diff --git a/.github/workflows/check_amalgamation.yml b/.github/workflows/check_amalgamation.yml
index 670269cbb..35f3a57f7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/check_amalgamation.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/check_amalgamation.yml
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ jobs:
 
           python3 $TOOL_DIR/amalgamate.py -c $TOOL_DIR/config_json.json -s .
           python3 $TOOL_DIR/amalgamate.py -c $TOOL_DIR/config_json_fwd.json -s .
+          cp include/nlohmann/json_literals.hpp $INCLUDE_DIR/json_literals.hpp
 
           # the header list of the Bazel "json" target must match the files in include/
           cmake -P cmake/scripts/gen_bazel_build_file.cmake
diff --git a/BUILD.bazel b/BUILD.bazel
index db59095cd..5f2bea555 100644
--- a/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/BUILD.bazel
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ cc_library(
         "include/nlohmann/detail/value_t.hpp",
         "include/nlohmann/json.hpp",
         "include/nlohmann/json_fwd.hpp",
+        "include/nlohmann/json_literals.hpp",
         "include/nlohmann/ordered_map.hpp",
         "include/nlohmann/thirdparty/hedley/hedley.hpp",
         "include/nlohmann/thirdparty/hedley/hedley_undef.hpp",
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 196f87243..ccea759af 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ TESTS_SRCS=$(shell find tests -type f \( -name '*.hpp' -o -name '*.cpp' -o -name
 # the single headers (amalgamated from the source files)
 AMALGAMATED_FILE=single_include/nlohmann/json.hpp
 AMALGAMATED_FWD_FILE=single_include/nlohmann/json_fwd.hpp
+# json_literals.hpp only includes <nlohmann/json.hpp>, so it is copied verbatim
+AMALGAMATED_LITERALS_FILE=single_include/nlohmann/json_literals.hpp
 
 
 ##########################################################################
@@ -29,7 +31,7 @@ AMALGAMATED_FWD_FILE=single_include/nlohmann/json_fwd.hpp
 
 # main target
 all:
-	@echo "amalgamate - amalgamate files single_include/nlohmann/json{,_fwd}.hpp from the include/nlohmann sources"
+	@echo "amalgamate - amalgamate files single_include/nlohmann/json{,_fwd,_literals}.hpp from the include/nlohmann sources"
 	@echo "BUILD.bazel - regenerate the Bazel BUILD file from the include/nlohmann sources"
 	@echo "ChangeLog.md - generate ChangeLog file"
 	@echo "check-amalgamation - check whether sources have been amalgamated and BUILD.bazel is up to date"
@@ -154,14 +156,14 @@ install_astyle:
 
 # call the Artistic Style pretty printer on all source files
 pretty: install_astyle
-	$(ASTYLE) --project=tools/astyle/.astylerc $(SRCS) $(TESTS_SRCS) $(AMALGAMATED_FILE) $(AMALGAMATED_FWD_FILE) docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/*.cpp
+	$(ASTYLE) --project=tools/astyle/.astylerc $(SRCS) $(TESTS_SRCS) $(AMALGAMATED_FILE) $(AMALGAMATED_FWD_FILE) $(AMALGAMATED_LITERALS_FILE) docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/*.cpp
 
 # call the Clang-Format on all source files
 pretty_format:
 	for FILE in $(SRCS) $(TESTS_SRCS) $(AMALGAMATED_FILE) docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/*.cpp; do echo $$FILE; clang-format -i $$FILE; done
 
 # create single header files and pretty print
-amalgamate: $(AMALGAMATED_FILE) $(AMALGAMATED_FWD_FILE)
+amalgamate: $(AMALGAMATED_FILE) $(AMALGAMATED_FWD_FILE) $(AMALGAMATED_LITERALS_FILE)
 	$(MAKE) pretty
 
 # call the amalgamation tool for json.hpp
@@ -172,16 +174,23 @@ $(AMALGAMATED_FILE): $(SRCS)
 $(AMALGAMATED_FWD_FILE): $(SRCS)
 	tools/amalgamate/amalgamate.py -c tools/amalgamate/config_json_fwd.json -s . --verbose=yes
 
+# copy json_literals.hpp
+$(AMALGAMATED_LITERALS_FILE): include/nlohmann/json_literals.hpp
+	cp include/nlohmann/json_literals.hpp $(AMALGAMATED_LITERALS_FILE)
+
 # check if file single_include/nlohmann/json.hpp has been amalgamated from the nlohmann sources
 # Note: this target is called by Travis
 check-amalgamation:
 	@mv $(AMALGAMATED_FILE) $(AMALGAMATED_FILE)~
 	@mv $(AMALGAMATED_FWD_FILE) $(AMALGAMATED_FWD_FILE)~
+	@mv $(AMALGAMATED_LITERALS_FILE) $(AMALGAMATED_LITERALS_FILE)~
 	@$(MAKE) amalgamate
 	@diff $(AMALGAMATED_FILE) $(AMALGAMATED_FILE)~ || (echo "===================================================================\n  Amalgamation required! Please read the contribution guidelines\n  in file .github/CONTRIBUTING.md.\n===================================================================" ; mv $(AMALGAMATED_FILE)~ $(AMALGAMATED_FILE) ; false)
 	@diff $(AMALGAMATED_FWD_FILE) $(AMALGAMATED_FWD_FILE)~ || (echo "===================================================================\n  Amalgamation required! Please read the contribution guidelines\n  in file .github/CONTRIBUTING.md.\n===================================================================" ; mv $(AMALGAMATED_FWD_FILE)~ $(AMALGAMATED_FWD_FILE) ; false)
+	@diff $(AMALGAMATED_LITERALS_FILE) $(AMALGAMATED_LITERALS_FILE)~ || (echo "===================================================================\n  Amalgamation required! Please read the contribution guidelines\n  in file .github/CONTRIBUTING.md.\n===================================================================" ; mv $(AMALGAMATED_LITERALS_FILE)~ $(AMALGAMATED_LITERALS_FILE) ; false)
 	@mv $(AMALGAMATED_FILE)~ $(AMALGAMATED_FILE)
 	@mv $(AMALGAMATED_FWD_FILE)~ $(AMALGAMATED_FWD_FILE)
+	@mv $(AMALGAMATED_LITERALS_FILE)~ $(AMALGAMATED_LITERALS_FILE)
 	@mv BUILD.bazel BUILD.bazel~
 	@$(MAKE) BUILD.bazel
 	@diff BUILD.bazel BUILD.bazel~ || (echo "===================================================================\n  BUILD.bazel is out of date! Please run 'make BUILD.bazel'.\n===================================================================" ; mv BUILD.bazel~ BUILD.bazel ; false)
@@ -222,7 +231,7 @@ json.tar.xz:
 # We use `-X` to make the resulting ZIP file reproducible, see
 # <https://content.pivotal.io/blog/barriers-to-deterministic-reproducible-zip-files>.
 include.zip: BUILD.bazel
-	zip -9 --recurse-paths -X include.zip $(SRCS) $(AMALGAMATED_FILE) $(AMALGAMATED_FWD_FILE) BUILD.bazel MODULE.bazel meson.build LICENSE.MIT
+	zip -9 --recurse-paths -X include.zip $(SRCS) $(AMALGAMATED_FILE) $(AMALGAMATED_FWD_FILE) $(AMALGAMATED_LITERALS_FILE) BUILD.bazel MODULE.bazel meson.build LICENSE.MIT
 
 # Create the files for a release and add signatures and hashes.
 release: include.zip json.tar.xz
@@ -231,10 +240,12 @@ release: include.zip json.tar.xz
 	gpg --armor --detach-sig include.zip
 	gpg --armor --detach-sig $(AMALGAMATED_FILE)
 	gpg --armor --detach-sig $(AMALGAMATED_FWD_FILE)
+	gpg --armor --detach-sig $(AMALGAMATED_LITERALS_FILE)
 	gpg --armor --detach-sig json.tar.xz
 	cp $(AMALGAMATED_FILE) release_files
 	cp $(AMALGAMATED_FWD_FILE) release_files
-	mv $(AMALGAMATED_FILE).asc $(AMALGAMATED_FWD_FILE).asc json.tar.xz json.tar.xz.asc include.zip include.zip.asc release_files
+	cp $(AMALGAMATED_LITERALS_FILE) release_files
+	mv $(AMALGAMATED_FILE).asc $(AMALGAMATED_FWD_FILE).asc $(AMALGAMATED_LITERALS_FILE).asc json.tar.xz json.tar.xz.asc include.zip include.zip.asc release_files
 	cd release_files ; shasum -a 256 json.hpp include.zip json.tar.xz > hashes.txt
 
 
diff --git a/cmake/ci.cmake b/cmake/ci.cmake
index f7695c36e..a001a05ae 100644
--- a/cmake/ci.cmake
+++ b/cmake/ci.cmake
@@ -373,9 +373,10 @@ file(GLOB_RECURSE INDENT_FILES
 set(include_dir ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/single_include/nlohmann)
 set(tool_dir ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/tools/amalgamate)
 add_custom_target(ci_test_amalgamation
-    COMMAND rm -fr ${include_dir}/json.hpp~ ${include_dir}/json_fwd.hpp~
+    COMMAND rm -fr ${include_dir}/json.hpp~ ${include_dir}/json_fwd.hpp~ ${include_dir}/json_literals.hpp~
     COMMAND cp ${include_dir}/json.hpp ${include_dir}/json.hpp~
     COMMAND cp ${include_dir}/json_fwd.hpp ${include_dir}/json_fwd.hpp~
+    COMMAND cp ${include_dir}/json_literals.hpp ${include_dir}/json_literals.hpp~
 
     COMMAND ${Python3_EXECUTABLE} -mvenv venv_astyle
     COMMAND venv_astyle/bin/pip3 --quiet install -r ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/tools/astyle/requirements.txt
@@ -383,10 +384,12 @@ add_custom_target(ci_test_amalgamation
 
     COMMAND ${Python3_EXECUTABLE} ${tool_dir}/amalgamate.py -c ${tool_dir}/config_json.json -s .
     COMMAND ${Python3_EXECUTABLE} ${tool_dir}/amalgamate.py -c ${tool_dir}/config_json_fwd.json -s .
+    COMMAND cp ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/include/nlohmann/json_literals.hpp ${include_dir}/json_literals.hpp
     COMMAND venv_astyle/bin/astyle --project=tools/astyle/.astylerc --suffix=none ${include_dir}/json.hpp ${include_dir}/json_fwd.hpp
 
     COMMAND diff ${include_dir}/json.hpp~ ${include_dir}/json.hpp
     COMMAND diff ${include_dir}/json_fwd.hpp~ ${include_dir}/json_fwd.hpp
+    COMMAND diff ${include_dir}/json_literals.hpp~ ${include_dir}/json_literals.hpp
 
     COMMAND venv_astyle/bin/astyle --project=tools/astyle/.astylerc --suffix=orig ${INDENT_FILES}
     COMMAND for FILE in `find . -name '*.orig'`\; do false \; done
diff --git a/docs/mkdocs/docs/api/macros/index.md b/docs/mkdocs/docs/api/macros/index.md
index a59af1eaa..9d2636eb2 100644
--- a/docs/mkdocs/docs/api/macros/index.md
+++ b/docs/mkdocs/docs/api/macros/index.md
@@ -28,9 +28,9 @@ header. See also the [macro overview page](../../features/macros.md).
 - [**JSON_HAS_RANGES**](json_has_ranges.md) - control `std::ranges` support
 - [**JSON_HAS_STD_FORMAT**](json_has_std_format.md) - control `std::format`/`std::formatter` support
 - [**JSON_HAS_THREE_WAY_COMPARISON**](json_has_three_way_comparison.md) - control 3-way comparison support
+- [**JSON_NO_AUTOMATIC_UDLS**](json_no_automatic_udls.md) - do not include the user-defined string literals (UDLs) automatically
 - [**JSON_NO_IO**](json_no_io.md) - switch off functions relying on certain C++ I/O headers
 - [**JSON_NO_THREAD_LOCAL**](json_no_thread_local.md) - switch off the use of `thread_local` storage
-- [**JSON_NO_UDLS**](json_no_udls.md) - leave out the user-defined string literals (UDLs) to reduce compile time
 - [**JSON_SKIP_UNSUPPORTED_COMPILER_CHECK**](json_skip_unsupported_compiler_check.md) - do not warn about unsupported compilers
 - [**JSON_USE_GLOBAL_UDLS**](json_use_global_udls.md) - place user-defined string literals (UDLs) into the global namespace
 - [**JSON_USE_SIMDUTF**](json_use_simdutf.md) - use the simdutf library to accelerate UTF-8 validation
diff --git a/docs/mkdocs/docs/api/macros/json_no_automatic_udls.md b/docs/mkdocs/docs/api/macros/json_no_automatic_udls.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..acb6a356e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/mkdocs/docs/api/macros/json_no_automatic_udls.md
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+# JSON_NO_AUTOMATIC_UDLS
+
+```cpp
+#define JSON_NO_AUTOMATIC_UDLS
+```
+
+When defined, `<nlohmann/json.hpp>` does not include `<nlohmann/json_literals.hpp>`, so the user-defined string
+literals [`operator""_json`](../operator_literal_json.md) and
+[`operator""_json_pointer`](../operator_literal_json_pointer.md) are not declared. Include
+`<nlohmann/json_literals.hpp>` in the files that use them.
+
+The literals are ordinary inline functions whose bodies call the parser, so every translation unit that includes them
+instantiates the parser — even if it never parses anything itself. Defining `JSON_NO_AUTOMATIC_UDLS` for a whole project
+avoids this cost in translation units that do not parse (e.g., ones that only define types and conversions or pass
+`json` values around) and reduces their compile time.
+
+## Default definition
+
+By default, `#!cpp JSON_NO_AUTOMATIC_UDLS` is not defined, and `<nlohmann/json.hpp>` includes
+`<nlohmann/json_literals.hpp>`.
+
+```cpp
+#undef JSON_NO_AUTOMATIC_UDLS
+```
+
+## Notes
+
+!!! info "Header `<nlohmann/json_literals.hpp>`"
+
+    The header includes `<nlohmann/json.hpp>` itself and places the literals according to
+    [`JSON_USE_GLOBAL_UDLS`](json_use_global_udls.md). It is part of the multi-header sources (`include/nlohmann`)
+    and of the single-header sources (`single_include/nlohmann`), next to `json.hpp`.
+
+!!! info "C++ modules"
+
+    The `nlohmann.json` [module](../../features/modules.md) always exports the literals, regardless of this macro.
+
+## Examples
+
+??? example
+
+    The code below includes the library without the literals and adds them in a single translation unit.
+
+    ```cpp
+    // compiled with -DJSON_NO_AUTOMATIC_UDLS for the whole project
+    #include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
+
+    // this file uses the literals, so it includes them explicitly
+    #include <nlohmann/json_literals.hpp>
+
+    int main()
+    {
+        auto j = R"({"foo": 42})"_json;
+        return j.at("/foo"_json_pointer) == 42 ? 0 : 1;
+    }
+    ```
+
+    Without the include of `<nlohmann/json_literals.hpp>`, the code would fail to compile.
+
+## See also
+
+- [`operator""_json`](../operator_literal_json.md)
+- [`operator""_json_pointer`](../operator_literal_json_pointer.md)
+- [`JSON_USE_GLOBAL_UDLS`](json_use_global_udls.md) - place user-defined string literals (UDLs) into the global namespace
+
+## Version history
+
+- Added in version 3.13.0.
diff --git a/docs/mkdocs/docs/api/macros/json_no_udls.md b/docs/mkdocs/docs/api/macros/json_no_udls.md
deleted file mode 100644
index 7e52d302f..000000000
--- a/docs/mkdocs/docs/api/macros/json_no_udls.md
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,61 +0,0 @@
-# JSON_NO_UDLS
-
-```cpp
-#define JSON_NO_UDLS
-```
-
-When defined, the user-defined string literals [`operator""_json`](../operator_literal_json.md) and
-[`operator""_json_pointer`](../operator_literal_json_pointer.md) are not defined, neither in the namespace
-`nlohmann::literals::json_literals` nor in the global namespace (regardless of
-[`JSON_USE_GLOBAL_UDLS`](json_use_global_udls.md)).
-
-The literals are ordinary inline functions whose bodies call the parser, so every translation unit that includes the
-library instantiates the parser — even if it never parses anything itself. Defining `JSON_NO_UDLS` avoids this and
-reduces the compile time of such translation units (e.g., ones that only define types and conversions or pass `json`
-values around). Everything else in the library is unaffected; use [`parse`](../basic_json/parse.md) and the
-[`json_pointer`](../json_pointer/json_pointer.md) constructor instead of the literals.
-
-## Default definition
-
-By default, `#!cpp JSON_NO_UDLS` is not defined.
-
-```cpp
-#undef JSON_NO_UDLS
-```
-
-## Notes
-
-!!! info "Per translation unit"
-
-    The macro only removes declarations, so it can be defined for some translation units and not for others. Code that
-    uses `_json` or `_json_pointer` fails to compile when `JSON_NO_UDLS` is defined.
-
-## Examples
-
-??? example
-
-    The code below leaves out the user-defined string literals and uses `parse` and the `json_pointer` constructor
-    instead.
-
-    ```cpp
-    #define JSON_NO_UDLS 1
-    #include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
-
-    int main()
-    {
-        // auto j = R"({"foo": 42})"_json; // This line would fail to compile
-        auto j = nlohmann::json::parse(R"({"foo": 42})");
-        auto p = nlohmann::json::json_pointer("/foo");
-        return j.at(p) == 42 ? 0 : 1;
-    }
-    ```
-
-## See also
-
-- [`operator""_json`](../operator_literal_json.md)
-- [`operator""_json_pointer`](../operator_literal_json_pointer.md)
-- [`JSON_USE_GLOBAL_UDLS`](json_use_global_udls.md) - place user-defined string literals (UDLs) into the global namespace
-
-## Version history
-
-- Added in version 3.13.0.
diff --git a/docs/mkdocs/docs/api/macros/json_use_global_udls.md b/docs/mkdocs/docs/api/macros/json_use_global_udls.md
index f7ba822e1..0b055640e 100644
--- a/docs/mkdocs/docs/api/macros/json_use_global_udls.md
+++ b/docs/mkdocs/docs/api/macros/json_use_global_udls.md
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ The default value is `1`.
 #define JSON_USE_GLOBAL_UDLS 1
 ```
 
-When the macro is not defined, the library will define it to its default value.
+When the macro is not defined, the library behaves as if it were defined to its default value.
 
 ## Notes
 
@@ -34,7 +34,8 @@ When the macro is not defined, the library will define it to its default value.
 
 !!! info "Leaving out the literals"
 
-    If [`JSON_NO_UDLS`](json_no_udls.md) is defined, the literals are not defined at all and this macro has no effect.
+    If [`JSON_NO_AUTOMATIC_UDLS`](json_no_automatic_udls.md) is defined, the literals are only declared where
+    `<nlohmann/json_literals.hpp>` is included; this macro then applies to that header.
 
 ## Examples
 
@@ -96,7 +97,7 @@ When the macro is not defined, the library will define it to its default value.
 
 - [`operator""_json`](../operator_literal_json.md)
 - [`operator""_json_pointer`](../operator_literal_json_pointer.md)
-- [`JSON_NO_UDLS`](json_no_udls.md) - leave out the user-defined string literals entirely
+- [`JSON_NO_AUTOMATIC_UDLS`](json_no_automatic_udls.md) - do not include the user-defined string literals automatically
 - [:simple-cmake: JSON_GlobalUDLs](../../integration/cmake.md#json_globaludls) - CMake option to control the macro
 
 ## Version history
diff --git a/docs/mkdocs/docs/api/operator_literal_json.md b/docs/mkdocs/docs/api/operator_literal_json.md
index 15a5a606f..a909d8165 100644
--- a/docs/mkdocs/docs/api/operator_literal_json.md
+++ b/docs/mkdocs/docs/api/operator_literal_json.md
@@ -18,8 +18,9 @@ using namespace nlohmann;
 ```
 
 This is suggested to ease migration to the next major version release of the library. See
-[`JSON_USE_GLOBAL_UDLS`](macros/json_use_global_udls.md#notes) for details. The operator is not defined if
-[`JSON_NO_UDLS`](macros/json_no_udls.md) is defined.
+[`JSON_USE_GLOBAL_UDLS`](macros/json_use_global_udls.md#notes) for details. The operator is declared in header
+`<nlohmann/json_literals.hpp>`, which `<nlohmann/json.hpp>` includes unless
+[`JSON_NO_AUTOMATIC_UDLS`](macros/json_no_automatic_udls.md) is defined.
 
 ## Parameters
 
@@ -60,7 +61,8 @@ Linear.
 ## See also
 
 - [Creating JSON values](../features/creating_values.md) - the article on creating JSON values
-- [JSON_NO_UDLS](macros/json_no_udls.md) - leave out the user-defined string literals
+- [JSON_NO_AUTOMATIC_UDLS](macros/json_no_automatic_udls.md) - do not include the user-defined string literals
+  automatically
 
 ## Version history
 
diff --git a/docs/mkdocs/docs/api/operator_literal_json_pointer.md b/docs/mkdocs/docs/api/operator_literal_json_pointer.md
index 5817963a4..0494439aa 100644
--- a/docs/mkdocs/docs/api/operator_literal_json_pointer.md
+++ b/docs/mkdocs/docs/api/operator_literal_json_pointer.md
@@ -17,8 +17,9 @@ using namespace nlohmann::literals::json_literals;
 using namespace nlohmann;
 ```
 This is suggested to ease migration to the next major version release of the library. See
-[`JSON_USE_GLOBAL_UDLS`](macros/json_use_global_udls.md#notes) for details. The operator is not defined if
-[`JSON_NO_UDLS`](macros/json_no_udls.md) is defined.
+[`JSON_USE_GLOBAL_UDLS`](macros/json_use_global_udls.md#notes) for details. The operator is declared in header
+`<nlohmann/json_literals.hpp>`, which `<nlohmann/json.hpp>` includes unless
+[`JSON_NO_AUTOMATIC_UDLS`](macros/json_no_automatic_udls.md) is defined.
 
 ## Parameters
 
@@ -59,7 +60,8 @@ Linear.
 ## See also
 
 - [json_pointer](json_pointer/index.md) - type to represent JSON Pointers
-- [JSON_NO_UDLS](macros/json_no_udls.md) - leave out the user-defined string literals
+- [JSON_NO_AUTOMATIC_UDLS](macros/json_no_automatic_udls.md) - do not include the user-defined string literals
+  automatically
 
 ## Version history
 
diff --git a/docs/mkdocs/docs/features/macros.md b/docs/mkdocs/docs/features/macros.md
index 9a612fd07..e4a628c3e 100644
--- a/docs/mkdocs/docs/features/macros.md
+++ b/docs/mkdocs/docs/features/macros.md
@@ -83,6 +83,15 @@ When defined, default parse and serialize functions for enums are excluded and h
 
 See [full documentation of `JSON_DISABLE_ENUM_SERIALIZATION`](../api/macros/json_disable_enum_serialization.md).
 
+## `JSON_NO_AUTOMATIC_UDLS`
+
+When defined, `<nlohmann/json.hpp>` does not include `<nlohmann/json_literals.hpp>` with the user-defined string literals
+`operator""_json` and `operator""_json_pointer`. This reduces the compile time of translation units that do not use
+them, because the literals instantiate the parser in every translation unit that includes them. Include
+`<nlohmann/json_literals.hpp>` where the literals are needed.
+
+See [full documentation of `JSON_NO_AUTOMATIC_UDLS`](../api/macros/json_no_automatic_udls.md).
+
 ## `JSON_NO_IO`
 
 When defined, headers `<cstdio>`, `<ios>`, `<iosfwd>`, `<istream>`, and `<ostream>` are not included and parse functions
@@ -99,14 +108,6 @@ same values and the same comparisons.
 
 See [full documentation of `JSON_NO_THREAD_LOCAL`](../api/macros/json_no_thread_local.md).
 
-## `JSON_NO_UDLS`
-
-When defined, the user-defined string literals `operator""_json` and `operator""_json_pointer` are left out entirely. This
-reduces the compile time of translation units that do not use them, because the literals would otherwise instantiate
-the parser in every translation unit that includes the library.
-
-See [full documentation of `JSON_NO_UDLS`](../api/macros/json_no_udls.md).
-
 ## `JSON_PRECISE_STREAM_POSITION`
 
 When defined to `1`, [`operator>>`](../api/operator_gtgt.md) and non-strict
diff --git a/docs/mkdocs/docs/features/modules.md b/docs/mkdocs/docs/features/modules.md
index 72d4ca6d5..32e9ba7fd 100644
--- a/docs/mkdocs/docs/features/modules.md
+++ b/docs/mkdocs/docs/features/modules.md
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ Only the following symbols are exported from `nlohmann.json`:
 - `nlohmann::literals::json_literals::operator""_json`
 - `nlohmann::literals::json_literals::operator""_json_pointer`
 
-The two user-defined string literals are not exported if [`JSON_NO_UDLS`](../api/macros/json_no_udls.md) is defined
-when building the module.
+The module always exports the two user-defined string literals, even if
+[`JSON_NO_AUTOMATIC_UDLS`](../api/macros/json_no_automatic_udls.md) is defined when building it.
 
 Additionally, the following `nlohmann::detail` symbols are exported, solely to work around an MSVC compilation issue
 ([#3970](https://github.com/nlohmann/json/issues/3970)). They are implementation details, not part of the public API,
diff --git a/docs/mkdocs/docs/integration/index.md b/docs/mkdocs/docs/integration/index.md
index 2bbaa8604..99bf088b6 100644
--- a/docs/mkdocs/docs/integration/index.md
+++ b/docs/mkdocs/docs/integration/index.md
@@ -15,4 +15,7 @@ Clang).
 
 You can further use file
 [`single_include/nlohmann/json_fwd.hpp`](https://github.com/nlohmann/json/blob/develop/single_include/nlohmann/json_fwd.hpp)
-for forward declarations.
+for forward declarations, and file
+[`single_include/nlohmann/json_literals.hpp`](https://github.com/nlohmann/json/blob/develop/single_include/nlohmann/json_literals.hpp)
+for the user-defined string literals if you define
+[`JSON_NO_AUTOMATIC_UDLS`](../api/macros/json_no_automatic_udls.md).
diff --git a/docs/mkdocs/mkdocs.yml b/docs/mkdocs/mkdocs.yml
index 65111c8ca..21fad832a 100644
--- a/docs/mkdocs/mkdocs.yml
+++ b/docs/mkdocs/mkdocs.yml
@@ -293,10 +293,10 @@ nav:
           - 'JSON_HAS_STATIC_RTTI': api/macros/json_has_static_rtti.md
           - 'JSON_HAS_STD_FORMAT': api/macros/json_has_std_format.md
           - 'JSON_HAS_THREE_WAY_COMPARISON': api/macros/json_has_three_way_comparison.md
+          - 'JSON_NO_AUTOMATIC_UDLS': api/macros/json_no_automatic_udls.md
           - 'JSON_NOEXCEPTION': api/macros/json_noexception.md
           - 'JSON_NO_IO': api/macros/json_no_io.md
           - 'JSON_NO_THREAD_LOCAL': api/macros/json_no_thread_local.md
-          - 'JSON_NO_UDLS': api/macros/json_no_udls.md
           - 'JSON_PRECISE_STREAM_POSITION': api/macros/json_precise_stream_position.md
           - 'JSON_SKIP_LIBRARY_VERSION_CHECK': api/macros/json_skip_library_version_check.md
           - 'JSON_SKIP_UNSUPPORTED_COMPILER_CHECK': api/macros/json_skip_unsupported_compiler_check.md
diff --git a/include/nlohmann/detail/macro_scope.hpp b/include/nlohmann/detail/macro_scope.hpp
index 3a4eb79f4..7c39afbeb 100644
--- a/include/nlohmann/detail/macro_scope.hpp
+++ b/include/nlohmann/detail/macro_scope.hpp
@@ -915,7 +915,3 @@ void templated_json_throw(ExceptionType exception)
 #ifndef JSON_DISABLE_ENUM_SERIALIZATION
     #define JSON_DISABLE_ENUM_SERIALIZATION 0
 #endif
-
-#ifndef JSON_USE_GLOBAL_UDLS
-    #define JSON_USE_GLOBAL_UDLS 1
-#endif
diff --git a/include/nlohmann/detail/macro_unscope.hpp b/include/nlohmann/detail/macro_unscope.hpp
index a73951a22..d2675d3f1 100644
--- a/include/nlohmann/detail/macro_unscope.hpp
+++ b/include/nlohmann/detail/macro_unscope.hpp
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@
 #undef JSON_INLINE_VARIABLE
 #undef JSON_NO_UNIQUE_ADDRESS
 #undef JSON_DISABLE_ENUM_SERIALIZATION
-#undef JSON_USE_GLOBAL_UDLS
 
 #ifndef JSON_TEST_KEEP_MACROS
     #undef JSON_CATCH
diff --git a/include/nlohmann/json.hpp b/include/nlohmann/json.hpp
index d7dcfa6e2..6f3ec5b40 100644
--- a/include/nlohmann/json.hpp
+++ b/include/nlohmann/json.hpp
@@ -6423,57 +6423,6 @@ std::string format_as(const NLOHMANN_BASIC_JSON_TPL& j)
     return j.dump();
 }
 
-#ifndef JSON_NO_UDLS
-inline namespace literals
-{
-inline namespace json_literals
-{
-
-/// @brief user-defined string literal for JSON values
-/// @sa https://json.nlohmann.me/api/basic_json/operator_literal_json/
-JSON_HEDLEY_NON_NULL(1)
-#if !defined(JSON_HEDLEY_GCC_VERSION) || JSON_HEDLEY_GCC_VERSION_CHECK(4,9,0)
-    inline nlohmann::json operator""_json(const char* s, std::size_t n)
-#else
-    // GCC 4.8 requires a space between "" and suffix
-    inline nlohmann::json operator"" _json(const char* s, std::size_t n)
-#endif
-{
-    return nlohmann::json::parse(s, s + n);
-}
-
-#if defined(__cpp_char8_t)
-JSON_HEDLEY_NON_NULL(1)
-inline nlohmann::json operator""_json(const char8_t* s, std::size_t n)
-{
-    return nlohmann::json::parse(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(s),
-                                 reinterpret_cast<const char*>(s) + n);
-}
-#endif
-
-/// @brief user-defined string literal for JSON pointer
-/// @sa https://json.nlohmann.me/api/basic_json/operator_literal_json_pointer/
-JSON_HEDLEY_NON_NULL(1)
-#if !defined(JSON_HEDLEY_GCC_VERSION) || JSON_HEDLEY_GCC_VERSION_CHECK(4,9,0)
-    inline nlohmann::json::json_pointer operator""_json_pointer(const char* s, std::size_t n)
-#else
-    // GCC 4.8 requires a space between "" and suffix
-    inline nlohmann::json::json_pointer operator"" _json_pointer(const char* s, std::size_t n)
-#endif
-{
-    return nlohmann::json::json_pointer(std::string(s, n));
-}
-
-#if defined(__cpp_char8_t)
-inline nlohmann::json::json_pointer operator""_json_pointer(const char8_t* s, std::size_t n)
-{
-    return nlohmann::json::json_pointer(std::string(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(s), n));
-}
-#endif
-
-}  // namespace json_literals
-}  // namespace literals
-#endif  // JSON_NO_UDLS
 NLOHMANN_JSON_NAMESPACE_END
 
 ///////////////////////
@@ -6608,17 +6557,6 @@ struct formatter<nlohmann::NLOHMANN_BASIC_JSON_TPL, char> // NOLINT(cert-dcl58-c
 
 }  // namespace std
 
-#if JSON_USE_GLOBAL_UDLS && !defined(JSON_NO_UDLS)
-    #if !defined(JSON_HEDLEY_GCC_VERSION) || JSON_HEDLEY_GCC_VERSION_CHECK(4,9,0)
-        using nlohmann::literals::json_literals::operator""_json; // NOLINT(misc-unused-using-decls,google-global-names-in-headers)
-        using nlohmann::literals::json_literals::operator""_json_pointer; //NOLINT(misc-unused-using-decls,google-global-names-in-headers)
-    #else
-        // GCC 4.8 requires a space between "" and suffix
-        using nlohmann::literals::json_literals::operator"" _json; // NOLINT(misc-unused-using-decls,google-global-names-in-headers)
-        using nlohmann::literals::json_literals::operator"" _json_pointer; //NOLINT(misc-unused-using-decls,google-global-names-in-headers)
-    #endif
-#endif
-
 #include <nlohmann/detail/macro_unscope.hpp>
 
 // End of GCC diagnostic pragmas for C++ modules support
@@ -6626,4 +6564,12 @@ struct formatter<nlohmann::NLOHMANN_BASIC_JSON_TPL, char> // NOLINT(cert-dcl58-c
     #pragma GCC diagnostic pop
 #endif
 
+// The user-defined string literals are in a separate header, because their
+// bodies instantiate the parser in every translation unit that includes them.
+// Define JSON_NO_AUTOMATIC_UDLS to include <nlohmann/json_literals.hpp> only
+// where needed.
+#ifndef JSON_NO_AUTOMATIC_UDLS
+    #include <nlohmann/json_literals.hpp>
+#endif
+
 #endif  // INCLUDE_NLOHMANN_JSON_HPP_
diff --git a/include/nlohmann/json_literals.hpp b/include/nlohmann/json_literals.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d62e0cf2e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/nlohmann/json_literals.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+//     __ _____ _____ _____
+//  __|  |   __|     |   | |  JSON for Modern C++
+// |  |  |__   |  |  | | | |  version 3.12.0
+// |_____|_____|_____|_|___|  https://github.com/nlohmann/json
+//
+// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2013-2026 Niels Lohmann <https://nlohmann.me>
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+
+#ifndef INCLUDE_NLOHMANN_JSON_LITERALS_HPP_
+#define INCLUDE_NLOHMANN_JSON_LITERALS_HPP_
+
+#include <cstddef> // size_t
+#include <string> // string
+
+#include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
+
+// This header is included at the end of <nlohmann/json.hpp> unless
+// JSON_NO_AUTOMATIC_UDLS is defined, and can be included on its own after that.
+// Either way, the library's internal macros are no longer defined here (and the
+// amalgamation inlines macro_scope.hpp only once), so only standard and public
+// macros may be used below.
+
+NLOHMANN_JSON_NAMESPACE_BEGIN
+inline namespace literals
+{
+inline namespace json_literals
+{
+
+/// @brief user-defined string literal for JSON values
+/// @sa https://json.nlohmann.me/api/operator_literal_json/
+#if !defined(__GNUC__) || defined(__clang__) || __GNUC__ > 4 || (__GNUC__ == 4 && __GNUC_MINOR__ >= 9)
+    inline nlohmann::json operator""_json(const char* s, std::size_t n)
+#else
+    // GCC 4.8 requires a space between "" and suffix
+    inline nlohmann::json operator"" _json(const char* s, std::size_t n)
+#endif
+{
+    return nlohmann::json::parse(s, s + n);
+}
+
+#if defined(__cpp_char8_t)
+inline nlohmann::json operator""_json(const char8_t* s, std::size_t n)
+{
+    return nlohmann::json::parse(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(s),
+                                 reinterpret_cast<const char*>(s) + n);
+}
+#endif
+
+/// @brief user-defined string literal for JSON pointer
+/// @sa https://json.nlohmann.me/api/operator_literal_json_pointer/
+#if !defined(__GNUC__) || defined(__clang__) || __GNUC__ > 4 || (__GNUC__ == 4 && __GNUC_MINOR__ >= 9)
+    inline nlohmann::json::json_pointer operator""_json_pointer(const char* s, std::size_t n)
+#else
+    // GCC 4.8 requires a space between "" and suffix
+    inline nlohmann::json::json_pointer operator"" _json_pointer(const char* s, std::size_t n)
+#endif
+{
+    return nlohmann::json::json_pointer(std::string(s, n));
+}
+
+#if defined(__cpp_char8_t)
+inline nlohmann::json::json_pointer operator""_json_pointer(const char8_t* s, std::size_t n)
+{
+    return nlohmann::json::json_pointer(std::string(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(s), n));
+}
+#endif
+
+}  // namespace json_literals
+}  // namespace literals
+NLOHMANN_JSON_NAMESPACE_END
+
+#if !defined(JSON_USE_GLOBAL_UDLS) || JSON_USE_GLOBAL_UDLS
+    #if !defined(__GNUC__) || defined(__clang__) || __GNUC__ > 4 || (__GNUC__ == 4 && __GNUC_MINOR__ >= 9)
+        using nlohmann::literals::json_literals::operator""_json; // NOLINT(misc-unused-using-decls,google-global-names-in-headers)
+        using nlohmann::literals::json_literals::operator""_json_pointer; //NOLINT(misc-unused-using-decls,google-global-names-in-headers)
+    #else
+        // GCC 4.8 requires a space between "" and suffix
+        using nlohmann::literals::json_literals::operator"" _json; // NOLINT(misc-unused-using-decls,google-global-names-in-headers)
+        using nlohmann::literals::json_literals::operator"" _json_pointer; //NOLINT(misc-unused-using-decls,google-global-names-in-headers)
+    #endif
+#endif
+
+#endif  // INCLUDE_NLOHMANN_JSON_LITERALS_HPP_
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index a2d6e31a2..2800957ec 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ nlohmann_json_multiple_headers = declare_dependency(
 if not meson.is_subproject()
 install_headers('single_include/nlohmann/json.hpp', subdir: 'nlohmann')
 install_headers('single_include/nlohmann/json_fwd.hpp', subdir: 'nlohmann')
+install_headers('single_include/nlohmann/json_literals.hpp', subdir: 'nlohmann')
 
 pkgc = import('pkgconfig')
 pkgc.generate(name: 'nlohmann_json',
diff --git a/single_include/nlohmann/json.hpp b/single_include/nlohmann/json.hpp
index e73583e17..14ae985f3 100644
--- a/single_include/nlohmann/json.hpp
+++ b/single_include/nlohmann/json.hpp
@@ -3327,10 +3327,6 @@ void templated_json_throw(ExceptionType exception)
     #define JSON_DISABLE_ENUM_SERIALIZATION 0
 #endif
 
-#ifndef JSON_USE_GLOBAL_UDLS
-    #define JSON_USE_GLOBAL_UDLS 1
-#endif
-
 #if JSON_HAS_THREE_WAY_COMPARISON
     #include <compare> // partial_ordering
 #endif
@@ -32504,57 +32500,6 @@ std::string format_as(const NLOHMANN_BASIC_JSON_TPL& j)
     return j.dump();
 }
 
-#ifndef JSON_NO_UDLS
-inline namespace literals
-{
-inline namespace json_literals
-{
-
-/// @brief user-defined string literal for JSON values
-/// @sa https://json.nlohmann.me/api/basic_json/operator_literal_json/
-JSON_HEDLEY_NON_NULL(1)
-#if !defined(JSON_HEDLEY_GCC_VERSION) || JSON_HEDLEY_GCC_VERSION_CHECK(4,9,0)
-    inline nlohmann::json operator""_json(const char* s, std::size_t n)
-#else
-    // GCC 4.8 requires a space between "" and suffix
-    inline nlohmann::json operator"" _json(const char* s, std::size_t n)
-#endif
-{
-    return nlohmann::json::parse(s, s + n);
-}
-
-#if defined(__cpp_char8_t)
-JSON_HEDLEY_NON_NULL(1)
-inline nlohmann::json operator""_json(const char8_t* s, std::size_t n)
-{
-    return nlohmann::json::parse(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(s),
-                                 reinterpret_cast<const char*>(s) + n);
-}
-#endif
-
-/// @brief user-defined string literal for JSON pointer
-/// @sa https://json.nlohmann.me/api/basic_json/operator_literal_json_pointer/
-JSON_HEDLEY_NON_NULL(1)
-#if !defined(JSON_HEDLEY_GCC_VERSION) || JSON_HEDLEY_GCC_VERSION_CHECK(4,9,0)
-    inline nlohmann::json::json_pointer operator""_json_pointer(const char* s, std::size_t n)
-#else
-    // GCC 4.8 requires a space between "" and suffix
-    inline nlohmann::json::json_pointer operator"" _json_pointer(const char* s, std::size_t n)
-#endif
-{
-    return nlohmann::json::json_pointer(std::string(s, n));
-}
-
-#if defined(__cpp_char8_t)
-inline nlohmann::json::json_pointer operator""_json_pointer(const char8_t* s, std::size_t n)
-{
-    return nlohmann::json::json_pointer(std::string(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(s), n));
-}
-#endif
-
-}  // namespace json_literals
-}  // namespace literals
-#endif  // JSON_NO_UDLS
 NLOHMANN_JSON_NAMESPACE_END
 
 ///////////////////////
@@ -32689,17 +32634,6 @@ struct formatter<nlohmann::NLOHMANN_BASIC_JSON_TPL, char> // NOLINT(cert-dcl58-c
 
 }  // namespace std
 
-#if JSON_USE_GLOBAL_UDLS && !defined(JSON_NO_UDLS)
-    #if !defined(JSON_HEDLEY_GCC_VERSION) || JSON_HEDLEY_GCC_VERSION_CHECK(4,9,0)
-        using nlohmann::literals::json_literals::operator""_json; // NOLINT(misc-unused-using-decls,google-global-names-in-headers)
-        using nlohmann::literals::json_literals::operator""_json_pointer; //NOLINT(misc-unused-using-decls,google-global-names-in-headers)
-    #else
-        // GCC 4.8 requires a space between "" and suffix
-        using nlohmann::literals::json_literals::operator"" _json; // NOLINT(misc-unused-using-decls,google-global-names-in-headers)
-        using nlohmann::literals::json_literals::operator"" _json_pointer; //NOLINT(misc-unused-using-decls,google-global-names-in-headers)
-    #endif
-#endif
-
 // #include <nlohmann/detail/macro_unscope.hpp>
 //     __ _____ _____ _____
 //  __|  |   __|     |   | |  JSON for Modern C++
@@ -32728,7 +32662,6 @@ struct formatter<nlohmann::NLOHMANN_BASIC_JSON_TPL, char> // NOLINT(cert-dcl58-c
 #undef JSON_INLINE_VARIABLE
 #undef JSON_NO_UNIQUE_ADDRESS
 #undef JSON_DISABLE_ENUM_SERIALIZATION
-#undef JSON_USE_GLOBAL_UDLS
 
 #ifndef JSON_TEST_KEEP_MACROS
     #undef JSON_CATCH
@@ -32921,4 +32854,97 @@ struct formatter<nlohmann::NLOHMANN_BASIC_JSON_TPL, char> // NOLINT(cert-dcl58-c
     #pragma GCC diagnostic pop
 #endif
 
+// The user-defined string literals are in a separate header, because their
+// bodies instantiate the parser in every translation unit that includes them.
+// Define JSON_NO_AUTOMATIC_UDLS to include <nlohmann/json_literals.hpp> only
+// where needed.
+#ifndef JSON_NO_AUTOMATIC_UDLS
+// #include <nlohmann/json_literals.hpp>
+//     __ _____ _____ _____
+//  __|  |   __|     |   | |  JSON for Modern C++
+// |  |  |__   |  |  | | | |  version 3.12.0
+// |_____|_____|_____|_|___|  https://github.com/nlohmann/json
+//
+// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2013-2026 Niels Lohmann <https://nlohmann.me>
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+
+#ifndef INCLUDE_NLOHMANN_JSON_LITERALS_HPP_
+#define INCLUDE_NLOHMANN_JSON_LITERALS_HPP_
+
+#include <cstddef> // size_t
+#include <string> // string
+
+// #include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
+
+
+// This header is included at the end of <nlohmann/json.hpp> unless
+// JSON_NO_AUTOMATIC_UDLS is defined, and can be included on its own after that.
+// Either way, the library's internal macros are no longer defined here (and the
+// amalgamation inlines macro_scope.hpp only once), so only standard and public
+// macros may be used below.
+
+NLOHMANN_JSON_NAMESPACE_BEGIN
+inline namespace literals
+{
+inline namespace json_literals
+{
+
+/// @brief user-defined string literal for JSON values
+/// @sa https://json.nlohmann.me/api/operator_literal_json/
+#if !defined(__GNUC__) || defined(__clang__) || __GNUC__ > 4 || (__GNUC__ == 4 && __GNUC_MINOR__ >= 9)
+    inline nlohmann::json operator""_json(const char* s, std::size_t n)
+#else
+    // GCC 4.8 requires a space between "" and suffix
+    inline nlohmann::json operator"" _json(const char* s, std::size_t n)
+#endif
+{
+    return nlohmann::json::parse(s, s + n);
+}
+
+#if defined(__cpp_char8_t)
+inline nlohmann::json operator""_json(const char8_t* s, std::size_t n)
+{
+    return nlohmann::json::parse(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(s),
+                                 reinterpret_cast<const char*>(s) + n);
+}
+#endif
+
+/// @brief user-defined string literal for JSON pointer
+/// @sa https://json.nlohmann.me/api/operator_literal_json_pointer/
+#if !defined(__GNUC__) || defined(__clang__) || __GNUC__ > 4 || (__GNUC__ == 4 && __GNUC_MINOR__ >= 9)
+    inline nlohmann::json::json_pointer operator""_json_pointer(const char* s, std::size_t n)
+#else
+    // GCC 4.8 requires a space between "" and suffix
+    inline nlohmann::json::json_pointer operator"" _json_pointer(const char* s, std::size_t n)
+#endif
+{
+    return nlohmann::json::json_pointer(std::string(s, n));
+}
+
+#if defined(__cpp_char8_t)
+inline nlohmann::json::json_pointer operator""_json_pointer(const char8_t* s, std::size_t n)
+{
+    return nlohmann::json::json_pointer(std::string(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(s), n));
+}
+#endif
+
+}  // namespace json_literals
+}  // namespace literals
+NLOHMANN_JSON_NAMESPACE_END
+
+#if !defined(JSON_USE_GLOBAL_UDLS) || JSON_USE_GLOBAL_UDLS
+    #if !defined(__GNUC__) || defined(__clang__) || __GNUC__ > 4 || (__GNUC__ == 4 && __GNUC_MINOR__ >= 9)
+        using nlohmann::literals::json_literals::operator""_json; // NOLINT(misc-unused-using-decls,google-global-names-in-headers)
+        using nlohmann::literals::json_literals::operator""_json_pointer; //NOLINT(misc-unused-using-decls,google-global-names-in-headers)
+    #else
+        // GCC 4.8 requires a space between "" and suffix
+        using nlohmann::literals::json_literals::operator"" _json; // NOLINT(misc-unused-using-decls,google-global-names-in-headers)
+        using nlohmann::literals::json_literals::operator"" _json_pointer; //NOLINT(misc-unused-using-decls,google-global-names-in-headers)
+    #endif
+#endif
+
+#endif  // INCLUDE_NLOHMANN_JSON_LITERALS_HPP_
+
+#endif
+
 #endif  // INCLUDE_NLOHMANN_JSON_HPP_
diff --git a/single_include/nlohmann/json_literals.hpp b/single_include/nlohmann/json_literals.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d62e0cf2e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/single_include/nlohmann/json_literals.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+//     __ _____ _____ _____
+//  __|  |   __|     |   | |  JSON for Modern C++
+// |  |  |__   |  |  | | | |  version 3.12.0
+// |_____|_____|_____|_|___|  https://github.com/nlohmann/json
+//
+// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2013-2026 Niels Lohmann <https://nlohmann.me>
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+
+#ifndef INCLUDE_NLOHMANN_JSON_LITERALS_HPP_
+#define INCLUDE_NLOHMANN_JSON_LITERALS_HPP_
+
+#include <cstddef> // size_t
+#include <string> // string
+
+#include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
+
+// This header is included at the end of <nlohmann/json.hpp> unless
+// JSON_NO_AUTOMATIC_UDLS is defined, and can be included on its own after that.
+// Either way, the library's internal macros are no longer defined here (and the
+// amalgamation inlines macro_scope.hpp only once), so only standard and public
+// macros may be used below.
+
+NLOHMANN_JSON_NAMESPACE_BEGIN
+inline namespace literals
+{
+inline namespace json_literals
+{
+
+/// @brief user-defined string literal for JSON values
+/// @sa https://json.nlohmann.me/api/operator_literal_json/
+#if !defined(__GNUC__) || defined(__clang__) || __GNUC__ > 4 || (__GNUC__ == 4 && __GNUC_MINOR__ >= 9)
+    inline nlohmann::json operator""_json(const char* s, std::size_t n)
+#else
+    // GCC 4.8 requires a space between "" and suffix
+    inline nlohmann::json operator"" _json(const char* s, std::size_t n)
+#endif
+{
+    return nlohmann::json::parse(s, s + n);
+}
+
+#if defined(__cpp_char8_t)
+inline nlohmann::json operator""_json(const char8_t* s, std::size_t n)
+{
+    return nlohmann::json::parse(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(s),
+                                 reinterpret_cast<const char*>(s) + n);
+}
+#endif
+
+/// @brief user-defined string literal for JSON pointer
+/// @sa https://json.nlohmann.me/api/operator_literal_json_pointer/
+#if !defined(__GNUC__) || defined(__clang__) || __GNUC__ > 4 || (__GNUC__ == 4 && __GNUC_MINOR__ >= 9)
+    inline nlohmann::json::json_pointer operator""_json_pointer(const char* s, std::size_t n)
+#else
+    // GCC 4.8 requires a space between "" and suffix
+    inline nlohmann::json::json_pointer operator"" _json_pointer(const char* s, std::size_t n)
+#endif
+{
+    return nlohmann::json::json_pointer(std::string(s, n));
+}
+
+#if defined(__cpp_char8_t)
+inline nlohmann::json::json_pointer operator""_json_pointer(const char8_t* s, std::size_t n)
+{
+    return nlohmann::json::json_pointer(std::string(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(s), n));
+}
+#endif
+
+}  // namespace json_literals
+}  // namespace literals
+NLOHMANN_JSON_NAMESPACE_END
+
+#if !defined(JSON_USE_GLOBAL_UDLS) || JSON_USE_GLOBAL_UDLS
+    #if !defined(__GNUC__) || defined(__clang__) || __GNUC__ > 4 || (__GNUC__ == 4 && __GNUC_MINOR__ >= 9)
+        using nlohmann::literals::json_literals::operator""_json; // NOLINT(misc-unused-using-decls,google-global-names-in-headers)
+        using nlohmann::literals::json_literals::operator""_json_pointer; //NOLINT(misc-unused-using-decls,google-global-names-in-headers)
+    #else
+        // GCC 4.8 requires a space between "" and suffix
+        using nlohmann::literals::json_literals::operator"" _json; // NOLINT(misc-unused-using-decls,google-global-names-in-headers)
+        using nlohmann::literals::json_literals::operator"" _json_pointer; //NOLINT(misc-unused-using-decls,google-global-names-in-headers)
+    #endif
+#endif
+
+#endif  // INCLUDE_NLOHMANN_JSON_LITERALS_HPP_
diff --git a/src/modules/json.cppm b/src/modules/json.cppm
index 480961f6b..a32b97603 100644
--- a/src/modules/json.cppm
+++ b/src/modules/json.cppm
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ module;
 // See: https://github.com/nlohmann/json/issues/5103
 
 #include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
+#include <nlohmann/json_literals.hpp>
 
 export module nlohmann.json;
 
@@ -32,7 +33,6 @@ using NLOHMANN_JSON_NAMESPACE::ordered_json;
 using NLOHMANN_JSON_NAMESPACE::ordered_map;
 using NLOHMANN_JSON_NAMESPACE::to_string;
 
-#ifndef JSON_NO_UDLS
 inline namespace literals
 {
 inline namespace json_literals
@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@ inline namespace json_literals
     using NLOHMANN_JSON_NAMESPACE::literals::json_literals::operator""_json_pointer;
 } // namespace json_literals
 } // namespace literals
-#endif
 
 // Note: the following nlohmann::detail symbols must be exported due to
 // an MSVC bug failing to compile without these symbols visible (ticket #3970)
diff --git a/tests/src/unit-no_udls.cpp b/tests/src/unit-no_automatic_udls.cpp
similarity index 66%
rename from tests/src/unit-no_udls.cpp
rename to tests/src/unit-no_automatic_udls.cpp
index bf5402b1c..001ed4251 100644
--- a/tests/src/unit-no_udls.cpp
+++ b/tests/src/unit-no_automatic_udls.cpp
@@ -6,10 +6,12 @@
 // SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2013-2026 Niels Lohmann <https://nlohmann.me>
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
 
-// This translation unit checks JSON_NO_UDLS, which leaves out the user-defined
-// string literals operator""_json and operator""_json_pointer entirely (see
-// #5294), while the rest of the library keeps working.
-#define JSON_NO_UDLS 1
+// This translation unit checks JSON_NO_AUTOMATIC_UDLS, which keeps
+// <nlohmann/json.hpp> from including <nlohmann/json_literals.hpp> and thereby
+// leaves out the user-defined string literals operator""_json and
+// operator""_json_pointer (see #5294), and that including
+// <nlohmann/json_literals.hpp> afterwards brings them back.
+#define JSON_NO_AUTOMATIC_UDLS 1
 
 #include "doctest_compatibility.h"
 
@@ -23,7 +25,7 @@ using json = nlohmann::json;
 // argument-dependent lookup of a literal operator called by its function name
 // also searches the inline namespaces nlohmann::literals::json_literals.
 NLOHMANN_JSON_NAMESPACE_BEGIN
-struct no_udls_probe
+struct no_automatic_udls_probe
 {
     operator const char* () const // NOLINT(google-explicit-constructor,hicpp-explicit-conversions)
     {
@@ -52,7 +54,7 @@ template<typename T>
 using has_json_pointer_udl = nlohmann::detail::is_detected<json_pointer_udl_t, T>;
 } // namespace
 
-TEST_CASE("JSON_NO_UDLS")
+TEST_CASE("JSON_NO_AUTOMATIC_UDLS")
 {
     SECTION("literals are not declared")
     {
@@ -61,8 +63,8 @@ TEST_CASE("JSON_NO_UDLS")
         CHECK_FALSE(has_json_pointer_udl<const char*>::value);
 
         // nlohmann::literals::json_literals
-        CHECK_FALSE(has_json_udl<nlohmann::no_udls_probe>::value);
-        CHECK_FALSE(has_json_pointer_udl<nlohmann::no_udls_probe>::value);
+        CHECK_FALSE(has_json_udl<nlohmann::no_automatic_udls_probe>::value);
+        CHECK_FALSE(has_json_pointer_udl<nlohmann::no_automatic_udls_probe>::value);
     }
 
     SECTION("the rest of the library keeps working")
@@ -75,3 +77,21 @@ TEST_CASE("JSON_NO_UDLS")
         CHECK(j.contains(ptr));
     }
 }
+
+// the literals can still be added where they are needed
+#include <nlohmann/json_literals.hpp>
+
+TEST_CASE("JSON_NO_AUTOMATIC_UDLS with <nlohmann/json_literals.hpp>")
+{
+    SECTION("global namespace")
+    {
+        CHECK("[1,2]"_json == json({1, 2}));
+        CHECK("/a/0"_json_pointer == json::json_pointer("/a/0"));
+    }
+
+    SECTION("nlohmann::literals::json_literals")
+    {
+        using namespace nlohmann::literals::json_literals; // NOLINT(google-build-using-namespace)
+        CHECK(R"({"a":[42]})"_json.at("/a/0"_json_pointer) == 42);
+    }
+}