Add basic_json::as_base_class and document name conflicts with custom base classes

Members of basic_json hide members of a custom base class with the same
name, and future releases may add members that hide ones accessible
today. Document this in json_base_class_t and add as_base_class() to
reach hidden members without spelling out the cast.

Also make json_base_class_t a public member type. It was documented
since 3.12.0, but declared private, so users could not name it.

Supersedes #3899.

Co-authored-by: Raphael Grimm <1005058+barcode@users.noreply.github.com>
Signed-off-by: Niels Lohmann <mail@nlohmann.me>

docs/mkdocs/docs/api/basic_json/as_base_class.md

@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+# <small>nlohmann::basic_json::</small>as_base_class
+
+```cpp
+json_base_class_t& as_base_class() noexcept;
+const json_base_class_t& as_base_class() const noexcept;
+```
+
+Returns a reference to this object as its custom base class [`json_base_class_t`](json_base_class_t.md). No copy is
+made.
+
+Since `basic_json` derives from `json_base_class_t`, a member of `basic_json` hides any member of the custom base class
+with the same name. This function makes such hidden members accessible again.
+
+## Return value
+
+reference to this object as [`json_base_class_t`](json_base_class_t.md)
+
+## Exception safety
+
+No-throw guarantee: this function never throws exceptions.
+
+## Complexity
+
+Constant.
+
+## Notes
+
+The function is equivalent to `static_cast<json_base_class_t&>(j)` (or `static_cast<const json_base_class_t&>(j)`).
+
+## Examples
+
+??? example
+
+    The example shows how to use `as_base_class` to access members of the custom base class that are hidden by members
+    of `basic_json`.
+    
+    ```cpp
+    --8<-- "examples/as_base_class.cpp"
+    ```
+    
+    Output:
+    
+    ```json
+    --8<-- "examples/as_base_class.output"
+    ```
+
+## See also
+
+- [json_base_class_t](json_base_class_t.md) - type of the custom base class
+
+## Version history
+
+- Added in version 3.13.0.

docs/mkdocs/docs/api/basic_json/index.md

@@ -200,6 +200,7 @@ Direct access to the stored value of a JSON value.
 - [**get_ref**](get_ref.md) - get a reference value
 - [**operator ValueType**](operator_ValueType.md) - get a value
 - [**get_binary**](get_binary.md) - get a binary value
+- [**as_base_class**](as_base_class.md) - access the custom base class
 
 ### Element access
 

docs/mkdocs/docs/api/basic_json/json_base_class_t.md

@@ -27,6 +27,18 @@ A `CustomBaseClass` with non-static data members forfeits `basic_json`'s
 [standard layout](https://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/named_req/StandardLayoutType) guarantee. See
 [Template Parameter Requirements](../../features/types/template_parameters.md#custombaseclass).
 
+#### Name conflicts
+
+Since `basic_json` derives from `CustomBaseClass`, members of `basic_json` hide members of `CustomBaseClass` with the
+same name. Hidden members remain accessible via [`as_base_class`](as_base_class.md) or by casting the value to
+`json_base_class_t`.
+
+!!! warning "Avoid generic member names"
+
+    Future versions of the library may add members to `basic_json` that hide members of `CustomBaseClass` that are
+    accessible today. To reduce the risk of such conflicts, avoid generic names for the members of `CustomBaseClass`,
+    for instance by using a distinctive prefix.
+
 ## Examples
 
 ??? example
@@ -43,6 +55,11 @@ A `CustomBaseClass` with non-static data members forfeits `basic_json`'s
     --8<-- "examples/json_base_class_t.output"
     ```
 
+## See also
+
+- [as_base_class](as_base_class.md) - access the custom base class
+
 ## Version history
 
 - Added in version 3.12.0.
+- Made a public member type in version 3.13.0; it was private before, so it could not be named outside the class.

docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/as_base_class.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+#include <iostream>
+#include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
+
+class base_class_with_hidden_members
+{
+  public:
+    const char* type_name() const noexcept
+    {
+        return "my_type_name";
+    }
+
+    std::size_t size() const noexcept
+    {
+        return 42;
+    }
+};
+
+using json = nlohmann::basic_json <
+             std::map,
+             std::vector,
+             std::string,
+             bool,
+             std::int64_t,
+             std::uint64_t,
+             double,
+             std::allocator,
+             nlohmann::adl_serializer,
+             std::vector<std::uint8_t>,
+             base_class_with_hidden_members
+             >;
+
+int main()
+{
+    json j = {1, 2, 3};
+
+    // the members of basic_json hide the members of the base class
+    std::cout << j.type_name() << ' ' << j.size() << '\n';
+
+    // access the hidden members of the base class
+    std::cout << j.as_base_class().type_name() << ' ' << j.as_base_class().size() << '\n';
+}

docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/as_base_class.output

@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+array 3
+my_type_name 42

docs/mkdocs/mkdocs.yml

@@ -113,6 +113,7 @@ nav:
           - 'accept': api/basic_json/accept.md
           - 'array': api/basic_json/array.md
           - 'array_t': api/basic_json/array_t.md
+          - 'as_base_class': api/basic_json/as_base_class.md
           - 'at': api/basic_json/at.md
           - 'back': api/basic_json/back.md
           - 'begin': api/basic_json/begin.md