Construct remaining hot-path exceptions out of line so core functions inline

Signed-off-by: Niels Lohmann <mail@nlohmann.me>
Compare standard containers without a thread-local depth count
2026-10-15 10:29:40 +00:00 · 2026-10-15 11:46:50 +02:00 · 2026-10-15 11:46:48 +02:00 · 2026-10-15 11:46:15 +02:00
8 changed files with 1100 additions and 176 deletions
@@ -428,7 +428,7 @@ void templated_json_throw(ExceptionType exception)
@throw type_error.302 always
 */
 template<typename BasicJsonType>
-JSON_HEDLEY_NO_RETURN inline void throw_type_must_be(const char* expected, const BasicJsonType& j)
+JSON_HEDLEY_NO_RETURN JSON_HEDLEY_NEVER_INLINE void throw_type_must_be(const char* expected, const BasicJsonType& j)
 {
    static_cast<void>(expected); // unused when JSON_NOEXCEPTION is defined
    static_cast<void>(j);
@@ -443,7 +443,7 @@ JSON_HEDLEY_NO_RETURN inline void throw_type_must_be(const char* expected, const
@throw type_error always
 */
 template<typename BasicJsonType>
-JSON_HEDLEY_NO_RETURN inline void throw_cannot_use_with(const exception_id id_, const char* operation, const BasicJsonType& j)
+JSON_HEDLEY_NO_RETURN JSON_HEDLEY_NEVER_INLINE void throw_cannot_use_with(const exception_id id_, const char* operation, const BasicJsonType& j)
 {
    static_cast<void>(id_); // unused when JSON_NOEXCEPTION is defined
    static_cast<void>(operation);
@@ -451,6 +451,18 @@ JSON_HEDLEY_NO_RETURN inline void throw_cannot_use_with(const exception_id id_,
    JSON_THROW(type_error::create(id_, concat("cannot use ", operation, " with ", j.type_name()), &j));
 }

+/*!
+@brief throws ExceptionType with a fixed message; kept out of line so that callers do not carry the exception construction
+*/
+template<typename ExceptionType, typename BasicJsonContext>
+JSON_HEDLEY_NO_RETURN JSON_HEDLEY_NEVER_INLINE void throw_literal(const exception_id id_, const char* what_arg, BasicJsonContext context)
+{
+    static_cast<void>(id_); // unused when JSON_NOEXCEPTION is defined
+    static_cast<void>(what_arg);
+    static_cast<void>(context);
+    JSON_THROW(ExceptionType::create(id_, what_arg, context));
+}
+
 }  // namespace detail
 NLOHMANN_JSON_NAMESPACE_END

@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ class iter_impl // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-speci
    }

    /// @throw invalid_iterator.214 always
-    JSON_HEDLEY_NO_RETURN void throw_cannot_get_value() const
+    JSON_HEDLEY_NO_RETURN JSON_HEDLEY_NEVER_INLINE void throw_cannot_get_value() const
    {
        JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(exception_id::iterator_value_unavailable, "cannot get value", m_object));
    }
@@ -484,7 +484,7 @@ class iter_impl // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-speci
        // if objects are not the same, the comparison is undefined
        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(m_object != other.m_object))
        {
-            JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(exception_id::iterators_compare_different_values, "cannot compare iterators of different containers", m_object));
+            throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(exception_id::iterators_compare_different_values, "cannot compare iterators of different containers", m_object);
        }

        // value-initialized forward iterators can be compared, and must compare equal to other value-initialized iterators of the same type #4493
@@ -533,7 +533,7 @@ class iter_impl // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-speci
        // if objects are not the same, the comparison is undefined
        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(m_object != other.m_object))
        {
-            JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(exception_id::iterators_compare_different_values, "cannot compare iterators of different containers", m_object));
+            throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(exception_id::iterators_compare_different_values, "cannot compare iterators of different containers", m_object);
        }

        // value-initialized forward iterators can be compared, and must compare equal to other value-initialized iterators of the same type #4493
@@ -546,7 +546,7 @@ class iter_impl // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-speci
        switch (m_object->m_data.m_type)
        {
            case value_t::object:
-                JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(exception_id::iterator_order_on_object, "cannot compare order of object iterators", m_object));
+                throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(exception_id::iterator_order_on_object, "cannot compare order of object iterators", m_object);

            case value_t::array:
                return (m_it.array_iterator < other.m_it.array_iterator);
@@ -602,7 +602,7 @@ class iter_impl // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-speci
        switch (m_object->m_data.m_type)
        {
            case value_t::object:
-                JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(exception_id::iterator_arithmetic_on_object, "cannot use offsets with object iterators", m_object));
+                throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(exception_id::iterator_arithmetic_on_object, "cannot use offsets with object iterators", m_object);

            case value_t::array:
            {
@@ -681,7 +681,7 @@ class iter_impl // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-speci
        switch (m_object->m_data.m_type)
        {
            case value_t::object:
-                JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(exception_id::iterator_arithmetic_on_object, "cannot use offsets with object iterators", m_object));
+                throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(exception_id::iterator_arithmetic_on_object, "cannot use offsets with object iterators", m_object);

            case value_t::array:
                return m_it.array_iterator - other.m_it.array_iterator;
@@ -710,7 +710,7 @@ class iter_impl // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-speci
        switch (m_object->m_data.m_type)
        {
            case value_t::object:
-                JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(exception_id::iterator_subscript_on_object, "cannot use operator[] for object iterators", m_object));
+                throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(exception_id::iterator_subscript_on_object, "cannot use operator[] for object iterators", m_object);

            case value_t::array:
                return *std::next(m_it.array_iterator, n);
@@ -750,7 +750,7 @@ class iter_impl // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-speci
            return m_it.object_iterator->first;
        }

-        JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(exception_id::iterator_key_not_object, "cannot use key() for non-object iterators", m_object));
+        throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(exception_id::iterator_key_not_object, "cannot use key() for non-object iterators", m_object);
    }

    /*!
@@ -585,26 +585,12 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
            switch (t)
            {
                case value_t::object:
-                {
-                    object = create<object_t>();
-                    break;
-                }
-
                case value_t::array:
-                {
-                    array = create<array_t>();
-                    break;
-                }
-
                case value_t::string:
-                {
-                    string = create<string_t>("");
-                    break;
-                }
-
                case value_t::binary:
                {
-                    binary = create<binary_t>();
+                    // allocating: kept out of line, so the scalar cases below inline
+                    init_owned(t);
                    break;
                }

@@ -644,13 +630,41 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
                    object = nullptr;  // silence warning, see #821
                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(t == value_t::null))
                    {
-                        JSON_THROW(other_error::create(detail::exception_id::internal_error, "961c151d2e87f2686a955a9be24d316f1362bf21 3.12.0", nullptr)); // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+                        detail::throw_literal<other_error>(detail::exception_id::internal_error, "961c151d2e87f2686a955a9be24d316f1362bf21 3.12.0", nullptr); // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
                    }
                    break;
                }
            }
        }

+        JSON_HEDLEY_NEVER_INLINE
+        void init_owned(value_t t)
+        {
+            switch (t)
+            {
+                case value_t::object:
+                    object = create<object_t>();
+                    break;
+                case value_t::array:
+                    array = create<array_t>();
+                    break;
+                case value_t::string:
+                    string = create<string_t>("");
+                    break;
+                case value_t::binary:
+                    binary = create<binary_t>();
+                    break;
+                case value_t::null:
+                case value_t::boolean:
+                case value_t::number_integer:
+                case value_t::number_unsigned:
+                case value_t::number_float:
+                case value_t::discarded:
+                default:
+                    break;
+            }
+        }
+
        /// constructor for strings
        json_value(const string_t& value) : string(create<string_t>(value)) {}

@@ -911,7 +925,18 @@ public:
            }
        }

+        // only strings, binaries, arrays and objects own memory; keep the
+        // check for them inline so destroying a scalar is a compare and a
+        // branch, and leave the actual work to an out-of-line function
        void destroy(value_t t)
+        {
+            if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(t == value_t::string || t == value_t::binary || t == value_t::object || t == value_t::array))
+            {
+                destroy_owned(t);
+            }
+        }
+
+        JSON_HEDLEY_NEVER_INLINE void destroy_owned(value_t t)
        {
            switch (t)
            {
@@ -2323,7 +2348,7 @@ public:
            // if an object is wanted but impossible, throw an exception
            if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(manual_type == value_t::object && !is_an_object))
            {
-                JSON_THROW(type_error::create(detail::exception_id::object_from_non_pairs, "cannot create object from initializer list", nullptr));
+                detail::throw_literal<type_error>(detail::exception_id::object_from_non_pairs, "cannot create object from initializer list", nullptr);
            }
        }

@@ -2443,7 +2468,7 @@ public:
        // make sure the iterator fits the current value
        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(first.m_object != last.m_object))
        {
-            JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::iterators_incompatible, "iterators are not compatible", nullptr));
+            detail::throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(detail::exception_id::iterators_incompatible, "iterators are not compatible", nullptr);
        }

        // copy type from the first iterator
@@ -2462,7 +2487,7 @@ public:
                if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!first.m_it.primitive_iterator.is_begin()
                                         || !last.m_it.primitive_iterator.is_end()))
                {
-                    JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::iterator_range_out_of_range, "iterators out of range", first.m_object));
+                    detail::throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(detail::exception_id::iterator_range_out_of_range, "iterators out of range", first.m_object);
                }
                break;
            }
@@ -2530,7 +2555,7 @@ public:
            case value_t::null:
            case value_t::discarded:
            default:
-                JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::iterator_range_of_null, detail::concat("cannot construct with iterators from ", first.m_object->type_name()), first.m_object));
+                throw_iterator_range_of_null(first.m_object);
        }

        set_parents();
@@ -2559,15 +2584,15 @@ public:
        // check of passed value is valid
        other.assert_invariant();

-        if (m_data.m_type == value_t::object || m_data.m_type == value_t::array)
+        if (JSON_HEDLEY_LIKELY(m_data.m_type != value_t::object && m_data.m_type != value_t::array
+                               && m_data.m_type != value_t::string && m_data.m_type != value_t::binary))
        {
-            // copying the container directly would call this constructor again
-            // for every element, once per nesting level
-            copy_structured(other);
+            // null, boolean, numbers, discarded: plain copy of the union
+            m_data.m_value = other.m_data.m_value;
        }
        else
        {
-            copy_leaf_value(other, *this);
+            copy_owning(other);
        }

        assert_invariant();
@@ -2799,6 +2824,22 @@ public:
    // value access //
    //////////////////

+    /// out-of-line part of the copy constructor for owning types
+    JSON_HEDLEY_NEVER_INLINE
+    void copy_owning(const basic_json& other)
+    {
+        if (m_data.m_type == value_t::object || m_data.m_type == value_t::array)
+        {
+            // copying the container directly would call this constructor again
+            // for every element, once per nesting level
+            copy_structured(other);
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            copy_leaf_value(other, *this);
+        }
+    }
+
    /// get a pointer to the value (object)
    object_t* get_impl_ptr(object_t* /*unused*/) noexcept
    {
@@ -2895,6 +2936,40 @@ public:
        return is_binary() ? m_data.m_value.binary : nullptr;
    }

+    /// out-of-line throw helpers (message construction kept out of the hot paths)
+    JSON_HEDLEY_NO_RETURN JSON_HEDLEY_NEVER_INLINE
+    static void throw_iterator_range_of_null(const basic_json* obj)
+    {
+        JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::iterator_range_of_null, detail::concat("cannot construct with iterators from ", obj->type_name()), obj));
+    }
+
+    JSON_HEDLEY_NO_RETURN JSON_HEDLEY_NEVER_INLINE
+    static void throw_incompatible_reference_type(const basic_json& obj)
+    {
+        JSON_THROW(type_error::create(detail::exception_id::incompatible_reference_type, detail::concat("incompatible ReferenceType for get_ref, actual type is ", obj.type_name()), &obj));
+    }
+
+    JSON_HEDLEY_NO_RETURN JSON_HEDLEY_NEVER_INLINE
+    static void throw_array_index_exceeds_size_type(size_type idx)
+    {
+        JSON_THROW(std::length_error(detail::concat("array index ", std::to_string(idx), " exceeds size_type")));
+    }
+
+    /// @throw out_of_range.401
+    JSON_HEDLEY_NO_RETURN JSON_HEDLEY_NEVER_INLINE
+    static void throw_array_index_out_of_range(size_type idx, const basic_json& j)
+    {
+        JSON_THROW(out_of_range::create(detail::exception_id::array_index_out_of_range, detail::concat("array index ", std::to_string(idx), " is out of range"), &j));
+    }
+
+    /// @throw out_of_range.403
+    template<typename KeyType>
+    JSON_HEDLEY_NO_RETURN JSON_HEDLEY_NEVER_INLINE
+    static void throw_key_not_found(const KeyType& key, const basic_json& j)
+    {
+        JSON_THROW(out_of_range::create(detail::exception_id::key_not_found, detail::concat("key '", key, "' not found"), &j));
+    }
+
    /*!
    @brief helper function to implement get_ref()

@@ -2917,7 +2992,7 @@ public:
            return *ptr;
        }

-        JSON_THROW(type_error::create(detail::exception_id::incompatible_reference_type, detail::concat("incompatible ReferenceType for get_ref, actual type is ", obj.type_name()), &obj));
+        throw_incompatible_reference_type(obj);
    }

  public:
@@ -3365,7 +3440,7 @@ public:
            // std::map or ordered_map) never moves from its argument, so key is still
            // valid here regardless of whether KeyType was deduced as an rvalue reference
            // NOLINTNEXTLINE(bugprone-use-after-move,hicpp-invalid-access-moved)
-            JSON_THROW(out_of_range::create(detail::exception_id::key_not_found, detail::concat("key '", key_for_message(key), "' not found"), &j));
+            throw_key_not_found(key_for_message(key), j);
        }
        return it->second;
    }
@@ -3402,7 +3477,7 @@ public:

        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(idx >= j.m_data.m_value.array->size()))
        {
-            JSON_THROW(out_of_range::create(detail::exception_id::array_index_out_of_range, detail::concat("array index ", std::to_string(idx), " is out of range"), &j));
+            throw_array_index_out_of_range(idx, j);
        }

        return (*j.m_data.m_value.array)[idx];
@@ -3520,7 +3595,7 @@ public:
                // resize() rejects other indices that are too large to represent
                if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(idx == (std::numeric_limits<size_type>::max)()))
                {
-                    JSON_THROW(std::length_error(detail::concat("array index ", std::to_string(idx), " exceeds size_type")));
+                    throw_array_index_exceeds_size_type(idx);
                }
 #if JSON_DIAGNOSTICS
                // remember array size & capacity before resizing
@@ -3858,7 +3933,7 @@ public:
        // make sure the iterator fits the current value
        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(this != pos.m_object))
        {
-            JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::iterator_from_other_value, "iterator does not fit current value", this));
+            detail::throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(detail::exception_id::iterator_from_other_value, "iterator does not fit current value", this);
        }

        IteratorType result = end();
@@ -3874,7 +3949,7 @@ public:
            {
                if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!pos.m_it.primitive_iterator.is_begin()))
                {
-                    JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::iterator_out_of_range, "iterator out of range", this));
+                    detail::throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(detail::exception_id::iterator_out_of_range, "iterator out of range", this);
                }

                m_data.m_value.destroy(m_data.m_type);
@@ -3916,7 +3991,7 @@ public:
        // make sure the iterator fits the current value
        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(this != first.m_object || this != last.m_object))
        {
-            JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::iterator_range_from_other_value, "iterators do not fit current value", this));
+            detail::throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(detail::exception_id::iterator_range_from_other_value, "iterators do not fit current value", this);
        }

        IteratorType result = end();
@@ -3933,7 +4008,7 @@ public:
                if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!first.m_it.primitive_iterator.is_begin()
                                         || !last.m_it.primitive_iterator.is_end()))
                {
-                    JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::iterator_range_out_of_range, "iterators out of range", this));
+                    detail::throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(detail::exception_id::iterator_range_out_of_range, "iterators out of range", this);
                }

                m_data.m_value.destroy(m_data.m_type);
@@ -4032,7 +4107,7 @@ public:
        {
            if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(idx >= size()))
            {
-                JSON_THROW(out_of_range::create(detail::exception_id::array_index_out_of_range, detail::concat("array index ", std::to_string(idx), " is out of range"), this));
+                throw_array_index_out_of_range(idx, *this);
            }

            m_data.m_value.array->erase(m_data.m_value.array->begin() + static_cast<difference_type>(idx));
@@ -4720,7 +4795,7 @@ public:
            // check if iterator pos fits to this JSON value
            if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(pos.m_object != this))
            {
-                JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::iterator_from_other_value, "iterator does not fit current value", this));
+                detail::throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(detail::exception_id::iterator_from_other_value, "iterator does not fit current value", this);
            }

            // insert to array and return iterator
@@ -4740,7 +4815,7 @@ public:
            // check if iterator pos fits to this JSON value
            if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(pos.m_object != this))
            {
-                JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::iterator_from_other_value, "iterator does not fit current value", this));
+                detail::throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(detail::exception_id::iterator_from_other_value, "iterator does not fit current value", this);
            }

            // moving into a local first keeps this safe even if val aliases
@@ -4762,7 +4837,7 @@ public:
            // check if iterator pos fits to this JSON value
            if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(pos.m_object != this))
            {
-                JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::iterator_from_other_value, "iterator does not fit current value", this));
+                detail::throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(detail::exception_id::iterator_from_other_value, "iterator does not fit current value", this);
            }

            // insert to array and return iterator
@@ -4785,24 +4860,24 @@ public:
        // check if iterator pos fits to this JSON value
        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(pos.m_object != this))
        {
-            JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::iterator_from_other_value, "iterator does not fit current value", this));
+            detail::throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(detail::exception_id::iterator_from_other_value, "iterator does not fit current value", this);
        }

        // check if range iterators belong to the same JSON object
        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(first.m_object != last.m_object))
        {
-            JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::insert_range_incompatible, "iterators do not fit", this));
+            detail::throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(detail::exception_id::insert_range_incompatible, "iterators do not fit", this);
        }

        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(first.m_object == this))
        {
-            JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::insert_range_into_itself, "passed iterators may not belong to container", this));
+            detail::throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(detail::exception_id::insert_range_into_itself, "passed iterators may not belong to container", this);
        }

        // passed iterators must belong to arrays
        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!first.m_object->is_array()))
        {
-            JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::iterator_from_other_value, "iterators first and last must point to arrays", this));
+            detail::throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(detail::exception_id::iterator_from_other_value, "iterators first and last must point to arrays", this);
        }

        // insert to array and return iterator
@@ -4822,7 +4897,7 @@ public:
        // check if iterator pos fits to this JSON value
        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(pos.m_object != this))
        {
-            JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::iterator_from_other_value, "iterator does not fit current value", this));
+            detail::throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(detail::exception_id::iterator_from_other_value, "iterator does not fit current value", this);
        }

        // copy the values first: ilist may refer to elements of this array
@@ -4850,13 +4925,13 @@ public:
        // check if range iterators belong to the same JSON object
        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(first.m_object != last.m_object))
        {
-            JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::insert_range_incompatible, "iterators do not fit", this));
+            detail::throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(detail::exception_id::insert_range_incompatible, "iterators do not fit", this);
        }

        // passed iterators must belong to objects
        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!first.m_object->is_object()))
        {
-            JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::iterator_from_other_value, "iterators first and last must point to objects", this));
+            detail::throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(detail::exception_id::iterator_from_other_value, "iterators first and last must point to objects", this);
        }

        m_data.m_value.object->insert(first.m_it.object_iterator, last.m_it.object_iterator);
@@ -4891,7 +4966,7 @@ public:
        // check if range iterators belong to the same JSON object
        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(first.m_object != last.m_object))
        {
-            JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::insert_range_incompatible, "iterators do not fit", this));
+            detail::throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(detail::exception_id::insert_range_incompatible, "iterators do not fit", this);
        }

        // passed iterators must belong to objects
@@ -5173,6 +5248,20 @@ public:
    /// @name lexicographical comparison operators
    /// @{

+    // the same-type cases for non-owning scalars, shared by JSON_IMPLEMENT_OPERATOR
+    // and JSON_IMPLEMENT_SCALAR_FAST
+#define JSON_IMPLEMENT_SCALAR_CASES(op, null_result)                                                     \
+  case value_t::null:                                                                                  \
+        return (null_result);                                                                            \
+  case value_t::boolean:                                                                               \
+        return (lhs.m_data.m_value.boolean) op (rhs.m_data.m_value.boolean);                             \
+  case value_t::number_integer:                                                                        \
+        return (lhs.m_data.m_value.number_integer) op (rhs.m_data.m_value.number_integer);               \
+  case value_t::number_unsigned:                                                                       \
+        return (lhs.m_data.m_value.number_unsigned) op (rhs.m_data.m_value.number_unsigned);             \
+  case value_t::number_float:                                                                          \
+        return (lhs.m_data.m_value.number_float) op (rhs.m_data.m_value.number_float);
+
    // note parentheses around operands are necessary; see
    // https://github.com/nlohmann/json/issues/1530
    // Mixed signed/unsigned integer comparisons check whether the signed value
@@ -5209,24 +5298,11 @@ public:
                return (*lhs.m_data.m_value.object) op (*rhs.m_data.m_value.object);                                   \
            }                                                                                            \
            \
-            case value_t::null:                                                                          \
-                return (null_result);                                                                    \
-                \
+            JSON_IMPLEMENT_SCALAR_CASES(op, null_result)                                                 \
+            \
            case value_t::string:                                                                        \
                return (*lhs.m_data.m_value.string) op (*rhs.m_data.m_value.string);                                   \
                \
-            case value_t::boolean:                                                                       \
-                return (lhs.m_data.m_value.boolean) op (rhs.m_data.m_value.boolean);                                   \
-                \
-            case value_t::number_integer:                                                                \
-                return (lhs.m_data.m_value.number_integer) op (rhs.m_data.m_value.number_integer);                     \
-                \
-            case value_t::number_unsigned:                                                               \
-                return (lhs.m_data.m_value.number_unsigned) op (rhs.m_data.m_value.number_unsigned);                   \
-                \
-            case value_t::number_float:                                                                  \
-                return (lhs.m_data.m_value.number_float) op (rhs.m_data.m_value.number_float);                         \
-                \
            case value_t::binary:                                                                        \
                return (*lhs.m_data.m_value.binary) op (*rhs.m_data.m_value.binary);                                   \
                \
@@ -5270,6 +5346,24 @@ public:
    \
    return (default_result);

+    // inline fast path for two values of the same non-owning scalar type; anything
+    // else falls through to the out-of-line general comparison
+#define JSON_IMPLEMENT_SCALAR_FAST(op, null_result)                                                      \
+    if (lhs.m_data.m_type == rhs.m_data.m_type)                                                          \
+    {                                                                                                    \
+        switch (lhs.m_data.m_type)                                                                       \
+        {                                                                                                \
+                JSON_IMPLEMENT_SCALAR_CASES(op, null_result)                                                 \
+            case value_t::object:                                                                       \
+            case value_t::array:                                                                        \
+            case value_t::string:                                                                       \
+            case value_t::binary:                                                                       \
+            case value_t::discarded:                                                                    \
+            default:                                                                                     \
+                break;                                                                                   \
+        }                                                                                                \
+    }
+
  JSON_PRIVATE_UNLESS_TESTED:
    // returns true if:
    // - any operand is NaN and the other operand is of number type
@@ -5297,6 +5391,168 @@ public:
        return compares_unordered(*this, rhs, inverse);
    }

+    /// @brief whether objects and arrays are the standard containers, whose
+    ///        elements equal_bounded() may therefore compare itself
+    using equal_bounded_containers = std::integral_constant < bool,
+          std::is_same<object_t, std::map<StringType, basic_json, default_object_comparator_t,
+          AllocatorType<std::pair<const StringType, basic_json>>>>::value &&
+          std::is_same<array_t, std::vector<basic_json, AllocatorType<basic_json>>>::value >;
+
+    // out-of-line general comparisons; the operators below handle same-type
+    // scalars inline and fall through to these
+    JSON_HEDLEY_NEVER_INLINE
+    static bool equal_general(const_reference lhs, const_reference rhs) noexcept
+    {
+#ifdef __GNUC__
+        JSON_HEDLEY_DIAGNOSTIC_PUSH
+        JSON_HEDLEY_PRAGMA(GCC diagnostic ignored "-Wfloat-equal")
+#endif
+        JSON_IMPLEMENT_OPERATOR( ==, true, false, false,
+                                 compare_iteratively<false>(lhs, rhs, false) == compare_result::equal, true)
+#ifdef __GNUC__
+        JSON_HEDLEY_DIAGNOSTIC_POP
+#endif
+    }
+
+    JSON_HEDLEY_NEVER_INLINE
+    static bool less_general(const_reference lhs, const_reference rhs) noexcept
+    {
+        // default_result is used if we cannot compare values. In that case,
+        // we compare types. Note we have to call the operator explicitly,
+        // because MSVC has problems otherwise.
+        JSON_IMPLEMENT_OPERATOR( <, false, false, operator<(lhs_type, rhs_type),
+                                 compare_iteratively<true>(lhs, rhs, true) == compare_result::less, false)
+    }
+
+#if JSON_HAS_THREE_WAY_COMPARISON
+    JSON_HEDLEY_NEVER_INLINE
+    static std::partial_ordering three_way_general(const_reference lhs, const_reference rhs) noexcept // *NOPAD*
+    {
+        // default_result is used if we cannot compare values. In that case,
+        // we compare types.
+        JSON_IMPLEMENT_OPERATOR(<=>, // *NOPAD*
+                                std::partial_ordering::equivalent,
+                                std::partial_ordering::unordered,
+                                lhs_type <=> rhs_type, // *NOPAD*
+                                to_partial_ordering(compare_iteratively<true>(lhs, rhs, false)), true)
+    }
+#endif
+
+    /// @brief compare two values of the same type that holds no children
+    /// @return 1 if they are equal, 0 if they are not, and -1 if the values are
+    ///         of different types or have children, which this leaves to
+    ///         equal_structured()
+    JSON_HEDLEY_ALWAYS_INLINE
+    static int equal_scalar(const_reference lhs, const_reference rhs) noexcept
+    {
+#ifdef __GNUC__
+        JSON_HEDLEY_DIAGNOSTIC_PUSH
+        JSON_HEDLEY_PRAGMA(GCC diagnostic ignored "-Wfloat-equal")
+#endif
+        if (lhs.m_data.m_type == rhs.m_data.m_type)
+        {
+            switch (lhs.m_data.m_type)
+            {
+                case value_t::null:
+                    return 1;
+                case value_t::boolean:
+                    return lhs.m_data.m_value.boolean == rhs.m_data.m_value.boolean;
+                case value_t::number_integer:
+                    return lhs.m_data.m_value.number_integer == rhs.m_data.m_value.number_integer;
+                case value_t::number_unsigned:
+                    return lhs.m_data.m_value.number_unsigned == rhs.m_data.m_value.number_unsigned;
+                case value_t::number_float:
+                    return lhs.m_data.m_value.number_float == rhs.m_data.m_value.number_float;
+                case value_t::string:
+                    return *lhs.m_data.m_value.string == *rhs.m_data.m_value.string;
+                case value_t::object:
+                case value_t::array:
+                case value_t::binary:
+                case value_t::discarded:
+                default:
+                    break;
+            }
+        }
+#ifdef __GNUC__
+        JSON_HEDLEY_DIAGNOSTIC_POP
+#endif
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    /// @brief compare for equality, walking objects and arrays here instead of
+    ///        in their containers so that the depth is a parameter and needs no
+    ///        thread-local count; only used for the standard containers
+    static bool equal_bounded(const_reference lhs, const_reference rhs, std::size_t depth) noexcept
+    {
+        const int scalar = equal_scalar(lhs, rhs);
+        return scalar < 0 ? equal_structured(lhs, rhs, depth) : scalar != 0;
+    }
+
+    static bool equal_structured(const_reference lhs, const_reference rhs, std::size_t depth) noexcept
+    {
+        const auto type = lhs.m_data.m_type;
+        if (type != rhs.m_data.m_type || (type != value_t::array && type != value_t::object))
+        {
+            return equal_general(lhs, rhs);
+        }
+
+        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(depth >= detail::recursion_depth_limit()))
+        {
+            return compare_iteratively<false>(lhs, rhs, false) == compare_result::equal;
+        }
+
+        if (type == value_t::array)
+        {
+            const auto& a = *lhs.m_data.m_value.array;
+            const auto& b = *rhs.m_data.m_value.array;
+            if (a.size() != b.size())
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+            auto it_b = b.cbegin();
+            for (auto it_a = a.cbegin(); it_a != a.cend(); ++it_a, ++it_b)
+            {
+                const int scalar = equal_scalar(*it_a, *it_b);
+                if (scalar < 0 ? !equal_structured(*it_a, *it_b, depth + 1) : scalar == 0)
+                {
+                    return false;
+                }
+            }
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        const auto& a = *lhs.m_data.m_value.object;
+        const auto& b = *rhs.m_data.m_value.object;
+        if (a.size() != b.size())
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+        auto it_b = b.cbegin();
+        for (auto it_a = a.cbegin(); it_a != a.cend(); ++it_a, ++it_b)
+        {
+            if (!(it_a->first == it_b->first))
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+            const int scalar = equal_scalar(it_a->second, it_b->second);
+            if (scalar < 0 ? !equal_structured(it_a->second, it_b->second, depth + 1) : scalar == 0)
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+        }
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    static bool equal_dispatch(const_reference lhs, const_reference rhs, std::true_type /*standard containers*/) noexcept
+    {
+        return equal_bounded(lhs, rhs, 0);
+    }
+
+    static bool equal_dispatch(const_reference lhs, const_reference rhs, std::false_type /*other containers*/) noexcept
+    {
+        return equal_general(lhs, rhs);
+    }
+
  public:
 #if JSON_HAS_THREE_WAY_COMPARISON
    /// @brief comparison: equal
@@ -5308,11 +5564,11 @@ public:
        JSON_HEDLEY_PRAGMA(GCC diagnostic ignored "-Wfloat-equal")
 #endif
        const_reference lhs = *this;
-        JSON_IMPLEMENT_OPERATOR( ==, true, false, false,
-                                 compare_iteratively<false>(lhs, rhs, false) == compare_result::equal, true)
+        JSON_IMPLEMENT_SCALAR_FAST( ==, true)
 #ifdef __GNUC__
        JSON_HEDLEY_DIAGNOSTIC_POP
 #endif
+        return equal_dispatch(lhs, rhs, equal_bounded_containers {});
    }

    /// @brief comparison: equal
@@ -5329,13 +5585,8 @@ public:
    std::partial_ordering operator<=>(const_reference rhs) const noexcept // *NOPAD*
    {
        const_reference lhs = *this;
-        // default_result is used if we cannot compare values. In that case,
-        // we compare types.
-        JSON_IMPLEMENT_OPERATOR(<=>, // *NOPAD*
-                                std::partial_ordering::equivalent,
-                                std::partial_ordering::unordered,
-                                lhs_type <=> rhs_type, // *NOPAD*
-                                to_partial_ordering(compare_iteratively<true>(lhs, rhs, false)), true)
+        JSON_IMPLEMENT_SCALAR_FAST(<=>, std::partial_ordering::equivalent) // *NOPAD*
+        return three_way_general(lhs, rhs);
    }

    /// @brief comparison: 3-way
@@ -5423,11 +5674,11 @@ public:
        JSON_HEDLEY_DIAGNOSTIC_PUSH
        JSON_HEDLEY_PRAGMA(GCC diagnostic ignored "-Wfloat-equal")
 #endif
-        JSON_IMPLEMENT_OPERATOR( ==, true, false, false,
-                                 compare_iteratively<false>(lhs, rhs, false) == compare_result::equal, true)
+        JSON_IMPLEMENT_SCALAR_FAST( ==, true)
 #ifdef __GNUC__
        JSON_HEDLEY_DIAGNOSTIC_POP
 #endif
+        return equal_dispatch(lhs, rhs, equal_bounded_containers {});
    }

    // The friend comparisons with a scalar name the JSON type via decltype of
@@ -5482,11 +5733,8 @@ public:
    /// @sa https://json.nlohmann.me/api/basic_json/operator_lt/
    friend bool operator<(const_reference lhs, const_reference rhs) noexcept
    {
-        // default_result is used if we cannot compare values. In that case,
-        // we compare types. Note we have to call the operator explicitly,
-        // because MSVC has problems otherwise.
-        JSON_IMPLEMENT_OPERATOR( <, false, false, operator<(lhs_type, rhs_type),
-                                 compare_iteratively<true>(lhs, rhs, true) == compare_result::less, false)
+        JSON_IMPLEMENT_SCALAR_FAST( <, false)
+        return less_general(lhs, rhs);
    }

    /// @brief comparison: less than
@@ -5597,6 +5845,8 @@ public:
 #endif

 #undef JSON_IMPLEMENT_OPERATOR
+#undef JSON_IMPLEMENT_SCALAR_FAST
+#undef JSON_IMPLEMENT_SCALAR_CASES

    /// @}

@@ -92,13 +92,19 @@ private:

    /// @brief shared implementation of the const and non-const at() overloads
    /// @throw std::out_of_range if @a key is not found
+    JSON_HEDLEY_NO_RETURN JSON_HEDLEY_NEVER_INLINE
+    static void throw_key_not_found()
+    {
+        JSON_THROW(std::out_of_range("key not found"));
+    }
+
    template<typename Self, typename KeyType>
    static auto at_impl(Self& self, const KeyType& key) -> decltype((self.begin()->second))
    {
        const auto it = find_impl(self, key);
        if (it == self.end())
        {
-            JSON_THROW(std::out_of_range("key not found"));
+            throw_key_not_found();
        }
        return it->second;
    }
@@ -5637,7 +5637,7 @@ void templated_json_throw(ExceptionType exception)
@throw type_error.302 always
 */
 template<typename BasicJsonType>
-JSON_HEDLEY_NO_RETURN inline void throw_type_must_be(const char* expected, const BasicJsonType& j)
+JSON_HEDLEY_NO_RETURN JSON_HEDLEY_NEVER_INLINE void throw_type_must_be(const char* expected, const BasicJsonType& j)
 {
    static_cast<void>(expected); // unused when JSON_NOEXCEPTION is defined
    static_cast<void>(j);
@@ -5652,7 +5652,7 @@ JSON_HEDLEY_NO_RETURN inline void throw_type_must_be(const char* expected, const
@throw type_error always
 */
 template<typename BasicJsonType>
-JSON_HEDLEY_NO_RETURN inline void throw_cannot_use_with(const exception_id id_, const char* operation, const BasicJsonType& j)
+JSON_HEDLEY_NO_RETURN JSON_HEDLEY_NEVER_INLINE void throw_cannot_use_with(const exception_id id_, const char* operation, const BasicJsonType& j)
 {
    static_cast<void>(id_); // unused when JSON_NOEXCEPTION is defined
    static_cast<void>(operation);
@@ -5660,6 +5660,18 @@ JSON_HEDLEY_NO_RETURN inline void throw_cannot_use_with(const exception_id id_,
    JSON_THROW(type_error::create(id_, concat("cannot use ", operation, " with ", j.type_name()), &j));
 }

+/*!
+@brief throws ExceptionType with a fixed message; kept out of line so that callers do not carry the exception construction
+*/
+template<typename ExceptionType, typename BasicJsonContext>
+JSON_HEDLEY_NO_RETURN JSON_HEDLEY_NEVER_INLINE void throw_literal(const exception_id id_, const char* what_arg, BasicJsonContext context)
+{
+    static_cast<void>(id_); // unused when JSON_NOEXCEPTION is defined
+    static_cast<void>(what_arg);
+    static_cast<void>(context);
+    JSON_THROW(ExceptionType::create(id_, what_arg, context));
+}
+
 }  // namespace detail
 NLOHMANN_JSON_NAMESPACE_END

@@ -20054,7 +20066,7 @@ class iter_impl // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-speci
    }

    /// @throw invalid_iterator.214 always
-    JSON_HEDLEY_NO_RETURN void throw_cannot_get_value() const
+    JSON_HEDLEY_NO_RETURN JSON_HEDLEY_NEVER_INLINE void throw_cannot_get_value() const
    {
        JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(exception_id::iterator_value_unavailable, "cannot get value", m_object));
    }
@@ -20258,7 +20270,7 @@ class iter_impl // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-speci
        // if objects are not the same, the comparison is undefined
        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(m_object != other.m_object))
        {
-            JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(exception_id::iterators_compare_different_values, "cannot compare iterators of different containers", m_object));
+            throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(exception_id::iterators_compare_different_values, "cannot compare iterators of different containers", m_object);
        }

        // value-initialized forward iterators can be compared, and must compare equal to other value-initialized iterators of the same type #4493
@@ -20307,7 +20319,7 @@ class iter_impl // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-speci
        // if objects are not the same, the comparison is undefined
        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(m_object != other.m_object))
        {
-            JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(exception_id::iterators_compare_different_values, "cannot compare iterators of different containers", m_object));
+            throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(exception_id::iterators_compare_different_values, "cannot compare iterators of different containers", m_object);
        }

        // value-initialized forward iterators can be compared, and must compare equal to other value-initialized iterators of the same type #4493
@@ -20320,7 +20332,7 @@ class iter_impl // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-speci
        switch (m_object->m_data.m_type)
        {
            case value_t::object:
-                JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(exception_id::iterator_order_on_object, "cannot compare order of object iterators", m_object));
+                throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(exception_id::iterator_order_on_object, "cannot compare order of object iterators", m_object);

            case value_t::array:
                return (m_it.array_iterator < other.m_it.array_iterator);
@@ -20376,7 +20388,7 @@ class iter_impl // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-speci
        switch (m_object->m_data.m_type)
        {
            case value_t::object:
-                JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(exception_id::iterator_arithmetic_on_object, "cannot use offsets with object iterators", m_object));
+                throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(exception_id::iterator_arithmetic_on_object, "cannot use offsets with object iterators", m_object);

            case value_t::array:
            {
@@ -20455,7 +20467,7 @@ class iter_impl // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-speci
        switch (m_object->m_data.m_type)
        {
            case value_t::object:
-                JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(exception_id::iterator_arithmetic_on_object, "cannot use offsets with object iterators", m_object));
+                throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(exception_id::iterator_arithmetic_on_object, "cannot use offsets with object iterators", m_object);

            case value_t::array:
                return m_it.array_iterator - other.m_it.array_iterator;
@@ -20484,7 +20496,7 @@ class iter_impl // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-speci
        switch (m_object->m_data.m_type)
        {
            case value_t::object:
-                JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(exception_id::iterator_subscript_on_object, "cannot use operator[] for object iterators", m_object));
+                throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(exception_id::iterator_subscript_on_object, "cannot use operator[] for object iterators", m_object);

            case value_t::array:
                return *std::next(m_it.array_iterator, n);
@@ -20524,7 +20536,7 @@ class iter_impl // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-speci
            return m_it.object_iterator->first;
        }

-        JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(exception_id::iterator_key_not_object, "cannot use key() for non-object iterators", m_object));
+        throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(exception_id::iterator_key_not_object, "cannot use key() for non-object iterators", m_object);
    }

    /*!
@@ -29488,13 +29500,19 @@ private:

    /// @brief shared implementation of the const and non-const at() overloads
    /// @throw std::out_of_range if @a key is not found
+    JSON_HEDLEY_NO_RETURN JSON_HEDLEY_NEVER_INLINE
+    static void throw_key_not_found()
+    {
+        JSON_THROW(std::out_of_range("key not found"));
+    }
+
    template<typename Self, typename KeyType>
    static auto at_impl(Self& self, const KeyType& key) -> decltype((self.begin()->second))
    {
        const auto it = find_impl(self, key);
        if (it == self.end())
        {
-            JSON_THROW(std::out_of_range("key not found"));
+            throw_key_not_found();
        }
        return it->second;
    }
@@ -30325,26 +30343,12 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
            switch (t)
            {
                case value_t::object:
-                {
-                    object = create<object_t>();
-                    break;
-                }
-
                case value_t::array:
-                {
-                    array = create<array_t>();
-                    break;
-                }
-
                case value_t::string:
-                {
-                    string = create<string_t>("");
-                    break;
-                }
-
                case value_t::binary:
                {
-                    binary = create<binary_t>();
+                    // allocating: kept out of line, so the scalar cases below inline
+                    init_owned(t);
                    break;
                }

@@ -30384,13 +30388,41 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
                    object = nullptr;  // silence warning, see #821
                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(t == value_t::null))
                    {
-                        JSON_THROW(other_error::create(detail::exception_id::internal_error, "961c151d2e87f2686a955a9be24d316f1362bf21 3.12.0", nullptr)); // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+                        detail::throw_literal<other_error>(detail::exception_id::internal_error, "961c151d2e87f2686a955a9be24d316f1362bf21 3.12.0", nullptr); // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
                    }
                    break;
                }
            }
        }

+        JSON_HEDLEY_NEVER_INLINE
+        void init_owned(value_t t)
+        {
+            switch (t)
+            {
+                case value_t::object:
+                    object = create<object_t>();
+                    break;
+                case value_t::array:
+                    array = create<array_t>();
+                    break;
+                case value_t::string:
+                    string = create<string_t>("");
+                    break;
+                case value_t::binary:
+                    binary = create<binary_t>();
+                    break;
+                case value_t::null:
+                case value_t::boolean:
+                case value_t::number_integer:
+                case value_t::number_unsigned:
+                case value_t::number_float:
+                case value_t::discarded:
+                default:
+                    break;
+            }
+        }
+
        /// constructor for strings
        json_value(const string_t& value) : string(create<string_t>(value)) {}

@@ -30651,7 +30683,18 @@ public:
            }
        }

+        // only strings, binaries, arrays and objects own memory; keep the
+        // check for them inline so destroying a scalar is a compare and a
+        // branch, and leave the actual work to an out-of-line function
        void destroy(value_t t)
+        {
+            if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(t == value_t::string || t == value_t::binary || t == value_t::object || t == value_t::array))
+            {
+                destroy_owned(t);
+            }
+        }
+
+        JSON_HEDLEY_NEVER_INLINE void destroy_owned(value_t t)
        {
            switch (t)
            {
@@ -32063,7 +32106,7 @@ public:
            // if an object is wanted but impossible, throw an exception
            if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(manual_type == value_t::object && !is_an_object))
            {
-                JSON_THROW(type_error::create(detail::exception_id::object_from_non_pairs, "cannot create object from initializer list", nullptr));
+                detail::throw_literal<type_error>(detail::exception_id::object_from_non_pairs, "cannot create object from initializer list", nullptr);
            }
        }

@@ -32183,7 +32226,7 @@ public:
        // make sure the iterator fits the current value
        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(first.m_object != last.m_object))
        {
-            JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::iterators_incompatible, "iterators are not compatible", nullptr));
+            detail::throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(detail::exception_id::iterators_incompatible, "iterators are not compatible", nullptr);
        }

        // copy type from the first iterator
@@ -32202,7 +32245,7 @@ public:
                if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!first.m_it.primitive_iterator.is_begin()
                                         || !last.m_it.primitive_iterator.is_end()))
                {
-                    JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::iterator_range_out_of_range, "iterators out of range", first.m_object));
+                    detail::throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(detail::exception_id::iterator_range_out_of_range, "iterators out of range", first.m_object);
                }
                break;
            }
@@ -32270,7 +32313,7 @@ public:
            case value_t::null:
            case value_t::discarded:
            default:
-                JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::iterator_range_of_null, detail::concat("cannot construct with iterators from ", first.m_object->type_name()), first.m_object));
+                throw_iterator_range_of_null(first.m_object);
        }

        set_parents();
@@ -32299,15 +32342,15 @@ public:
        // check of passed value is valid
        other.assert_invariant();

-        if (m_data.m_type == value_t::object || m_data.m_type == value_t::array)
+        if (JSON_HEDLEY_LIKELY(m_data.m_type != value_t::object && m_data.m_type != value_t::array
+                               && m_data.m_type != value_t::string && m_data.m_type != value_t::binary))
        {
-            // copying the container directly would call this constructor again
-            // for every element, once per nesting level
-            copy_structured(other);
+            // null, boolean, numbers, discarded: plain copy of the union
+            m_data.m_value = other.m_data.m_value;
        }
        else
        {
-            copy_leaf_value(other, *this);
+            copy_owning(other);
        }

        assert_invariant();
@@ -32539,6 +32582,22 @@ public:
    // value access //
    //////////////////

+    /// out-of-line part of the copy constructor for owning types
+    JSON_HEDLEY_NEVER_INLINE
+    void copy_owning(const basic_json& other)
+    {
+        if (m_data.m_type == value_t::object || m_data.m_type == value_t::array)
+        {
+            // copying the container directly would call this constructor again
+            // for every element, once per nesting level
+            copy_structured(other);
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            copy_leaf_value(other, *this);
+        }
+    }
+
    /// get a pointer to the value (object)
    object_t* get_impl_ptr(object_t* /*unused*/) noexcept
    {
@@ -32635,6 +32694,40 @@ public:
        return is_binary() ? m_data.m_value.binary : nullptr;
    }

+    /// out-of-line throw helpers (message construction kept out of the hot paths)
+    JSON_HEDLEY_NO_RETURN JSON_HEDLEY_NEVER_INLINE
+    static void throw_iterator_range_of_null(const basic_json* obj)
+    {
+        JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::iterator_range_of_null, detail::concat("cannot construct with iterators from ", obj->type_name()), obj));
+    }
+
+    JSON_HEDLEY_NO_RETURN JSON_HEDLEY_NEVER_INLINE
+    static void throw_incompatible_reference_type(const basic_json& obj)
+    {
+        JSON_THROW(type_error::create(detail::exception_id::incompatible_reference_type, detail::concat("incompatible ReferenceType for get_ref, actual type is ", obj.type_name()), &obj));
+    }
+
+    JSON_HEDLEY_NO_RETURN JSON_HEDLEY_NEVER_INLINE
+    static void throw_array_index_exceeds_size_type(size_type idx)
+    {
+        JSON_THROW(std::length_error(detail::concat("array index ", std::to_string(idx), " exceeds size_type")));
+    }
+
+    /// @throw out_of_range.401
+    JSON_HEDLEY_NO_RETURN JSON_HEDLEY_NEVER_INLINE
+    static void throw_array_index_out_of_range(size_type idx, const basic_json& j)
+    {
+        JSON_THROW(out_of_range::create(detail::exception_id::array_index_out_of_range, detail::concat("array index ", std::to_string(idx), " is out of range"), &j));
+    }
+
+    /// @throw out_of_range.403
+    template<typename KeyType>
+    JSON_HEDLEY_NO_RETURN JSON_HEDLEY_NEVER_INLINE
+    static void throw_key_not_found(const KeyType& key, const basic_json& j)
+    {
+        JSON_THROW(out_of_range::create(detail::exception_id::key_not_found, detail::concat("key '", key, "' not found"), &j));
+    }
+
    /*!
    @brief helper function to implement get_ref()

@@ -32657,7 +32750,7 @@ public:
            return *ptr;
        }

-        JSON_THROW(type_error::create(detail::exception_id::incompatible_reference_type, detail::concat("incompatible ReferenceType for get_ref, actual type is ", obj.type_name()), &obj));
+        throw_incompatible_reference_type(obj);
    }

  public:
@@ -33105,7 +33198,7 @@ public:
            // std::map or ordered_map) never moves from its argument, so key is still
            // valid here regardless of whether KeyType was deduced as an rvalue reference
            // NOLINTNEXTLINE(bugprone-use-after-move,hicpp-invalid-access-moved)
-            JSON_THROW(out_of_range::create(detail::exception_id::key_not_found, detail::concat("key '", key_for_message(key), "' not found"), &j));
+            throw_key_not_found(key_for_message(key), j);
        }
        return it->second;
    }
@@ -33142,7 +33235,7 @@ public:

        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(idx >= j.m_data.m_value.array->size()))
        {
-            JSON_THROW(out_of_range::create(detail::exception_id::array_index_out_of_range, detail::concat("array index ", std::to_string(idx), " is out of range"), &j));
+            throw_array_index_out_of_range(idx, j);
        }

        return (*j.m_data.m_value.array)[idx];
@@ -33260,7 +33353,7 @@ public:
                // resize() rejects other indices that are too large to represent
                if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(idx == (std::numeric_limits<size_type>::max)()))
                {
-                    JSON_THROW(std::length_error(detail::concat("array index ", std::to_string(idx), " exceeds size_type")));
+                    throw_array_index_exceeds_size_type(idx);
                }
 #if JSON_DIAGNOSTICS
                // remember array size & capacity before resizing
@@ -33598,7 +33691,7 @@ public:
        // make sure the iterator fits the current value
        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(this != pos.m_object))
        {
-            JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::iterator_from_other_value, "iterator does not fit current value", this));
+            detail::throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(detail::exception_id::iterator_from_other_value, "iterator does not fit current value", this);
        }

        IteratorType result = end();
@@ -33614,7 +33707,7 @@ public:
            {
                if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!pos.m_it.primitive_iterator.is_begin()))
                {
-                    JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::iterator_out_of_range, "iterator out of range", this));
+                    detail::throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(detail::exception_id::iterator_out_of_range, "iterator out of range", this);
                }

                m_data.m_value.destroy(m_data.m_type);
@@ -33656,7 +33749,7 @@ public:
        // make sure the iterator fits the current value
        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(this != first.m_object || this != last.m_object))
        {
-            JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::iterator_range_from_other_value, "iterators do not fit current value", this));
+            detail::throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(detail::exception_id::iterator_range_from_other_value, "iterators do not fit current value", this);
        }

        IteratorType result = end();
@@ -33673,7 +33766,7 @@ public:
                if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!first.m_it.primitive_iterator.is_begin()
                                         || !last.m_it.primitive_iterator.is_end()))
                {
-                    JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::iterator_range_out_of_range, "iterators out of range", this));
+                    detail::throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(detail::exception_id::iterator_range_out_of_range, "iterators out of range", this);
                }

                m_data.m_value.destroy(m_data.m_type);
@@ -33772,7 +33865,7 @@ public:
        {
            if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(idx >= size()))
            {
-                JSON_THROW(out_of_range::create(detail::exception_id::array_index_out_of_range, detail::concat("array index ", std::to_string(idx), " is out of range"), this));
+                throw_array_index_out_of_range(idx, *this);
            }

            m_data.m_value.array->erase(m_data.m_value.array->begin() + static_cast<difference_type>(idx));
@@ -34460,7 +34553,7 @@ public:
            // check if iterator pos fits to this JSON value
            if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(pos.m_object != this))
            {
-                JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::iterator_from_other_value, "iterator does not fit current value", this));
+                detail::throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(detail::exception_id::iterator_from_other_value, "iterator does not fit current value", this);
            }

            // insert to array and return iterator
@@ -34480,7 +34573,7 @@ public:
            // check if iterator pos fits to this JSON value
            if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(pos.m_object != this))
            {
-                JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::iterator_from_other_value, "iterator does not fit current value", this));
+                detail::throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(detail::exception_id::iterator_from_other_value, "iterator does not fit current value", this);
            }

            // moving into a local first keeps this safe even if val aliases
@@ -34502,7 +34595,7 @@ public:
            // check if iterator pos fits to this JSON value
            if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(pos.m_object != this))
            {
-                JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::iterator_from_other_value, "iterator does not fit current value", this));
+                detail::throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(detail::exception_id::iterator_from_other_value, "iterator does not fit current value", this);
            }

            // insert to array and return iterator
@@ -34525,24 +34618,24 @@ public:
        // check if iterator pos fits to this JSON value
        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(pos.m_object != this))
        {
-            JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::iterator_from_other_value, "iterator does not fit current value", this));
+            detail::throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(detail::exception_id::iterator_from_other_value, "iterator does not fit current value", this);
        }

        // check if range iterators belong to the same JSON object
        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(first.m_object != last.m_object))
        {
-            JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::insert_range_incompatible, "iterators do not fit", this));
+            detail::throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(detail::exception_id::insert_range_incompatible, "iterators do not fit", this);
        }

        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(first.m_object == this))
        {
-            JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::insert_range_into_itself, "passed iterators may not belong to container", this));
+            detail::throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(detail::exception_id::insert_range_into_itself, "passed iterators may not belong to container", this);
        }

        // passed iterators must belong to arrays
        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!first.m_object->is_array()))
        {
-            JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::iterator_from_other_value, "iterators first and last must point to arrays", this));
+            detail::throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(detail::exception_id::iterator_from_other_value, "iterators first and last must point to arrays", this);
        }

        // insert to array and return iterator
@@ -34562,7 +34655,7 @@ public:
        // check if iterator pos fits to this JSON value
        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(pos.m_object != this))
        {
-            JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::iterator_from_other_value, "iterator does not fit current value", this));
+            detail::throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(detail::exception_id::iterator_from_other_value, "iterator does not fit current value", this);
        }

        // copy the values first: ilist may refer to elements of this array
@@ -34590,13 +34683,13 @@ public:
        // check if range iterators belong to the same JSON object
        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(first.m_object != last.m_object))
        {
-            JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::insert_range_incompatible, "iterators do not fit", this));
+            detail::throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(detail::exception_id::insert_range_incompatible, "iterators do not fit", this);
        }

        // passed iterators must belong to objects
        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!first.m_object->is_object()))
        {
-            JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::iterator_from_other_value, "iterators first and last must point to objects", this));
+            detail::throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(detail::exception_id::iterator_from_other_value, "iterators first and last must point to objects", this);
        }

        m_data.m_value.object->insert(first.m_it.object_iterator, last.m_it.object_iterator);
@@ -34631,7 +34724,7 @@ public:
        // check if range iterators belong to the same JSON object
        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(first.m_object != last.m_object))
        {
-            JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(detail::exception_id::insert_range_incompatible, "iterators do not fit", this));
+            detail::throw_literal<invalid_iterator>(detail::exception_id::insert_range_incompatible, "iterators do not fit", this);
        }

        // passed iterators must belong to objects
@@ -34913,6 +35006,20 @@ public:
    /// @name lexicographical comparison operators
    /// @{

+    // the same-type cases for non-owning scalars, shared by JSON_IMPLEMENT_OPERATOR
+    // and JSON_IMPLEMENT_SCALAR_FAST
+#define JSON_IMPLEMENT_SCALAR_CASES(op, null_result)                                                     \
+  case value_t::null:                                                                                  \
+        return (null_result);                                                                            \
+  case value_t::boolean:                                                                               \
+        return (lhs.m_data.m_value.boolean) op (rhs.m_data.m_value.boolean);                             \
+  case value_t::number_integer:                                                                        \
+        return (lhs.m_data.m_value.number_integer) op (rhs.m_data.m_value.number_integer);               \
+  case value_t::number_unsigned:                                                                       \
+        return (lhs.m_data.m_value.number_unsigned) op (rhs.m_data.m_value.number_unsigned);             \
+  case value_t::number_float:                                                                          \
+        return (lhs.m_data.m_value.number_float) op (rhs.m_data.m_value.number_float);
+
    // note parentheses around operands are necessary; see
    // https://github.com/nlohmann/json/issues/1530
    // Mixed signed/unsigned integer comparisons check whether the signed value
@@ -34949,24 +35056,11 @@ public:
                return (*lhs.m_data.m_value.object) op (*rhs.m_data.m_value.object);                                   \
            }                                                                                            \
            \
-            case value_t::null:                                                                          \
-                return (null_result);                                                                    \
-                \
+            JSON_IMPLEMENT_SCALAR_CASES(op, null_result)                                                 \
+            \
            case value_t::string:                                                                        \
                return (*lhs.m_data.m_value.string) op (*rhs.m_data.m_value.string);                                   \
                \
-            case value_t::boolean:                                                                       \
-                return (lhs.m_data.m_value.boolean) op (rhs.m_data.m_value.boolean);                                   \
-                \
-            case value_t::number_integer:                                                                \
-                return (lhs.m_data.m_value.number_integer) op (rhs.m_data.m_value.number_integer);                     \
-                \
-            case value_t::number_unsigned:                                                               \
-                return (lhs.m_data.m_value.number_unsigned) op (rhs.m_data.m_value.number_unsigned);                   \
-                \
-            case value_t::number_float:                                                                  \
-                return (lhs.m_data.m_value.number_float) op (rhs.m_data.m_value.number_float);                         \
-                \
            case value_t::binary:                                                                        \
                return (*lhs.m_data.m_value.binary) op (*rhs.m_data.m_value.binary);                                   \
                \
@@ -35010,6 +35104,24 @@ public:
    \
    return (default_result);

+    // inline fast path for two values of the same non-owning scalar type; anything
+    // else falls through to the out-of-line general comparison
+#define JSON_IMPLEMENT_SCALAR_FAST(op, null_result)                                                      \
+    if (lhs.m_data.m_type == rhs.m_data.m_type)                                                          \
+    {                                                                                                    \
+        switch (lhs.m_data.m_type)                                                                       \
+        {                                                                                                \
+                JSON_IMPLEMENT_SCALAR_CASES(op, null_result)                                                 \
+            case value_t::object:                                                                       \
+            case value_t::array:                                                                        \
+            case value_t::string:                                                                       \
+            case value_t::binary:                                                                       \
+            case value_t::discarded:                                                                    \
+            default:                                                                                     \
+                break;                                                                                   \
+        }                                                                                                \
+    }
+
  JSON_PRIVATE_UNLESS_TESTED:
    // returns true if:
    // - any operand is NaN and the other operand is of number type
@@ -35037,6 +35149,168 @@ public:
        return compares_unordered(*this, rhs, inverse);
    }

+    /// @brief whether objects and arrays are the standard containers, whose
+    ///        elements equal_bounded() may therefore compare itself
+    using equal_bounded_containers = std::integral_constant < bool,
+          std::is_same<object_t, std::map<StringType, basic_json, default_object_comparator_t,
+          AllocatorType<std::pair<const StringType, basic_json>>>>::value &&
+          std::is_same<array_t, std::vector<basic_json, AllocatorType<basic_json>>>::value >;
+
+    // out-of-line general comparisons; the operators below handle same-type
+    // scalars inline and fall through to these
+    JSON_HEDLEY_NEVER_INLINE
+    static bool equal_general(const_reference lhs, const_reference rhs) noexcept
+    {
+#ifdef __GNUC__
+        JSON_HEDLEY_DIAGNOSTIC_PUSH
+        JSON_HEDLEY_PRAGMA(GCC diagnostic ignored "-Wfloat-equal")
+#endif
+        JSON_IMPLEMENT_OPERATOR( ==, true, false, false,
+                                 compare_iteratively<false>(lhs, rhs, false) == compare_result::equal, true)
+#ifdef __GNUC__
+        JSON_HEDLEY_DIAGNOSTIC_POP
+#endif
+    }
+
+    JSON_HEDLEY_NEVER_INLINE
+    static bool less_general(const_reference lhs, const_reference rhs) noexcept
+    {
+        // default_result is used if we cannot compare values. In that case,
+        // we compare types. Note we have to call the operator explicitly,
+        // because MSVC has problems otherwise.
+        JSON_IMPLEMENT_OPERATOR( <, false, false, operator<(lhs_type, rhs_type),
+                                 compare_iteratively<true>(lhs, rhs, true) == compare_result::less, false)
+    }
+
+#if JSON_HAS_THREE_WAY_COMPARISON
+    JSON_HEDLEY_NEVER_INLINE
+    static std::partial_ordering three_way_general(const_reference lhs, const_reference rhs) noexcept // *NOPAD*
+    {
+        // default_result is used if we cannot compare values. In that case,
+        // we compare types.
+        JSON_IMPLEMENT_OPERATOR(<=>, // *NOPAD*
+                                std::partial_ordering::equivalent,
+                                std::partial_ordering::unordered,
+                                lhs_type <=> rhs_type, // *NOPAD*
+                                to_partial_ordering(compare_iteratively<true>(lhs, rhs, false)), true)
+    }
+#endif
+
+    /// @brief compare two values of the same type that holds no children
+    /// @return 1 if they are equal, 0 if they are not, and -1 if the values are
+    ///         of different types or have children, which this leaves to
+    ///         equal_structured()
+    JSON_HEDLEY_ALWAYS_INLINE
+    static int equal_scalar(const_reference lhs, const_reference rhs) noexcept
+    {
+#ifdef __GNUC__
+        JSON_HEDLEY_DIAGNOSTIC_PUSH
+        JSON_HEDLEY_PRAGMA(GCC diagnostic ignored "-Wfloat-equal")
+#endif
+        if (lhs.m_data.m_type == rhs.m_data.m_type)
+        {
+            switch (lhs.m_data.m_type)
+            {
+                case value_t::null:
+                    return 1;
+                case value_t::boolean:
+                    return lhs.m_data.m_value.boolean == rhs.m_data.m_value.boolean;
+                case value_t::number_integer:
+                    return lhs.m_data.m_value.number_integer == rhs.m_data.m_value.number_integer;
+                case value_t::number_unsigned:
+                    return lhs.m_data.m_value.number_unsigned == rhs.m_data.m_value.number_unsigned;
+                case value_t::number_float:
+                    return lhs.m_data.m_value.number_float == rhs.m_data.m_value.number_float;
+                case value_t::string:
+                    return *lhs.m_data.m_value.string == *rhs.m_data.m_value.string;
+                case value_t::object:
+                case value_t::array:
+                case value_t::binary:
+                case value_t::discarded:
+                default:
+                    break;
+            }
+        }
+#ifdef __GNUC__
+        JSON_HEDLEY_DIAGNOSTIC_POP
+#endif
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    /// @brief compare for equality, walking objects and arrays here instead of
+    ///        in their containers so that the depth is a parameter and needs no
+    ///        thread-local count; only used for the standard containers
+    static bool equal_bounded(const_reference lhs, const_reference rhs, std::size_t depth) noexcept
+    {
+        const int scalar = equal_scalar(lhs, rhs);
+        return scalar < 0 ? equal_structured(lhs, rhs, depth) : scalar != 0;
+    }
+
+    static bool equal_structured(const_reference lhs, const_reference rhs, std::size_t depth) noexcept
+    {
+        const auto type = lhs.m_data.m_type;
+        if (type != rhs.m_data.m_type || (type != value_t::array && type != value_t::object))
+        {
+            return equal_general(lhs, rhs);
+        }
+
+        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(depth >= detail::recursion_depth_limit()))
+        {
+            return compare_iteratively<false>(lhs, rhs, false) == compare_result::equal;
+        }
+
+        if (type == value_t::array)
+        {
+            const auto& a = *lhs.m_data.m_value.array;
+            const auto& b = *rhs.m_data.m_value.array;
+            if (a.size() != b.size())
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+            auto it_b = b.cbegin();
+            for (auto it_a = a.cbegin(); it_a != a.cend(); ++it_a, ++it_b)
+            {
+                const int scalar = equal_scalar(*it_a, *it_b);
+                if (scalar < 0 ? !equal_structured(*it_a, *it_b, depth + 1) : scalar == 0)
+                {
+                    return false;
+                }
+            }
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        const auto& a = *lhs.m_data.m_value.object;
+        const auto& b = *rhs.m_data.m_value.object;
+        if (a.size() != b.size())
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+        auto it_b = b.cbegin();
+        for (auto it_a = a.cbegin(); it_a != a.cend(); ++it_a, ++it_b)
+        {
+            if (!(it_a->first == it_b->first))
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+            const int scalar = equal_scalar(it_a->second, it_b->second);
+            if (scalar < 0 ? !equal_structured(it_a->second, it_b->second, depth + 1) : scalar == 0)
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+        }
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    static bool equal_dispatch(const_reference lhs, const_reference rhs, std::true_type /*standard containers*/) noexcept
+    {
+        return equal_bounded(lhs, rhs, 0);
+    }
+
+    static bool equal_dispatch(const_reference lhs, const_reference rhs, std::false_type /*other containers*/) noexcept
+    {
+        return equal_general(lhs, rhs);
+    }
+
  public:
 #if JSON_HAS_THREE_WAY_COMPARISON
    /// @brief comparison: equal
@@ -35048,11 +35322,11 @@ public:
        JSON_HEDLEY_PRAGMA(GCC diagnostic ignored "-Wfloat-equal")
 #endif
        const_reference lhs = *this;
-        JSON_IMPLEMENT_OPERATOR( ==, true, false, false,
-                                 compare_iteratively<false>(lhs, rhs, false) == compare_result::equal, true)
+        JSON_IMPLEMENT_SCALAR_FAST( ==, true)
 #ifdef __GNUC__
        JSON_HEDLEY_DIAGNOSTIC_POP
 #endif
+        return equal_dispatch(lhs, rhs, equal_bounded_containers {});
    }

    /// @brief comparison: equal
@@ -35069,13 +35343,8 @@ public:
    std::partial_ordering operator<=>(const_reference rhs) const noexcept // *NOPAD*
    {
        const_reference lhs = *this;
-        // default_result is used if we cannot compare values. In that case,
-        // we compare types.
-        JSON_IMPLEMENT_OPERATOR(<=>, // *NOPAD*
-                                std::partial_ordering::equivalent,
-                                std::partial_ordering::unordered,
-                                lhs_type <=> rhs_type, // *NOPAD*
-                                to_partial_ordering(compare_iteratively<true>(lhs, rhs, false)), true)
+        JSON_IMPLEMENT_SCALAR_FAST(<=>, std::partial_ordering::equivalent) // *NOPAD*
+        return three_way_general(lhs, rhs);
    }

    /// @brief comparison: 3-way
@@ -35163,11 +35432,11 @@ public:
        JSON_HEDLEY_DIAGNOSTIC_PUSH
        JSON_HEDLEY_PRAGMA(GCC diagnostic ignored "-Wfloat-equal")
 #endif
-        JSON_IMPLEMENT_OPERATOR( ==, true, false, false,
-                                 compare_iteratively<false>(lhs, rhs, false) == compare_result::equal, true)
+        JSON_IMPLEMENT_SCALAR_FAST( ==, true)
 #ifdef __GNUC__
        JSON_HEDLEY_DIAGNOSTIC_POP
 #endif
+        return equal_dispatch(lhs, rhs, equal_bounded_containers {});
    }

    // The friend comparisons with a scalar name the JSON type via decltype of
@@ -35222,11 +35491,8 @@ public:
    /// @sa https://json.nlohmann.me/api/basic_json/operator_lt/
    friend bool operator<(const_reference lhs, const_reference rhs) noexcept
    {
-        // default_result is used if we cannot compare values. In that case,
-        // we compare types. Note we have to call the operator explicitly,
-        // because MSVC has problems otherwise.
-        JSON_IMPLEMENT_OPERATOR( <, false, false, operator<(lhs_type, rhs_type),
-                                 compare_iteratively<true>(lhs, rhs, true) == compare_result::less, false)
+        JSON_IMPLEMENT_SCALAR_FAST( <, false)
+        return less_general(lhs, rhs);
    }

    /// @brief comparison: less than
@@ -35337,6 +35603,8 @@ public:
 #endif

 #undef JSON_IMPLEMENT_OPERATOR
+#undef JSON_IMPLEMENT_SCALAR_FAST
+#undef JSON_IMPLEMENT_SCALAR_CASES

    /// @}

@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@

 #include <cctype>
 #include <cstdint>
+#include <limits>
 #include <map>
 #include <string>
 #include <utility>
@@ -1149,3 +1150,157 @@ TEST_CASE("operator<=> of binary values with a different subtype does not depend
    }
 }
 #endif
+
+TEST_CASE("comparison of scalars (inline fast path)")
+{
+    const json::number_integer_t neg = -1;
+    const json::number_integer_t pos = 5;
+    const json::number_unsigned_t big = (std::numeric_limits<json::number_unsigned_t>::max)();
+
+    SECTION("same type")
+    {
+        CHECK(json(pos) == json(pos));
+        CHECK(json(pos) != json(neg));
+        CHECK(json(neg) < json(pos));
+        CHECK_FALSE(json(pos) < json(neg));
+        CHECK_FALSE(json(pos) < json(pos));
+        CHECK(json(pos) <= json(pos));
+
+        CHECK(json(1u) == json(1u));
+        CHECK(json(1u) < json(2u));
+        CHECK_FALSE(json(2u) < json(1u));
+
+        CHECK(json(1.5) == json(1.5));
+        CHECK(json(1.5) < json(2.5));
+        CHECK_FALSE(json(2.5) < json(1.5));
+        CHECK(json(-0.0) == json(0.0));
+    }
+
+    SECTION("mixed number types")
+    {
+        // negative signed vs unsigned must not wrap around
+        CHECK(json(neg) < json(1u));
+        CHECK(json(1u) > json(neg));
+        CHECK(json(neg) != json(big));
+        CHECK(json(neg) < json(big));
+        CHECK_FALSE(json(big) < json(neg));
+
+        CHECK(json(pos) == json(5u));
+        CHECK(json(5u) == json(pos));
+        CHECK(json(pos) < json(6u));
+        CHECK(json(pos) == json(5.0));
+        CHECK(json(5.0) == json(pos));
+        CHECK(json(5u) == json(5.0));
+        CHECK(json(neg) < json(0.5));
+        CHECK(json(0.5) < json(1u));
+    }
+
+    SECTION("boolean and null")
+    {
+        CHECK(json(true) == json(true));
+        CHECK(json(true) != json(false));
+        CHECK(json(false) < json(true));
+        CHECK_FALSE(json(true) < json(false));
+        CHECK_FALSE(json(true) < json(true));
+
+        CHECK(json(nullptr) == json(nullptr));
+        CHECK_FALSE(json(nullptr) < json(nullptr));
+        CHECK(json(nullptr) <= json(nullptr));
+        CHECK(json(nullptr) < json(false));
+        CHECK(json(nullptr) != json(false));
+        CHECK(json(nullptr) != json(0));
+    }
+
+    SECTION("string vs number")
+    {
+        CHECK(json("5") != json(5));
+        CHECK(json(5) != json("5"));
+        CHECK(json(5) < json("5")); // number < string by type order
+        CHECK_FALSE(json("5") < json(5));
+        CHECK(json(1.5) < json(""));
+        CHECK(json("a") == json("a"));
+        CHECK(json("a") < json("b"));
+    }
+
+    SECTION("NaN")
+    {
+        const json nan = std::numeric_limits<json::number_float_t>::quiet_NaN();
+        const json one = 1.0;
+
+        CHECK_FALSE(nan == nan);
+        CHECK(nan != nan);
+        CHECK_FALSE(nan < nan);
+        CHECK_FALSE(nan <= nan);
+        CHECK_FALSE(nan >= nan);
+        CHECK_FALSE(nan > nan);
+
+        CHECK_FALSE(nan == one);
+        CHECK_FALSE(one == nan);
+        CHECK_FALSE(nan < one);
+        CHECK_FALSE(one < nan);
+        CHECK_FALSE(nan <= one);
+        CHECK_FALSE(one <= nan);
+        CHECK_FALSE(nan >= one);
+        CHECK_FALSE(one >= nan);
+
+        // NaN against other number types
+        CHECK_FALSE(nan == json(1));
+        CHECK_FALSE(json(1) == nan);
+        CHECK_FALSE(nan < json(1u));
+        CHECK_FALSE(json(1u) < nan);
+
+#if JSON_HAS_THREE_WAY_COMPARISON
+        CHECK((nan <=> nan) == std::partial_ordering::unordered); // *NOPAD*
+        CHECK((nan <=> one) == std::partial_ordering::unordered); // *NOPAD*
+        CHECK((one <=> nan) == std::partial_ordering::unordered); // *NOPAD*
+        CHECK((one <=> json(2.0)) == std::partial_ordering::less); // *NOPAD*
+        CHECK((json(2.0) <=> one) == std::partial_ordering::greater); // *NOPAD*
+        CHECK((one <=> one) == std::partial_ordering::equivalent); // *NOPAD*
+        CHECK((json(neg) <=> json(1u)) == std::partial_ordering::less); // *NOPAD*
+        CHECK((json(nullptr) <=> json(nullptr)) == std::partial_ordering::equivalent); // *NOPAD*
+        CHECK((json(true) <=> json(false)) == std::partial_ordering::greater); // *NOPAD*
+#endif
+    }
+
+    SECTION("discarded")
+    {
+        const json d(json::value_t::discarded);
+
+        CHECK_FALSE(d == d);
+        CHECK_FALSE(d < d);
+        CHECK_FALSE(d == json(1));
+        CHECK_FALSE(json(1) == d);
+        CHECK_FALSE(d < json(1));
+        CHECK_FALSE(json(1) < d);
+        CHECK_FALSE(d == json(nullptr));
+        CHECK_FALSE(json(nullptr) == d);
+
+#if JSON_HAS_THREE_WAY_COMPARISON
+        CHECK((d <=> d) == std::partial_ordering::unordered); // *NOPAD*
+        CHECK((d <=> json(1)) == std::partial_ordering::unordered); // *NOPAD*
+        CHECK((json(1) <=> d) == std::partial_ordering::unordered); // *NOPAD*
+#endif
+    }
+
+    SECTION("scalar overloads")
+    {
+        CHECK(json(5) == 5);
+        CHECK(5 == json(5));
+        CHECK(json(5) < 6);
+        CHECK(4 < json(5));
+        CHECK(json(1.5) == 1.5);
+        CHECK(json(true) == true);
+        CHECK(json(5) != 6);
+        CHECK(json(1u) == 1.0);
+    }
+
+    SECTION("structured values still compare")
+    {
+        CHECK(json({1, 2}) == json({1, 2}));
+        CHECK(json({1, 2}) < json({1, 3}));
+        CHECK(json({{"a", 1}}) == json({{"a", 1}}));
+        CHECK(json::binary({1, 2}) == json::binary({1, 2}));
+        CHECK(json(1) < json::array());
+        CHECK(json::object() < json::array());
+    }
+}
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@

 #include "doctest_compatibility.h"

+#include <string>
+#include <vector>
+
 #include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
 using nlohmann::json;

@@ -184,3 +187,139 @@ TEST_CASE("other constructors and destructor")
        }
    }
 }
+
+TEST_CASE("copy constructor and destructor across value types")
+{
+    SECTION("copy of a scalar is independent of the source")
+    {
+        const json src_null = nullptr;
+        const json src_bool = true;
+        const json src_int = -7;
+        const json src_uint = 7u;
+        const json src_float = 2.5;
+
+        json c_null(src_null);
+        json c_bool(src_bool);
+        json c_int(src_int);
+        json c_uint(src_uint);
+        json c_float(src_float);
+
+        CHECK(c_null.is_null());
+        CHECK(c_bool == true);
+        CHECK(c_int == -7);
+        CHECK(c_uint == 7u);
+        CHECK(c_float == 2.5);
+
+        c_int = 8;
+        c_float = 3.5;
+        CHECK(src_int == -7);
+        CHECK(src_float == 2.5);
+    }
+
+    SECTION("copy of an owning value, then mutate the copy")
+    {
+        const json src_string = "hello";
+        const json src_array = {1, 2, 3};
+        const json src_object = {{"a", 1}, {"b", {{"c", 2}}}};
+        const json src_binary = json::binary({1, 2, 3});
+
+        json c_string(src_string);
+        json c_array(src_array);
+        json c_object(src_object);
+        json c_binary(src_binary);
+
+        CHECK(c_string == src_string);
+        CHECK(c_array == src_array);
+        CHECK(c_object == src_object);
+        CHECK(c_binary == src_binary);
+
+        c_string.get_ref<json::string_t&>() += " world";
+        c_array.push_back(4);
+        c_object["b"]["c"] = 3;
+        c_object["d"] = 4;
+        c_binary.get_binary().push_back(4);
+
+        CHECK(src_string == "hello");
+        CHECK(src_array.size() == 3);
+        CHECK(src_object["b"]["c"] == 2);
+        CHECK_FALSE(src_object.contains("d"));
+        CHECK(src_binary.get_binary().size() == 3);
+
+        CHECK(c_string == "hello world");
+        CHECK(c_array.size() == 4);
+        CHECK(c_object["b"]["c"] == 3);
+        CHECK(c_binary.get_binary().size() == 4);
+    }
+
+    SECTION("copy keeps parent pointers valid (JSON_DIAGNOSTICS)")
+    {
+        const json src = {{"a", {1, 2}}, {"b", "x"}};
+        json c(src);
+        c["a"].push_back(3);
+        CHECK(c["a"].size() == 3);
+        CHECK(src["a"].size() == 2);
+    }
+
+    SECTION("vector of mixed types: build, copy, and destroy")
+    {
+        {
+            std::vector<json> v;
+            for (int i = 0; i < 70; ++i)
+            {
+                switch (i % 9)
+                {
+                    case 0:
+                        v.emplace_back(nullptr);
+                        break;
+                    case 1:
+                        v.emplace_back(i % 2 == 0);
+                        break;
+                    case 2:
+                        v.emplace_back(-i);
+                        break;
+                    case 3:
+                        v.emplace_back(static_cast<json::number_unsigned_t>(i));
+                        break;
+                    case 4:
+                        v.emplace_back(i * 0.5);
+                        break;
+                    case 5:
+                        v.emplace_back(std::string(static_cast<std::size_t>(i), 'x'));
+                        break;
+                    case 6:
+                        v.emplace_back(json::array({i, "s", nullptr}));
+                        break;
+                    case 7:
+                        v.emplace_back(json::object({{"k", i}}));
+                        break;
+                    default:
+                        v.emplace_back(json::binary({1, 2, 3}));
+                        break;
+                }
+            }
+            REQUIRE(v.size() == 70);
+
+            std::vector<json> copy(v);
+            CHECK(copy == v);
+
+            // mutating the copy leaves the original alone
+            copy[5] = "changed";
+            copy[6].push_back(1);
+            CHECK(copy != v);
+            CHECK(v[5] == std::string(5, 'x'));
+            CHECK(v[6].size() == 3);
+
+            v.erase(v.begin(), v.begin() + 10);
+            CHECK(v.size() == 60);
+        }
+
+        // destroying the discarded and default-constructed values
+        std::vector<json> w(4);
+        w.emplace_back(json::value_t::discarded);
+        w.emplace_back(json::value_t::object);
+        w.emplace_back(json::value_t::array);
+        w.emplace_back(json::value_t::string);
+        w.emplace_back(json::value_t::binary);
+        CHECK(w.size() == 9);
+    }
+}
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+//     __ _____ _____ _____
+//  __|  |   __|     |   | |  JSON for Modern C++ (supporting code)
+// |  |  |__   |  |  | | | |  version 3.12.0
+// |_____|_____|_____|_|___|  https://github.com/nlohmann/json
+//
+// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2013-2026 Niels Lohmann <https://nlohmann.me>
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+
+#include "doctest_compatibility.h"
+
+#include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
+using nlohmann::json;
+
+// The exceptions in hot core functions are constructed out of line. These tests pin the
+// exact what() texts of the sites that moved, so the refactoring cannot change them.
+
+#define CHECK_MSG(expr, msg) CHECK_THROWS_WITH(expr, msg)
+
+TEST_CASE("exception messages of out-of-line throw sites")
+{
+    json arr = {1, 2, 3};
+    json arr2 = {4, 5};
+    json obj = {{"a", 1}, {"b", 2}};
+    json obj2 = {{"c", 3}};
+    json num = 1;
+
+    SECTION("iterators")
+    {
+        CHECK_MSG((void)(arr.begin() == arr2.begin()), "[json.exception.invalid_iterator.212] cannot compare iterators of different containers");
+        CHECK_MSG((void)(arr.begin() < arr2.begin()), "[json.exception.invalid_iterator.212] cannot compare iterators of different containers");
+        CHECK_MSG((void)(obj.begin() < obj.end()), "[json.exception.invalid_iterator.213] cannot compare order of object iterators");
+        CHECK_MSG(obj.begin() += 1, "[json.exception.invalid_iterator.209] cannot use offsets with object iterators");
+        CHECK_MSG((void)(obj.begin() - 1), "[json.exception.invalid_iterator.209] cannot use offsets with object iterators");
+        CHECK_MSG((void)obj.begin()[0], "[json.exception.invalid_iterator.208] cannot use operator[] for object iterators");
+        CHECK_MSG((void)arr.begin().key(), "[json.exception.invalid_iterator.207] cannot use key() for non-object iterators");
+        json null;
+        CHECK_MSG((void)*null.end(), "[json.exception.invalid_iterator.214] cannot get value");
+    }
+
+    SECTION("constructors")
+    {
+        CHECK_MSG(json(arr.begin(), arr2.end()), "[json.exception.invalid_iterator.201] iterators are not compatible");
+        CHECK_MSG(json(num.begin() + 1, num.end() + 1), "[json.exception.invalid_iterator.204] iterators out of range");
+        CHECK_MSG(json(json::initializer_list_t{1, 2}, false, json::value_t::object), "[json.exception.type_error.301] cannot create object from initializer list");
+    }
+
+    SECTION("get_ref and operator[]")
+    {
+        CHECK_MSG((void)num.get_ref<std::string&>(), "[json.exception.type_error.303] incompatible ReferenceType for get_ref, actual type is number");
+        CHECK_MSG((void)num[0], "[json.exception.type_error.305] cannot use operator[] with a numeric argument with number");
+    }
+
+    SECTION("at")
+    {
+        const json carr = arr;
+        const json cobj = obj;
+        CHECK_MSG((void)arr.at(static_cast<json::size_type>(10)), "[json.exception.out_of_range.401] array index 10 is out of range");
+        CHECK_MSG((void)carr.at(static_cast<json::size_type>(3)), "[json.exception.out_of_range.401] array index 3 is out of range");
+        CHECK_MSG((void)num.at(static_cast<json::size_type>(0)), "[json.exception.type_error.304] cannot use at() with number");
+        CHECK_MSG((void)obj.at("z"), "[json.exception.out_of_range.403] key 'z' not found");
+        CHECK_MSG((void)cobj.at("z"), "[json.exception.out_of_range.403] key 'z' not found");
+        CHECK_MSG((void)obj.at(std::string("zz")), "[json.exception.out_of_range.403] key 'zz' not found");
+        CHECK_MSG((void)num.at("a"), "[json.exception.type_error.304] cannot use at() with number");
+
+        nlohmann::ordered_json oobj = {{"a", 1}};
+        const nlohmann::ordered_json coobj = oobj;
+        CHECK_MSG((void)oobj.at("z"), "[json.exception.out_of_range.403] key 'z' not found");
+        CHECK_MSG((void)coobj.at("z"), "[json.exception.out_of_range.403] key 'z' not found");
+        CHECK_MSG((void)coobj.at(std::string("zz")), "[json.exception.out_of_range.403] key 'zz' not found");
+    }
+
+    SECTION("erase")
+    {
+        CHECK_MSG(arr.erase(arr2.begin()), "[json.exception.invalid_iterator.202] iterator does not fit current value");
+        CHECK_MSG(num.erase(num.end()), "[json.exception.invalid_iterator.205] iterator out of range");
+        CHECK_MSG(arr.erase(arr.begin(), arr2.end()), "[json.exception.invalid_iterator.203] iterators do not fit current value");
+        CHECK_MSG(num.erase(num.begin() + 1, num.end()), "[json.exception.invalid_iterator.204] iterators out of range");
+        CHECK_MSG(arr.erase(static_cast<json::size_type>(10)), "[json.exception.out_of_range.401] array index 10 is out of range");
+    }
+
+    SECTION("insert")
+    {
+        CHECK_MSG(arr.insert(arr2.begin(), 1), "[json.exception.invalid_iterator.202] iterator does not fit current value");
+        CHECK_MSG(arr.insert(arr2.begin(), 2, 1), "[json.exception.invalid_iterator.202] iterator does not fit current value");
+        CHECK_MSG(arr.insert(arr2.begin(), arr2.begin(), arr2.end()), "[json.exception.invalid_iterator.202] iterator does not fit current value");
+        CHECK_MSG(arr.insert(arr.begin(), arr.begin(), arr2.end()), "[json.exception.invalid_iterator.210] iterators do not fit");
+        CHECK_MSG(arr.insert(arr.begin(), arr.begin(), arr.end()), "[json.exception.invalid_iterator.211] passed iterators may not belong to container");
+        CHECK_MSG(arr.insert(arr.begin(), obj.begin(), obj.end()), "[json.exception.invalid_iterator.202] iterators first and last must point to arrays");
+        CHECK_MSG(arr.insert(arr2.begin(), {1, 2}), "[json.exception.invalid_iterator.202] iterator does not fit current value");
+        CHECK_MSG(obj.insert(obj2.begin(), arr.end()), "[json.exception.invalid_iterator.210] iterators do not fit");
+        CHECK_MSG(obj.insert(arr.begin(), arr.end()), "[json.exception.invalid_iterator.202] iterators first and last must point to objects");
+        CHECK_MSG(obj.update(arr.begin(), arr2.end()), "[json.exception.invalid_iterator.210] iterators do not fit");
+    }
+}