Question 1

How do I get pretty JSON output with json.lua?

Accepted Answer

json.lua does not support pretty-printing; it only outputs compact JSON. For indented or formatted JSON, you would need to use a different library or implement custom formatting on top of the encoded string.

Question 2

Is json.lua faster than dkjson?

Accepted Answer

Yes, according to benchmark tests included in the repository, json.lua generally outperforms other pure Lua JSON libraries like dkjson, making it a faster choice for pure Lua environments.

Question 3

How does json.lua handle null values in JSON?

Accepted Answer

Upon decoding, JSON null values are converted to Lua nil and are lost because nil cannot be stored in Lua tables. This means null data is not preserved, which can be an issue for applications requiring exact JSON representation.

Question 4

Can json.lua encode sparse arrays in Lua?

Accepted Answer

No, attempting to encode sparse arrays will raise an error, as sparse arrays are unrepresentable in standard JSON. The library enforces strict encoding rules to maintain correctness.

Question 5

How to install json.lua in my Lua project?

Accepted Answer

Simply download the single json.lua file from the repository, place it in your project directory, and require it in your code using `json = require "json"`. No additional setup or dependencies are needed.

Question 6

Does json.lua work with Lua 5.4?

Accepted Answer

The README explicitly states compatibility with Lua 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, and LuaJIT. Lua 5.4 compatibility is not guaranteed and may require testing or modifications, as it is not mentioned in the documentation.

json.lua

What is json.lua?

Overview

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Pros & Cons

Pros

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Frequently Asked Questions