2-.2-.4-.2m-1.9 1.8-6.1 6V23h2.1l6.1-6.1zM12.5 7v5.2l4 2.4-1 1L11 13V7zM11 21.9c-5.1-.5-9-4.8-9-9.9C2 6.5 6.5 2 12 2c5.3 0 9.6 4.1 10 9.3-.3-.1-.6-.2-1-.2s-.7.1-1 .2C19.6 7.2 16.2 4 12 4c-4.4 0-8 3.6-8 8 0 4.1 3.1 7.5 7.1 7.9l-.1.2z"/></svg> </span> <span class="git-revision-date-localized-plugin git-revision-date-localized-plugin-date" title="October 2, 2026 09:32:15 UTC">October 2, 2026</span> </span> </aside> </article> </div> <script>var tabs=__md_get("__tabs");if(Array.isArray(tabs))e:for(var set of document.querySelectorAll(".tabbed-set")){var labels=set.querySelector(".tabbed-labels");for(var tab of tabs)for(var label of labels.getElementsByTagName("label"))if(label.innerText.trim()===tab){var input=document.getElementById(label.htmlFor);input.checked=!0;continue e}}</script> <script>var target=document.getElementById(location.hash.slice(1));target&&target.name&&(target.checked=target.name.startsWith("__tabbed_"))</script> </div> <button type=button class="md-top md-icon" data-md-component=top hidden> <svg xmlns=http://www.w3.org/2000/svg viewbox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M13 20h-2V8l-5.5 5.5-1.42-1.42L12 4.16l7.92 7.92-1.42 1.42L13 8z"/></svg> Back to top </button> </main> <footer class=md-footer> <div class="md-footer-meta md-typeset"> <div class="md-footer-meta__inner md-grid"> <div class=md-copyright> <div class=md-copyright__highlight> Copyright &copy; 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@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
Elements in a JSON object and a JSON array can be accessed via [`operator[]`](https://json.nlohmann.me/api/basic_json/operator%5B%5D/index.md) similar to a `std::map` and a `std::vector`, respectively.
Read access
Example: read access
Consider the following JSON value:
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ Assume the value is parsed to a `json` variable `j`.
The return value is a reference, so it can modify the original value. In case the passed object key is non-existing, a `null` value is inserted which can immediately be overwritten.
Write access
Example: write access
```
j["name"] = "John Smith";
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ This code produces the following JSON value:
When accessing an invalid index (i.e., an index greater than or equal to the array size), the JSON array is resized such that the passed index is the new maximal index. Intermediate values are filled with `null`.
Filling up arrays with `null` values
Example: filling up arrays with `null` values
```
j["hobbies"][0] = "running";
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ Danger
- It is **undefined behavior** to access a const object with a non-existing key.
- It is **undefined behavior** to access a const array with an invalid index.
- In debug mode, an **assertion** will fire in both cases. You can disable assertions by defining the preprocessor symbol `NDEBUG` or redefine the macro [`JSON_ASSERT(x)`](https://json.nlohmann.me/features/macros/#json_assertx). See the documentation on [runtime assertions](https://json.nlohmann.me/features/assertions/index.md) for more information.
- In debug mode, an **assertion** will fire in both cases. You can disable assertions by defining the preprocessor symbol `NDEBUG` or redefine the macro [`JSON_ASSERT(x)`](https://json.nlohmann.me/api/macros/json_assert/index.md). See the documentation on [runtime assertions](https://json.nlohmann.me/features/assertions/index.md) for more information.
Exceptions
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ Exceptions
## Performance: reserving array capacity
There is no public `reserve(count)` member on `basic_json` for pre-allocating array capacity. If you are building a large array incrementally (e.g., via repeated `push_back()`) and know its final size ahead of time, you can reserve capacity via `get_ref()` to access the underlying `array_t` directly:
There is no public `reserve(count)` member on `basic_json` for pre-allocating array capacity. If you are building a large array incrementally (e.g., via repeated [`push_back()`](https://json.nlohmann.me/api/basic_json/push_back/index.md)) and know its final size ahead of time, you can reserve capacity via [`get_ref()`](https://json.nlohmann.me/api/basic_json/get_ref/index.md) to access the underlying `array_t` directly:
```
json j = json::array();