# <small>nlohmann::basic_json::</small>find

```cpp
// (1)
iterator find(const typename object_t::key_type& key);
const_iterator find(const typename object_t::key_type& key) const;

// (2)
template<typename KeyType>
iterator find(KeyType&& key);
template<typename KeyType>
const_iterator find(KeyType&& key) const;

// (3)
template<typename T>
iterator find(T) = delete;
template<typename T>
const_iterator find(T) const = delete;
```

1. Finds an element in a JSON object with a key equivalent to `key`. If the element is not found or the
   JSON value is not an object, `end()` is returned.
2. See 1. This overload is only available if `KeyType` is comparable with `#!cpp typename object_t::key_type` and
   `#!cpp typename object_comparator_t::is_transparent` denotes a type.
3. Deleted: this overload is only available if `T` is an integral type and is declared as deleted, so that a call with
   an integer `key` (for example, `#!cpp j.find(0)`) fails to compile. Otherwise, the integer literal `0` would convert to
   a null `#!cpp const char*` and, from there, to the key type, causing undefined behavior at runtime.

## Template parameters

`KeyType`
:   A type for an object key other than [`json_pointer`](../json_pointer/index.md) that is comparable with
    [`string_t`](string_t.md) using  [`object_comparator_t`](object_comparator_t.md).
    This can also be a string view (C++17).

## Parameters

`key` (in)
:   key value of the element to search for.
    
## Return value

Iterator to an element with a key equivalent to `key`. If no such element is found or the JSON value is not an object,
a past-the-end iterator (see `end()`) is returned.

## Exception safety

Strong exception safety: if an exception occurs, the original value stays intact.

## Complexity

Logarithmic in the size of the JSON object.

## Notes

- This method always returns `end()` when executed on a JSON type that is not an object.
- Calling this function with an integer argument (for example, `#!cpp find(0)`) does not compile: such an argument
  would otherwise implicitly convert to a null `#!cpp const char*` and, from there, cause undefined behavior when
  constructing a `#!cpp std::string` for the object key. To access an array element instead, use [`at`](at.md),
  [`operator[]`](operator%5B%5D.md), or compare against [`size`](size.md).

## Examples

??? example "Example: (1) find object element by key"

    The example shows how `find()` is used.
    
    ```cpp
    #include <iostream>
    #include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
    
    using json = nlohmann::json;
    
    int main()
    {
        // create a JSON object
        json j_object = {{"one", 1}, {"two", 2}};
    
        // call find
        auto it_two = j_object.find("two");
        auto it_three = j_object.find("three");
    
        // print values
        std::cout << std::boolalpha;
        std::cout << "\"two\" was found: " << (it_two != j_object.end()) << '\n';
        std::cout << "value at key \"two\": " << *it_two << '\n';
        std::cout << "\"three\" was found: " << (it_three != j_object.end()) << '\n';
    }
    
    ```
    
    Output:
    
    ```json
    "two" was found: true
    value at key "two": 2
    "three" was found: false
    
    ```

??? example "Example: (2) find object element by key using string_view"

    The example shows how `find()` is used.
    
    ```cpp
    #include <iostream>
    #include <string_view>
    #include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
    
    using namespace std::string_view_literals;
    using json = nlohmann::json;
    
    int main()
    {
        // create a JSON object
        json j_object = {{"one", 1}, {"two", 2}};
    
        // call find
        auto it_two = j_object.find("two"sv);
        auto it_three = j_object.find("three"sv);
    
        // print values
        std::cout << std::boolalpha;
        std::cout << "\"two\" was found: " << (it_two != j_object.end()) << '\n';
        std::cout << "value at key \"two\": " << *it_two << '\n';
        std::cout << "\"three\" was found: " << (it_three != j_object.end()) << '\n';
    }
    
    ```
    
    Output:
    
    ```json
    "two" was found: true
    value at key "two": 2
    "three" was found: false
    
    ```

## See also

- [count](count.md) returns the number of occurrences of a key
- [contains](contains.md) checks whether a key exists

## Version history

1. Added in version 3.11.0.
2. Added in version 1.0.0. Changed to support comparable types in version 3.11.0. Fixed in version 3.13.0 to
   consistently accept `std::string_view`-convertible keys, as already supported by [`operator[]`](operator[].md),
   [`at`](at.md), [`value`](value.md), and other lookup functions.
3. Deleted overloads for integral key types added in version 3.13.0 to reject such calls at compile time instead of
   causing undefined behavior at runtime.