json_file_encode()/json_file_decode(): provide a higher‑level, file‑oriented shortcut

Description

Motivation

To load a text file into an array PHP already provides file().
For JSON, however, the common pattern is more verbose:

$data = json_decode(file_get_contents($file), true);

This combination is used so often that it deserves its own pair of helper functions.

---

Proposed functions

1. json_file_decode(string $fileName[, ?bool $object = true]): array|object|false
2. json_file_encode(string $fileName, array $array): true|false

These functions are meant as convenience wrappers around json_decode and json_encode + file I/O, modeled after helpers such as file().

---

Behavior and rationale

json_file_decode

• Reads the contents of $fileName and decodes it as JSON in one call.
• The optional $object parameter mirrors json_decode’s second argument:
  • true (default): return an associative array.
  • false: return objects.
  • null: treated as true (array), for consistency with json_decode.
• Returns the decoded value (array or object) on success, or false on failure (file not readable, missing, or invalid JSON).
• On failure, it does not throw by default; consumers can check the return value and inspect json_last_error() / json_last_error_msg() for details.

json_file_encode

• Encodes $array to a JSON string and writes it to $fileName in a single call.
• Returns true on success, false on failure (encoding error or I/O error).
• The implementation should use an atomic‑style write (write to temporary file in the same directory, then rename) to avoid partial writes or corruption.
• Future versions could extend this with flags for options such as pretty‑printing or different JSON constants, but the initial API stays minimal.

---

Example usage

// Read JSON file into array
$data = json_file_decode('/path/to/config.json');
if ($data === false) {
 die('Failed to load or parse JSON.');
}

// Read JSON file into object
$obj = json_file_decode('/path/to/data.json', false);
if ($obj === false) {
 die('Failed to load or parse JSON.');
}

// Write array back to JSON file
if (!json_file_encode('/path/to/data.json', $data)) {
 die('Failed to write JSON.');
}

---

Sample PHP implementation

<?php
/**
 * Read a JSON file and decode it into an array or object.
 *
 * @param string $fileName Path to the JSON file.
 * @param bool|null $object If true, return associative array; if false, return objects.
 * If null, default to true (array).
 * @return array|object|false Decoded data, or false on error.
 */
function json_file_decode(string $fileName, ?bool $object = true): array|object|false
{
 // Treat null as true (array) for consistency with json_decode.
 $assoc = ($object === null) ? true : !$object;

 if (!is_readable($fileName)) {
 return false;
 }

 $json = @file_get_contents($fileName);
 if ($json === false) {
 return false;
 }

 $data = json_decode($json, $assoc);
 return ($data === null && json_last_error() !== JSON_ERROR_NONE) ? false : $data;
}

/**
 * Encode an array as JSON and write it to a file.
 *
 * @param string $fileName Path to the JSON file.
 * @param array $array Data to encode and write.
 * @return bool True on success, false on failure.
 */
function json_file_encode(string $fileName, array $array): bool
{
 $json = json_encode($array, JSON_UNESCAPED_SLASHES | JSON_UNESCAPED_UNICODE);
 if ($json === false) {
 return false;
 }

 // Use a temporary file in the same directory for atomic‑style write.
 $dir = dirname($fileName);
 $temp = tempnam($dir, 'json_');
 if ($temp === false) {
 return false;
 }

 $ok = file_put_contents($temp, $json) !== false;
 if ($ok) {
 $ok = rename($temp, $fileName);
 }

 if (!$ok && file_exists($temp)) {
 @unlink($temp);
 }

 return $ok;
}

---

Compatibility and naming

• The proposed names are descriptive and follow PHP naming conventions for file helpers.
• Return false on failure, consistent with file_get_contents and similar functions.
• The functions do not replace json_decode / json_encode but provide a higher‑level, file‑oriented shortcut for one of the most common patterns with JSON in PHP.

[mvorisek]

If this would pass RFC, it would be a good candidate for #18204.

[MrSuddenJoy]

@mvorisek if so, than why not to open RFC yourself?