Awesome
NJSON - next-json
Next JavaScript Object Notation
Why this package?
Because JSON is awesome, but...
JSON is awesome mainly for two reasons:
- it offers an easy way to serialize and deserialize complex data;
- a valid JSON encoded string can be pasted in a JavaScript source file, a really awesome feature while developing / debugging.
... but it has some limitations:
- doesn't support
undefined
values, - doesn't support
BigInt
numbers, - doesn't support many other features...
This package is intended to offer something as great as JSON... trying to add something more.
NJSON Features
- ☑ extends JSON
- ☑ supports C style comments
- ☑ supports escaped new line in strings
- ☑ supports trailing commas
- ☑ supports circular and repeated references
- ☑ supports
undefined
- ☑ supports
-0
,NaN
andInfinity
- ☑ supports
BigInt
- ☑ supports
Date
- ☑ supports
Error
(with exception) - ☑ supports
Map
- ☑ supports
RegExp
- ☑ supports
Set
- ☑ supports
TypedArray
s - ☑ supports
URL
NJSON extends JSON
This doesn't mean it's 100% compliant: due its higher number of supported features the result string of the
serialization through NJSON.stringify
may differs from the result of the serialization through JSON.stringify
.
On the other hand, the result of the deserialization of a valid JSON encoded string through NJSON.parse
will
produce a value deep equal to the value produced by JSON.parse
and the reviver
function will be called the same
amount of times, with the same parameters and in the same order.
Note: the reviver
function still not implements the newly added context
argument.
Taken the result of a JSON.parse
call (i.e. a value which contains only valid JSON values), if serialized through
JSON.stringify
or NJSON.stringify
produces two equal strings and the replacer
function will be called the same
amount of times, with the same parameters and in the same order.
NJSON parser
NJSON offers its own parser which means it doesn't use eval
with its related security hole.
Even if the NJSON serialized string is JavaScript compliant, NJSON.parse
is not able to parse any JavaScript
code, but only the subset produced by NJSON.stringify
(otherwise it would have been another eval
implementation).
Not supported by design
NJSON do not supports some Object
s by design; when one of them is encountered during the serialization process
NJSON
tries to act as JSON
does. Nonetheless they take part in the repeated references algorithm anyway. Follow
the details.
ArrayBuffer
ArrayBuffer
s can't be manipulated by JavaScript design: they are serialized as empty objects as JSON
does.
Function
NJSON is designed to serialize / deserialize complex data to be shared between different systems, possibly written with other languages than JavaScript (once implementations in other languages will be written). Even if JavaScript can see a function as a piece of data, it is actually code, not data. More than this, for other languages, may be a complex problem execute JavaScript functions.
Last but not least, allowing the deserialization of a function would open once again the security hole implied by the
use of eval
, and one of the reasons why NJSON was born, is exactly to avoid that security hole.
Symbol
A Symbol
is something strictly bound to the JavaScript execution environment which instantiate it: sharing it between
distinct systems is something almost meaningless.
TypedArray
Note: except for Int8Array
, Uint8Array
and Uint8ClampedArray
, TypedArray
s are platform dependant: they are
supported, but trying to transfer one of them between different architectures may be source of unexpected problems.
The Error
exception
Error
's are special objects. By specifications the properties cause
, message
, name
and stack
are not
enumerable, NJSON serializes them as any other property. This, plus the nature of the stack
property, originates
the Error
exception to the rule that an NJSON encoded string produces exactly the same value if parsed or
evaluated.
-
cause
:- through
NJSON.parse
the result is a not enumerable property; - through
eval
the result may be an enumerable or a not enumerable property depending on the running JavaScript engine;
- through
-
stack
:-
if absent:
- through
NJSON.parse
the result is a not enumerable property with value a pseudo-stack; - through
eval
the result is the standardstack
property for the running JavaScript engine;
- through
-
if present:
- through
NJSON.parse
the result is a not enumerable property; - through
eval
the result may be an enumerable or a not enumerable property depending on the running JavaScript engine;
- through
-
The only option in my mind to avoid this exception is the use of Object.defineProperties
, but it would increase both
the complexity of the parser and the size of the produced serialized string. Maybe in the future... configurable
through an option... if this can't be really tolerated.
Installation
With npm:
npm install --save next-json
Usage
JavaScript
import { NJSON } from "next-json";
const serialized = NJSON.stringify({ some: "value" });
const deserialized = NJSON.parse(serialized);
TypeScript
import { NJSON, NjsonParseOptions, NjsonStringifyOptions } from "next-json";
const serialized = NJSON.stringify({ some: "value" });
const deserialized = NJSON.parse<{ some: string }>(serialized);
Example
const obj = { test: Infinity };
const set = new Set();
const arr = [NaN, obj, set];
set.add(obj);
set.add(arr);
arr.push(arr);
console.log(NJSON.stringify(arr));
// ((A,B)=>{B.push(A,new Set([A,B]),B);return B})({"test":Infinity},[NaN])
Polyfill
Server side
import express from "express";
import { expressNJSON } from "next-json";
const app = express();
app.use(expressNJSON()); // install the polyfill
app.all("/mirror", (req, res) => res.njson(req.body)); // there is an 'n' more than usual
app.listen(3000);
Client side
import { NJSON, fetchNJSON } from "next-json";
fetchNJSON(); // install the polyfill
const payload = { infinity: Infinity };
payload.circular = payload;
const response = await fetch("http://localhost:3000/mirror", {
body: NJSON.stringify(payload), // there is an 'N' more than usual
headers: { "Content-Type": "application/njson" }, // there is an 'n' more than usual
method: "POST"
});
const body = await response.njson(); // there is an 'n' more than usual
Here payload
deep equals payload.circular
, which deep equals body
, which deep equals body.circular
, which deep
equals req.body
in server side, which deep equals req.body.circular
in server side! 🎉
MIME type
The MIME type for NJSON format is: application/njson
.
API
NJSON.parse(text[, reviver])
Just for compatibility with JSON.parse
. Alias for:
NJSON.parse(text, { reviver });
NJSON.parse(text[, options])
Converts a Next JavaScript Object Notation (NJSON) string into an object.
text
: <string> The text to deserialize.options
: <NjsonParseOptions> Deserialization options.- Returns: <unknown> The value result of
the deserialization of the NJSON encoded
text
.
NJSON.stringify(value[, replacer[, space]])
Just for compatibility with JSON.stringify
. Alias for:
NJSON.stringify(value, { replacer, space });
NJSON.stringify(value[, options])
Converts a JavaScript value to a Next JavaScript Object Notation (NJSON) string.
value
: <unknown> The value to serialize.options
: <NjsonStringifyOptions> Serialization options.- Returns: <string> The
NJSON encoded serialized form of
value
.
interface NjsonParseOptions
numberKey
: <boolean> Alters the type of thekey
argument forreviver
. Default:false
.reviver
: <Function> Alters the behavior of the deserialization process. Default:null
.
NjsonParseOptions.numberKey
If true
, the reviver
function, for Array
elements, will be called with the key
argument in a Number
form.
NjsonParseOptions.reviver
As the
reviver
parameter of JSON.parse
. See also replacer / reviver for NJSON specific details.
Note: the reviver
function still not implements the newly added context
argument.
interface NjsonStringifyOptions
date
: <string> SpecifiesDate
s conversion method. Default:"time"
.numberKey
: <boolean> Alters the type of thekey
argument forreplacer
. Default:false
.omitStack
: <boolean> Specifies if to stringifystack
forError
s. Default:false
.replacer
: <Function> | <Array> |null
Alters the behavior of the serialization process. Default:null
.sortKeys
: <boolean> Specifies whether to sortObject
keys. Default:false
.space
: <number> | <string> |null
Specifies the indentation. Default:null
.stringLength
: <number> |null
MakesString
s to be treated as references. Default:null
.undef
: <boolean> Specifies theundefined
behavior. Default:true
.
NjsonStringifyOptions.date
Specifies the method of Date
objects used to serialize them. Follows the list of the allowed values and the relative
method used.
"iso"
:Date.toISOString()
"string"
:Date.toString()
"time"
:Date.getTime()
- the default"utc"
:Date.toUTCString()
NjsonStringifyOptions.numberKey
If true
, the replacer
function, for Array
elements, will be called with the key
argument in a Number
form.
NjsonStringifyOptions.omitStack
For default NJSON.stringify
serializes the stack
property for Error
s. If set to true
, the property is omitted
from the serialized representation.
NjsonStringifyOptions.replacer
As the
replacer
parameter of JSON.serialize
. See also replacer / reviver for NJSON specific details.
NjsonStringifyOptions.sortKeys
For default NJSON stringifies (and replaces as well) Object
keys in the order they appear in the Object
itself.
If set to true
, Object
keys are sorted alphabetically before both the processes. This can be useful to compare two
references: using this option, the stringified representation of two deep equal references are two equal strings.
NjsonStringifyOptions.space
As the
space
parameter of JSON.serialize
.
NjsonStringifyOptions.stringLength
If specified, String
s which length
is greater or equal to the specified value take part in the repeated references
algorithm.
NjsonStringifyOptions.undef
For default NJSON.stringify
serializes undefined
values as well. If set to false
, undefined
values are
treated as JSON.stringify
does.
expressNJSON([options])
An Express middleware which works as NJSON body parser and installs the
Express.Response.njson
method.
options
: <NjsonStringifyOptions> NJSON Express middleware options.- Returns: Express middleware The NJSON Express middleware.
interface ExpressNjsonOptions
parse
: <NjsonParseOptions> Theoptions
passed toNJSON.parse
by the middleware to parse the request body.stringify
: <NjsonStringifyOptions> The defaultoptions
passed toNJSON.stringify
byExpress.Response.njson
to serialize the response body.
ExpressNjsonOptions.parse
The options
passed to NJSON.parse
by the middleware to parse the request body.
ExpressNjsonOptions.stringify
The default options
passed to NJSON.stringify
by
Express.Response.njson
to serialize the response.
Express.Response.njson(body[, options])
Encodes the body in NJSON format and sends it; sets the proper Content-Type
header as well. Installed by
expressNJSON
.
body
: <unknown> The body to be sent serialized.options
: <NjsonStringifyOptions> Theoptions
passed toNJSON.stringify
to serialize the response body; overrides the defaultoptions.stringify
passed toexpressNJSON
.
fetchNJSON([options])
Installs the Response.njson
method.
options
: <NjsonParseOptions> The defaultoptions
passed toNJSON.parse
byResponse.njson
to parse the response body.
Response.njson([options])
Parses the response body with NJSON.parse
. Installed by
fetchNJSON
.
options
: <NjsonParseOptions> Theoptions
passed toNJSON.parse
to parse the response body; overrides the defaultoptions
passed tofetchNJSON
.- Returns: <unknown> The body parsed with
NJSON.parse
.
replacer / reviver
Even if Date
, RegExp
, TypedArray
s and URL
are Object
s, they are treated as native values i.e. replacer
and
reviver
will be never called with one of them as this
context.
Array
For Array
s the key
argument is a positive integer, but in a String
form for JSON
compatibility. This can be
altered (i.e. in a Number
form) through the numberKey
option.
Map
Map
's keys can be Function
s and Symbol
s; for Map
s the key
argument is a positive integer in a Number
form
and the value
argument is the entry in the form [mapKey, mapValue]
. This gives a way to replace/revive keys
which can't be serialized. If replacer
or reviver
do not return a two elements array, the value is omitted.
Set
For Set
s the key
argument is a positive integer and it is passed in a Number
form.
TypedArray
Unlike JSON
, NJSON
does not call replacer
and reviver
for each element.
Except for Int8Array
, Uint8Array
and Uint8ClampedArray
, TypedArray
s are platform dependant: trying to transfer
one of them between different architectures may be source of unexpected problems.
circular / repeated references
Regardless of whether they are omitted, serialized as native values or not, every Object
s (but null
), Function
s
and Symbol
s take part in the repeated references algorithm; long String
s can take part as well (refer to
NjsonStringifyOptions.stringLength
for details).<br />
When a repeated reference is encountered, replacer
and reviver
are called against the reference, but it is not
called recursively against its properties. If a property of a repeated reference is changed, the same change has effect
in all other occurrences of the same reference.<br />
Circular references are simply special cases of repeated references.
Compatibility
Requires Node.js v14.
Exception: fetchNJSON
requires Node.js v18.
The package is tested under all Node.js versions currently supported accordingly to Node.js Release.
TypeScript
TypeScript types are distributed with the package itself.
License
Bugs
Do not hesitate to report any bug or inconsistency @github.
Donating
If you find useful this package, please consider the opportunity to donate on one of following cryptos:
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ETH: 0x8039fD67b895fAA1F3e0cF539b8F0290EDe1C042
<!-- /* cSpell:enable */ -->See also
Other projects which aim to solve similar problems:
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