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json/docs/mkdocs/docs/api/basic_json/to_cbor.md
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Niels Lohmann d5da84249f Skip CBOR tags in front of map keys, validate indefinite text chunks, fix CBOR docs (#5927)
* Skip CBOR tags in front of map keys and validate indefinite text chunks

A tag in front of a text string map key was rejected with parse_error.113
even with cbor_tag_handler_t::ignore or store, although tags in front of
values are handled. The tags are now skipped iteratively before the key is
read; the handler error still rejects them.

The chunks of an indefinite-length text string were concatenated before
the single UTF-8 check, so a code point split over two chunks, or an
invalid chunk, was accepted. RFC 8949, Section 3.2.3 requires every chunk
to be valid on its own. With error_handler_t::strict, replace and ignore
each chunk is now checked; keep is unchanged. The chunks are appended with
append(ptr, len), so StringType needs nothing new.

Signed-off-by: Niels Lohmann <mail@nlohmann.me>

* docs: correct and extend the CBOR documentation

Fix the negative-integer rows (they used MessagePack boundaries), the
number_integer range of the 0x1B row, and the half-precision entry in the
list of unused types; correct the NaN history (0xF9 since 3.8.0) and the
tagged-item wording (only the tag directly in front of a byte string is
stored, and only in the 0xD8..0xDB form). Document that to_cbor is not
RFC 8949 deterministic, that duplicate keys are accepted (last wins),
tags in front of keys, per-chunk UTF-8 validation, the exceptions
parse_error.113, out_of_range.406/408 of from_cbor, the pointer and
C array input traps, the partially written output on exceptions, and the
store/ignore results in the binary values example. Drop the claim that
the CBOR reader needs StringType::append(const StringType&) and
BinaryType::insert(pos, first, last).

Signed-off-by: Niels Lohmann <mail@nlohmann.me>

* Regenerate single_include and apply astyle

Result of make amalgamate (including make pretty) for the preceding changes.

Signed-off-by: Niels Lohmann <mail@nlohmann.me>

* Address review of the CBOR changes

Cite RFC 8949 Section 5.3.1 for duplicate keys, describe the out_of_range.408 condition precisely, rewrap a long line, and update the stale get_string comment (per-chunk UTF-8 check). single_include regenerated.

Signed-off-by: Niels Lohmann <mail@nlohmann.me>

* docs: drop discarded-value remarks

Remove the mention that a discarded value cannot be serialized to CBOR
(type_error.321) from the exception-safety and mapping sections. The
integer table and all added prose already follow the table-format and
Oxford-comma rules.

Signed-off-by: Niels Lohmann <mail@nlohmann.me>

---------

Signed-off-by: Niels Lohmann <mail@nlohmann.me>
2026-10-26 18:25:44 +01:00

4.1 KiB

nlohmann::basic_json::to_cbor

// (1)
static std::vector<std::uint8_t> to_cbor(const basic_json& j,
                                          const error_handler_t error_handler = error_handler_t::keep);

// (2)
static void to_cbor(const basic_json& j, detail::output_adapter<std::uint8_t> o,
                     const error_handler_t error_handler = error_handler_t::keep);
static void to_cbor(const basic_json& j, detail::output_adapter<char> o,
                     const error_handler_t error_handler = error_handler_t::keep);

Serializes a given JSON value j to a byte vector using the CBOR (Concise Binary Object Representation) serialization format. CBOR is a binary serialization format that aims to be more compact than JSON itself, yet more efficient to parse.

  1. Returns a byte vector containing the CBOR serialization.
  2. Writes the CBOR serialization to an output adapter.

The exact mapping and its limitations are described on a dedicated page.

Parameters

j (in)
JSON value to serialize
o (in)
output adapter to write serialization to
error_handler (in)
how to treat a string or object key in j that is not valid UTF-8; see error_handler_t. The default, keep, writes the ill-formed bytes to the output as is, as every version of to_cbor did before this parameter was added; strict throws; replace/ignore sanitize it the same way dump would. If JSON_STRICT_BINARY_UTF8 is enabled, the default is strict instead.

Return value

  1. CBOR serialization as a byte vector
  2. (none)

Exception safety

Strong guarantee: if an exception is thrown, there are no changes in the JSON value. Bytes that were already written to the output adapter are not taken back.

Exceptions

  • Throws out_of_range.407 if j contains an integer outside [-2^64, 2^64-1], which is only possible with a number type wider than 64 bits; example: "integer number 18446744073709551616 cannot be represented by CBOR as it does not fit [-2^64, 2^64-1]"
  • Throws type_error.316 if a string or object key in j is not valid UTF-8 and error_handler is strict (the default only if JSON_STRICT_BINARY_UTF8 is enabled)
  • Throws type_error.321 if j or a value nested in it is discarded; example: "cannot serialize discarded value to CBOR"

Complexity

Linear in the size of the JSON value j.

Examples

??? example

The example shows the serialization of a JSON value to a byte vector in CBOR format.
 
```cpp
--8<-- "examples/to_cbor.cpp"
```

Output:

```json
--8<-- "examples/to_cbor.output"
```

See also

  • from_cbor create a JSON value from an input in CBOR format
  • to_msgpack create a MessagePack serialization of a JSON value
  • to_bson create a BSON serialization of a JSON value
  • to_ubjson create a UBJSON serialization of a JSON value
  • to_bjdata create a BJData serialization of a JSON value
  • to_bon8 create a BON8 serialization of a JSON value

Version history

  • Added in version 2.0.9.
  • Compact representation of floating-point numbers added in version 3.8.0.
  • Added error_handler parameter in version 3.13.0. Its default, keep, writes the bytes of a string or object key that is not valid UTF-8 unchanged, as before; strict (the default if JSON_STRICT_BINARY_UTF8 is enabled) throws type_error.316.
  • Throws type_error.321 for a discarded value since version 3.13.0; previously, a discarded value nested in an array or object was silently skipped, producing invalid CBOR.
  • Throws out_of_range.407 for integers that do not fit 64 bits since version 3.13.0; previously, integers of a number type wider than 64 bits were silently truncated.