Store maps with enum keys as objects (opt-in) (#5600)

* Store maps with enum keys as objects (opt-in)

Maps with enum keys, such as std::map<E, T>, are stored as arrays of
[key, value] pairs, because enums are not convertible to the string type
of object keys - even if NLOHMANN_JSON_SERIALIZE_ENUM maps them to
strings (#4378).

The new JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS macro stores them as objects
instead, converting each key with the enum's to_json. It applies to any
map-like type with enum keys (std::map with any comparator,
std::unordered_map, ...). A key that does not convert to a string throws
type_error.302, and two keys converting to the same string throw the new
type_error.318, rather than losing an entry. The macro changes the output
of inline functions, so it is part of the ABI tag (_ekmo).

Reading needs no macro: std::map and std::unordered_map with enum keys
are now also read from objects, converting each key with the enum's
from_json. That input was rejected before, and arrays of pairs are still
read, so data written either way can be read.

This supersedes #4531, which first proposed storing these maps as
objects.

Co-authored-by: Muhammad Amir bin Mohamad Ghazaly <amirghaz@umich.edu>
Signed-off-by: Niels Lohmann <mail@nlohmann.me>

* Keep multimaps with enum keys as arrays of pairs

With JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS, is_enum_keyed_map also matched
std::multimap and std::unordered_multimap. Storing them as objects throws
type_error.318 as soon as a key occurs twice, which is the normal case for
a multimap, so such values could no longer be serialized at all once the
macro was enabled, although they are stored losslessly as arrays of
[key, value] pairs without it.

Exclude maps with non-unique keys from is_enum_keyed_map. They are
detected by insert(value_type) returning an iterator rather than a
pair<iterator, bool>. Map-like types without such an insert() are still
treated as before.

Signed-off-by: Niels Lohmann <mail@nlohmann.me>

* Move the default enum-keyed map tests out of unit-conversions.cpp

The Windows clang 20.1.8 job (MinGW, Debug) failed to link
test-conversions_cpp17 with "relocation truncated to fit:
IMAGE_REL_AMD64_REL32 against .rdata": the object file of
unit-conversions.cpp was already close to the limit, and the new
"maps with enum keys" test case pushed it over. windows.yml asks to keep
these objects small by splitting test files.

Move the test case unchanged into unit-enum_keyed_maps_default.cpp,
with the three enums it needs. It still honors a -D flag for
JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS, as before. unit-conversions.cpp
is back to its state on develop.

Signed-off-by: Niels Lohmann <mail@nlohmann.me>

* Build the enum-keyed map test object instead of parsing it

ci_test_diagnostic_positions failed in unit-enum_keyed_maps_default.cpp:
with JSON_DIAGNOSTIC_POSITIONS, a parsed value adds its byte range to
the exception message ("(bytes 0-7) type must be array, but is
object"), so the exact-message checks did not match. Build the object
in memory, like unit-custom-array-type.cpp does.

Signed-off-by: Niels Lohmann <mail@nlohmann.me>

---------

Signed-off-by: Niels Lohmann <mail@nlohmann.me>
Co-authored-by: Muhammad Amir bin Mohamad Ghazaly <amirghaz@umich.edu>

docs/mkdocs/docs/api/macros/index.md

@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@ header. See also the [macro overview page](../../features/macros.md).
 - [**JSON_DISABLE_ENUM_SERIALIZATION**](json_disable_enum_serialization.md) - switch off default serialization/deserialization functions for enums
 - [**JSON_DISABLE_TUPLE_REFERENCE_CONVERSION**](json_disable_tuple_reference_conversion.md) - switch off conversion from a one-element tuple of a JSON reference
 - [**JSON_USE_IMPLICIT_CONVERSIONS**](json_use_implicit_conversions.md) - control implicit conversions
+- [**JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS**](json_use_objects_for_enum_keyed_maps.md) - opt in to storing maps with enum
+  keys as objects
 
 ## Comparison behavior
 

docs/mkdocs/docs/api/macros/json_use_objects_for_enum_keyed_maps.md

@@ -0,0 +1,139 @@
+# JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS
+
+```cpp
+#define JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS /* value */
+```
+
+When defined to `1`, maps whose keys are enums (such as `std::map<E, T>` or `std::unordered_map<E, T>`) are stored as
+JSON objects, using the enum's own conversion for the keys. By default, they are stored as arrays of `[key, value]`
+pairs.
+
+## Default definition
+
+The default value is `0` (disabled — existing behavior is preserved).
+
+```cpp
+#define JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS 0
+```
+
+## Notes
+
+!!! note "Background"
+
+    JSON object keys are strings, so a map is only stored as an object if its keys can be converted to a string type.
+    Enums are not, even if [`NLOHMANN_JSON_SERIALIZE_ENUM`](nlohmann_json_serialize_enum.md) maps them to strings, so a
+    map with enum keys becomes an array of `[key, value]` pairs:
+
+    ```json
+    [["stopped", "aa"], ["completed", "bb"]]
+    ```
+
+    With this macro, the same map becomes an object
+    (see [#4378](https://github.com/nlohmann/json/issues/4378)):
+
+    ```json
+    {"completed": "bb", "stopped": "aa"}
+    ```
+
+!!! note "Maps with non-unique keys"
+
+    Maps that allow duplicate keys, such as `std::multimap<E, T>` or `std::unordered_multimap<E, T>`, are not affected
+    by the macro and are still stored as arrays of `[key, value]` pairs, as an object cannot hold duplicate keys.
+
+!!! note "Reading"
+
+    Reading is not affected by the macro: a map with enum keys can always be read from both an array of pairs and an
+    object. For the latter, each key is converted to the enum with its `from_json` function, e.g., the one defined by
+    [`NLOHMANN_JSON_SERIALIZE_ENUM`](nlohmann_json_serialize_enum.md). Data written without the macro can therefore
+    still be read after enabling it.
+
+!!! warning "Keys must serialize to distinct strings"
+
+    Each key is converted with the enum's `to_json` function. If a key is not converted to a string (for instance, an
+    enum without [`NLOHMANN_JSON_SERIALIZE_ENUM`](nlohmann_json_serialize_enum.md), which is stored as an integer, or an
+    enumerator mapped to `nullptr`), [`type_error.302`](../../home/exceptions.md#jsonexceptiontype_error302) is thrown.
+    If two keys are converted to the same string (for instance, because
+    [`NLOHMANN_JSON_SERIALIZE_ENUM`](nlohmann_json_serialize_enum.md) maps an unlisted enumerator to the first entry),
+    [`type_error.318`](../../home/exceptions.md#jsonexceptiontype_error318) is thrown. In both cases, the target value
+    is not changed.
+
+!!! warning "Opt-in only"
+
+    This macro must be defined **before** including `<nlohmann/json.hpp>`. Defining it after the include has no effect.
+
+!!! note "ABI compatibility"
+
+    The value of this macro is encoded in the [namespace](../../features/namespace.md) (tag `_ekmo`), resulting in
+    distinct symbol names. Translation units compiled with and without it can therefore be linked into the same program
+    without One Definition Rule (ODR) violations, but they cannot exchange instances of library types.
+
+## Examples
+
+??? example "Default behavior (macro not defined)"
+
+    Without the macro, a map with enum keys is stored as an array of pairs:
+
+    ```cpp
+    #include <map>
+    #include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
+
+    using json = nlohmann::json;
+
+    enum TaskState { TS_STOPPED, TS_RUNNING, TS_COMPLETED };
+
+    NLOHMANN_JSON_SERIALIZE_ENUM(TaskState, {
+        {TS_STOPPED, "stopped"},
+        {TS_RUNNING, "running"},
+        {TS_COMPLETED, "completed"},
+    })
+
+    int main()
+    {
+        std::map<TaskState, std::string> m = {{TS_STOPPED, "aa"}, {TS_COMPLETED, "bb"}};
+
+        json j = m;
+        // j is [["stopped","aa"],["completed","bb"]]
+    }
+    ```
+
+??? example "Objects for enum-keyed maps (macro defined to 1)"
+
+    With the macro, the same map is stored as an object:
+
+    ```cpp
+    #define JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS 1
+    #include <map>
+    #include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
+
+    using json = nlohmann::json;
+
+    enum TaskState { TS_STOPPED, TS_RUNNING, TS_COMPLETED };
+
+    NLOHMANN_JSON_SERIALIZE_ENUM(TaskState, {
+        {TS_STOPPED, "stopped"},
+        {TS_RUNNING, "running"},
+        {TS_COMPLETED, "completed"},
+    })
+
+    int main()
+    {
+        std::map<TaskState, std::string> m = {{TS_STOPPED, "aa"}, {TS_COMPLETED, "bb"}};
+
+        json j = m;
+        // j is {"completed":"bb","stopped":"aa"}
+
+        auto m2 = j.get<std::map<TaskState, std::string>>();
+        // m2 == m
+    }
+    ```
+
+## See also
+
+- [Specializing enum conversion](../../features/enum_conversion.md)
+- [**NLOHMANN_JSON_SERIALIZE_ENUM**](nlohmann_json_serialize_enum.md) - serialize/deserialize an enum
+- [**NLOHMANN_JSON_SERIALIZE_ENUM_STRICT**](nlohmann_json_serialize_enum_strict.md) - serialize/deserialize an enum with
+  exceptions
+
+## Version history
+
+- Added in version 3.13.0.

docs/mkdocs/docs/api/macros/nlohmann_json_serialize_enum.md

@@ -41,6 +41,9 @@ inline void from_json(const BasicJsonType& j, type& e);
       conversion. Select this default pair carefully. See example 1 below.
     - If an enum or JSON value is specified in multiple conversions, the first matching conversion from the top of the
       list will be returned when converting to or from JSON. See example 2 below.
+    - Maps with enum keys (e.g., `std::map<ENUM_TYPE, T>`) are stored as arrays of `[key, value]` pairs by default.
+      Define [`JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS`](json_use_objects_for_enum_keyed_maps.md) to store them as objects
+      with the converted keys. Such maps can be read from both forms.
 
 ## Examples
 
@@ -80,6 +83,7 @@ inline void from_json(const BasicJsonType& j, type& e);
 - [Specializing enum conversion](../../features/enum_conversion.md)
 - [`NLOHMANN_JSON_SERIALIZE_ENUM_STRICT`](./nlohmann_json_serialize_enum_strict.md)
 - [`JSON_DISABLE_ENUM_SERIALIZATION`](json_disable_enum_serialization.md)
+- [`JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS`](json_use_objects_for_enum_keyed_maps.md)
 
 ## Version history
 

docs/mkdocs/docs/api/macros/nlohmann_json_serialize_enum_strict.md

@@ -44,6 +44,9 @@ inline void from_json(const BasicJsonType& j, type& e);
       `"enum value out of range for <type>"`.
     - If an enum or JSON value is specified in multiple conversions, the first matching conversion from the top of the
       list will be returned when converting to or from JSON. See example 2 below.
+    - Maps with enum keys (e.g., `std::map<ENUM_TYPE, T>`) are stored as arrays of `[key, value]` pairs by default.
+      Define [`JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS`](json_use_objects_for_enum_keyed_maps.md) to store them as objects
+      with the converted keys. Such maps can be read from both forms.
 
 ## Examples
 
@@ -99,6 +102,7 @@ inline void from_json(const BasicJsonType& j, type& e);
 - [Specializing enum conversion](../../features/enum_conversion.md)
 - [`NLOHMANN_JSON_SERIALIZE_ENUM`](./nlohmann_json_serialize_enum.md)
 - [`JSON_DISABLE_ENUM_SERIALIZATION`](json_disable_enum_serialization.md)
+- [`JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS`](json_use_objects_for_enum_keyed_maps.md)
 
 ## Version history
 

docs/mkdocs/docs/features/enum_conversion.md

@@ -58,6 +58,23 @@ assert(jPi.get<TaskState>() == TS_INVALID );
     --8<-- "examples/nlohmann_json_serialize_enum.output"
     ```
 
+## Maps with enum keys
+
+By default, maps with enum keys, such as `std::map<TaskState, std::string>`, are stored as arrays of `[key, value]`
+pairs, because JSON object keys must be strings. Define
+[`JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS`](../api/macros/json_use_objects_for_enum_keyed_maps.md) before including the
+library to store them as objects, with the keys converted by the enum's `to_json()` function:
+
+```cpp
+std::map<TaskState, std::string> m = {{TS_STOPPED, "aa"}, {TS_COMPLETED, "bb"}};
+
+json j = m;
+// default:                                   [["stopped","aa"],["completed","bb"]]
+// with JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS: {"completed":"bb","stopped":"aa"}
+```
+
+Either form can be read back, with or without the macro.
+
 ## Notes
 
 Just as in [Arbitrary Type Conversions](arbitrary_types.md) above,

docs/mkdocs/docs/features/macros.md

@@ -198,6 +198,13 @@ default.
 
 See [full documentation of `JSON_USE_LEGACY_DISCARDED_VALUE_COMPARISON`](../api/macros/json_use_legacy_discarded_value_comparison.md).
 
+## `JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS`
+
+When defined to `1`, maps with enum keys (e.g., `std::map<E, T>`) are stored as objects, using the enum's conversion for
+the keys, instead of arrays of `[key, value]` pairs. It is switched off (`0`) by default.
+
+See [full documentation of `JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS`](../api/macros/json_use_objects_for_enum_keyed_maps.md).
+
 ## `JSON_USE_SIMDUTF`
 
 When defined, UTF-8 validation of JSON strings read from contiguous byte input is delegated to the

docs/mkdocs/docs/features/namespace.md

@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ The complete default namespace name is derived as follows:
     - [`JSON_PRECISE_STREAM_POSITION`](../api/macros/json_precise_stream_position.md) defined non-zero appends `_psp`.
     - [`JSON_STRICT_NUL_HANDLING`](../api/macros/json_strict_nul_handling.md) defined non-zero appends `_snul`.
     - [`JSON_STRICT_BINARY_UTF8`](../api/macros/json_strict_binary_utf8.md) defined non-zero appends `_sbu8`.
+    - [`JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS`](../api/macros/json_use_objects_for_enum_keyed_maps.md) defined non-zero
+      appends `_ekmo`.
 - The inline namespace ends with the suffix `_v` followed by the 3 components of the version number separated by
   underscores. To omit the version component, see [Disabling the version component](#disabling-the-version-component)
   below.

docs/mkdocs/docs/home/exceptions.md

@@ -596,6 +596,9 @@ During implicit or explicit value conversion, the JSON type must be compatible w
     [json.exception.type_error.302] type must be string, but is object
     ```
 
+This exception is also thrown with [`JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS`](../api/macros/json_use_objects_for_enum_keyed_maps.md)
+if a key of a map with enum keys is not converted to a string, for instance, because the enum is stored as an integer.
+
 ### json.exception.type_error.303
 
 To retrieve a reference to a value stored in a `basic_json` object with `get_ref`, the type of the reference must match the value type. For instance, for a JSON array, the `ReferenceType` must be `array_t &`.
@@ -788,6 +791,19 @@ The dynamic type of the object cannot be represented in the requested serializat
 
     Encapsulate the JSON value in an object. That is, instead of serializing `#!json true`, serialize `#!json {"value": true}`
 
+### json.exception.type_error.318
+
+With [`JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS`](../api/macros/json_use_objects_for_enum_keyed_maps.md), a map with enum
+keys is stored as an object. This exception is thrown if two of its keys are converted to the same string, so one of the
+entries would be lost. This happens, for instance, if [`NLOHMANN_JSON_SERIALIZE_ENUM`](../api/macros/nlohmann_json_serialize_enum.md)
+does not list an enumerator and it is therefore converted like the first listed one.
+
+!!! failure "Example message"
+
+    ```
+    [json.exception.type_error.318] duplicate object key 'red'
+    ```
+
 ## Out of range
 
 This exception is thrown in case a library function is called on an input parameter that exceeds the expected range, for instance, in the case of array indices or nonexisting object keys.

docs/mkdocs/mkdocs.yml

@@ -313,6 +313,7 @@ nav:
           - 'JSON_USE_GLOBAL_UDLS': api/macros/json_use_global_udls.md
           - 'JSON_USE_IMPLICIT_CONVERSIONS': api/macros/json_use_implicit_conversions.md
           - 'JSON_USE_LEGACY_DISCARDED_VALUE_COMPARISON': api/macros/json_use_legacy_discarded_value_comparison.md
+          - 'JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS': api/macros/json_use_objects_for_enum_keyed_maps.md
           - 'JSON_USE_SIMDUTF': api/macros/json_use_simdutf.md
           - 'NLOHMANN_DEFINE_DERIVED_TYPE_INTRUSIVE, NLOHMANN_DEFINE_DERIVED_TYPE_INTRUSIVE_WITH_DEFAULT, NLOHMANN_DEFINE_DERIVED_TYPE_INTRUSIVE_ONLY_SERIALIZE, NLOHMANN_DEFINE_DERIVED_TYPE_NON_INTRUSIVE, NLOHMANN_DEFINE_DERIVED_TYPE_NON_INTRUSIVE_WITH_DEFAULT, NLOHMANN_DEFINE_DERIVED_TYPE_NON_INTRUSIVE_ONLY_SERIALIZE': api/macros/nlohmann_define_derived_type.md
           - 'NLOHMANN_DEFINE_TYPE_INTRUSIVE, NLOHMANN_DEFINE_TYPE_INTRUSIVE_WITH_DEFAULT, NLOHMANN_DEFINE_TYPE_INTRUSIVE_ONLY_SERIALIZE': api/macros/nlohmann_define_type_intrusive.md

include/nlohmann/detail/abi_macros.hpp

@@ -50,6 +50,10 @@
     #define JSON_STRICT_BINARY_UTF8 0
 #endif
 
+#ifndef JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS
+    #define JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS 0
+#endif
+
 #if JSON_DIAGNOSTICS
     #define NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAG_DIAGNOSTICS _diag
 #else
@@ -92,14 +96,20 @@
     #define NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAG_STRICT_BINARY_UTF8
 #endif
 
+#if JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS
+    #define NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAG_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS _ekmo
+#else
+    #define NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAG_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS
+#endif
+
 #ifndef NLOHMANN_JSON_NAMESPACE_NO_VERSION
     #define NLOHMANN_JSON_NAMESPACE_NO_VERSION 0
 #endif
 
 // Construct the namespace ABI tags component
-#define NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAGS_CONCAT_EX(a, b, c, d, e, f, g) json_abi ## a ## b ## c ## d ## e ## f ## g
-#define NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAGS_CONCAT(a, b, c, d, e, f, g) \
-    NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAGS_CONCAT_EX(a, b, c, d, e, f, g)
+#define NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAGS_CONCAT_EX(a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h) json_abi ## a ## b ## c ## d ## e ## f ## g ## h
+#define NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAGS_CONCAT(a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h) \
+    NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAGS_CONCAT_EX(a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h)
 
 #define NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAGS                                       \
     NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAGS_CONCAT(                                   \
@@ -109,7 +119,8 @@
             NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAG_BRACE_INIT_COPY_SEMANTICS,         \
             NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAG_PRECISE_STREAM_POSITION,           \
             NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAG_STRICT_NUL_HANDLING,               \
-            NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAG_STRICT_BINARY_UTF8)
+            NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAG_STRICT_BINARY_UTF8,                \
+            NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAG_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS)
 
 // Construct the namespace version component
 #define NLOHMANN_JSON_NAMESPACE_VERSION_CONCAT_EX(major, minor, patch) \

include/nlohmann/detail/conversions/from_json.hpp

@@ -530,11 +530,40 @@ void from_json_pair_array_to_map(const BasicJsonType& j, MapType& m)
     }
 }
 
+// read a map with enum keys from an object, using the enum's own from_json for
+// the keys (e.g., from NLOHMANN_JSON_SERIALIZE_ENUM); this is the form written
+// with JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS
+template<typename BasicJsonType, typename Map>
+inline bool from_json_enum_keyed_object(const BasicJsonType& j, Map& m, std::true_type /*key is enum*/)
+{
+    if (!j.is_object())
+    {
+        return false;
+    }
+    m.clear();
+    for (const auto& p : *j.template get_ptr<const typename BasicJsonType::object_t*>())
+    {
+        m.emplace(BasicJsonType(p.first).template get<typename Map::key_type>(), p.second.template get<typename Map::mapped_type>());
+    }
+    return true;
+}
+
+template<typename BasicJsonType, typename Map>
+inline bool from_json_enum_keyed_object(const BasicJsonType& /*j*/, Map& /*m*/, std::false_type /*key is enum*/)
+{
+    return false;
+}
+
 template < typename BasicJsonType, typename Key, typename Value, typename Compare, typename Allocator,
            typename = enable_if_t < !std::is_constructible <
                                         typename BasicJsonType::string_t, Key >::value >>
 void from_json(const BasicJsonType& j, std::map<Key, Value, Compare, Allocator>& m)
 {
+    // NOLINTNEXTLINE(modernize-type-traits) we use C++11
+    if (from_json_enum_keyed_object(j, m, std::is_enum<Key> {}))
+    {
+        return;
+    }
     from_json_pair_array_to_map(j, m);
 }
 
@@ -543,6 +572,11 @@ template < typename BasicJsonType, typename Key, typename Value, typename Hash,
                                         typename BasicJsonType::string_t, Key >::value >>
 void from_json(const BasicJsonType& j, std::unordered_map<Key, Value, Hash, KeyEqual, Allocator>& m)
 {
+    // NOLINTNEXTLINE(modernize-type-traits) we use C++11
+    if (from_json_enum_keyed_object(j, m, std::is_enum<Key> {}))
+    {
+        return;
+    }
     from_json_pair_array_to_map(j, m);
 }
 

include/nlohmann/detail/conversions/to_json.hpp

@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #include <valarray> // valarray
 #include <vector> // vector
 
+#include <nlohmann/detail/exceptions.hpp>
 #include <nlohmann/detail/iterators/iteration_proxy.hpp>
 #include <nlohmann/detail/meta/cpp_future.hpp>
 #include <nlohmann/detail/meta/std_fs.hpp>
@@ -384,6 +385,9 @@ template < typename BasicJsonType, typename CompatibleArrayType,
                          !is_basic_json<CompatibleArrayType>::value
 #if JSON_HAS_RANGE_VIEW_CONVERSION
     && !is_compatible_range_view<CompatibleArrayType>::value
+#endif
+#if JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS
+    && !is_enum_keyed_map<CompatibleArrayType>::value
 #endif
                          ,
                          int > = 0 >
@@ -438,6 +442,33 @@ inline void to_json(BasicJsonType& j, const CompatibleObjectType& obj)
     external_constructor<value_t::object>::construct(j, obj);
 }
 
+#if JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS
+// store a map with enum keys as an object, using the enum's own to_json for the
+// keys (e.g., from NLOHMANN_JSON_SERIALIZE_ENUM); without the macro, such maps
+// are stored as arrays of [key, value] pairs
+template < typename BasicJsonType, typename EnumKeyedMap,
+           enable_if_t < is_enum_keyed_map<EnumKeyedMap>::value&& !is_basic_json<EnumKeyedMap>::value, int > = 0 >
+inline void to_json(BasicJsonType& j, const EnumKeyedMap& map)
+{
+    typename BasicJsonType::object_t obj;
+    for (const auto& p : map)
+    {
+        BasicJsonType key = p.first;
+        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!key.is_string()))
+        {
+            JSON_THROW(type_error::create(302, concat("type must be string, but is ", key.type_name()), &key));
+        }
+
+        auto& key_string = *key.template get_ptr<typename BasicJsonType::string_t*>();
+        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!obj.emplace(key_string, BasicJsonType(p.second)).second))
+        {
+            JSON_THROW(type_error::create(318, concat("duplicate object key '", key_string, "'"), &key));
+        }
+    }
+    external_constructor<value_t::object>::construct(j, std::move(obj));
+}
+#endif
+
 template<typename BasicJsonType>
 inline void to_json(BasicJsonType& j, typename BasicJsonType::object_t&& obj)
 {

include/nlohmann/detail/macro_unscope.hpp

@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@
     #undef JSON_PRECISE_STREAM_POSITION
     #undef JSON_STRICT_NUL_HANDLING
     #undef JSON_STRICT_BINARY_UTF8
+    #undef JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS
 #endif
 
 #include <nlohmann/thirdparty/hedley/hedley_undef.hpp>

include/nlohmann/detail/meta/type_traits.hpp

@@ -438,6 +438,30 @@ template<typename BasicJsonType, typename CompatibleObjectType>
 struct is_compatible_object_type
     : is_compatible_object_type_impl<BasicJsonType, CompatibleObjectType> {};
 
+template<typename T>
+using insert_result_t = decltype(std::declval<T&>().insert(std::declval<const value_type_t<T>&>()));
+
+template<typename T>
+using insert_result_second_t = decltype(std::declval<T&>().insert(std::declval<const value_type_t<T>&>()).second);
+
+// a map-like type (std::map, std::unordered_map, ...) whose keys are enums; see
+// JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS
+template<typename T, typename = void>
+struct is_enum_keyed_map : std::false_type {};
+
+template<typename T>
+struct is_enum_keyed_map <
+    T, enable_if_t < is_detected<mapped_type_t, T>::value&&
+    is_detected<key_type_t, T>::value >>
+{
+    // maps with non-unique keys (std::multimap, std::unordered_multimap, ...)
+    // are excluded, because an object cannot hold duplicate keys; they are
+    // detected by insert() returning an iterator instead of a pair<iterator, bool>
+    // NOLINTNEXTLINE(modernize-type-traits) we use C++11
+    static constexpr bool value = std::is_enum<typename T::key_type>::value &&
+                                  !(is_detected<insert_result_t, T>::value && !is_detected<insert_result_second_t, T>::value);
+};
+
 template<typename BasicJsonType, typename ConstructibleObjectType,
          typename = void>
 struct is_constructible_object_type_impl : std::false_type {};

single_include/nlohmann/json.hpp

@@ -108,6 +108,10 @@
     #define JSON_STRICT_BINARY_UTF8 0
 #endif
 
+#ifndef JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS
+    #define JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS 0
+#endif
+
 #if JSON_DIAGNOSTICS
     #define NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAG_DIAGNOSTICS _diag
 #else
@@ -150,14 +154,20 @@
     #define NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAG_STRICT_BINARY_UTF8
 #endif
 
+#if JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS
+    #define NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAG_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS _ekmo
+#else
+    #define NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAG_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS
+#endif
+
 #ifndef NLOHMANN_JSON_NAMESPACE_NO_VERSION
     #define NLOHMANN_JSON_NAMESPACE_NO_VERSION 0
 #endif
 
 // Construct the namespace ABI tags component
-#define NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAGS_CONCAT_EX(a, b, c, d, e, f, g) json_abi ## a ## b ## c ## d ## e ## f ## g
-#define NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAGS_CONCAT(a, b, c, d, e, f, g) \
-    NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAGS_CONCAT_EX(a, b, c, d, e, f, g)
+#define NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAGS_CONCAT_EX(a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h) json_abi ## a ## b ## c ## d ## e ## f ## g ## h
+#define NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAGS_CONCAT(a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h) \
+    NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAGS_CONCAT_EX(a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h)
 
 #define NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAGS                                       \
     NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAGS_CONCAT(                                   \
@@ -167,7 +177,8 @@
             NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAG_BRACE_INIT_COPY_SEMANTICS,         \
             NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAG_PRECISE_STREAM_POSITION,           \
             NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAG_STRICT_NUL_HANDLING,               \
-            NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAG_STRICT_BINARY_UTF8)
+            NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAG_STRICT_BINARY_UTF8,                \
+            NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAG_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS)
 
 // Construct the namespace version component
 #define NLOHMANN_JSON_NAMESPACE_VERSION_CONCAT_EX(major, minor, patch) \
@@ -4422,6 +4433,30 @@ template<typename BasicJsonType, typename CompatibleObjectType>
 struct is_compatible_object_type
     : is_compatible_object_type_impl<BasicJsonType, CompatibleObjectType> {};
 
+template<typename T>
+using insert_result_t = decltype(std::declval<T&>().insert(std::declval<const value_type_t<T>&>()));
+
+template<typename T>
+using insert_result_second_t = decltype(std::declval<T&>().insert(std::declval<const value_type_t<T>&>()).second);
+
+// a map-like type (std::map, std::unordered_map, ...) whose keys are enums; see
+// JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS
+template<typename T, typename = void>
+struct is_enum_keyed_map : std::false_type {};
+
+template<typename T>
+struct is_enum_keyed_map <
+    T, enable_if_t < is_detected<mapped_type_t, T>::value&&
+    is_detected<key_type_t, T>::value >>
+{
+    // maps with non-unique keys (std::multimap, std::unordered_multimap, ...)
+    // are excluded, because an object cannot hold duplicate keys; they are
+    // detected by insert() returning an iterator instead of a pair<iterator, bool>
+    // NOLINTNEXTLINE(modernize-type-traits) we use C++11
+    static constexpr bool value = std::is_enum<typename T::key_type>::value &&
+                                  !(is_detected<insert_result_t, T>::value && !is_detected<insert_result_second_t, T>::value);
+};
+
 template<typename BasicJsonType, typename ConstructibleObjectType,
          typename = void>
 struct is_constructible_object_type_impl : std::false_type {};
@@ -6019,11 +6054,40 @@ void from_json_pair_array_to_map(const BasicJsonType& j, MapType& m)
     }
 }
 
+// read a map with enum keys from an object, using the enum's own from_json for
+// the keys (e.g., from NLOHMANN_JSON_SERIALIZE_ENUM); this is the form written
+// with JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS
+template<typename BasicJsonType, typename Map>
+inline bool from_json_enum_keyed_object(const BasicJsonType& j, Map& m, std::true_type /*key is enum*/)
+{
+    if (!j.is_object())
+    {
+        return false;
+    }
+    m.clear();
+    for (const auto& p : *j.template get_ptr<const typename BasicJsonType::object_t*>())
+    {
+        m.emplace(BasicJsonType(p.first).template get<typename Map::key_type>(), p.second.template get<typename Map::mapped_type>());
+    }
+    return true;
+}
+
+template<typename BasicJsonType, typename Map>
+inline bool from_json_enum_keyed_object(const BasicJsonType& /*j*/, Map& /*m*/, std::false_type /*key is enum*/)
+{
+    return false;
+}
+
 template < typename BasicJsonType, typename Key, typename Value, typename Compare, typename Allocator,
            typename = enable_if_t < !std::is_constructible <
                                         typename BasicJsonType::string_t, Key >::value >>
 void from_json(const BasicJsonType& j, std::map<Key, Value, Compare, Allocator>& m)
 {
+    // NOLINTNEXTLINE(modernize-type-traits) we use C++11
+    if (from_json_enum_keyed_object(j, m, std::is_enum<Key> {}))
+    {
+        return;
+    }
     from_json_pair_array_to_map(j, m);
 }
 
@@ -6032,6 +6096,11 @@ template < typename BasicJsonType, typename Key, typename Value, typename Hash,
                                         typename BasicJsonType::string_t, Key >::value >>
 void from_json(const BasicJsonType& j, std::unordered_map<Key, Value, Hash, KeyEqual, Allocator>& m)
 {
+    // NOLINTNEXTLINE(modernize-type-traits) we use C++11
+    if (from_json_enum_keyed_object(j, m, std::is_enum<Key> {}))
+    {
+        return;
+    }
     from_json_pair_array_to_map(j, m);
 }
 
@@ -6115,6 +6184,8 @@ NLOHMANN_JSON_NAMESPACE_END
 #include <valarray> // valarray
 #include <vector> // vector
 
+// #include <nlohmann/detail/exceptions.hpp>
+
 // #include <nlohmann/detail/iterators/iteration_proxy.hpp>
 //     __ _____ _____ _____
 //  __|  |   __|     |   | |  JSON for Modern C++
@@ -7089,6 +7160,9 @@ template < typename BasicJsonType, typename CompatibleArrayType,
                          !is_basic_json<CompatibleArrayType>::value
 #if JSON_HAS_RANGE_VIEW_CONVERSION
     && !is_compatible_range_view<CompatibleArrayType>::value
+#endif
+#if JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS
+    && !is_enum_keyed_map<CompatibleArrayType>::value
 #endif
                          ,
                          int > = 0 >
@@ -7143,6 +7217,33 @@ inline void to_json(BasicJsonType& j, const CompatibleObjectType& obj)
     external_constructor<value_t::object>::construct(j, obj);
 }
 
+#if JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS
+// store a map with enum keys as an object, using the enum's own to_json for the
+// keys (e.g., from NLOHMANN_JSON_SERIALIZE_ENUM); without the macro, such maps
+// are stored as arrays of [key, value] pairs
+template < typename BasicJsonType, typename EnumKeyedMap,
+           enable_if_t < is_enum_keyed_map<EnumKeyedMap>::value&& !is_basic_json<EnumKeyedMap>::value, int > = 0 >
+inline void to_json(BasicJsonType& j, const EnumKeyedMap& map)
+{
+    typename BasicJsonType::object_t obj;
+    for (const auto& p : map)
+    {
+        BasicJsonType key = p.first;
+        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!key.is_string()))
+        {
+            JSON_THROW(type_error::create(302, concat("type must be string, but is ", key.type_name()), &key));
+        }
+
+        auto& key_string = *key.template get_ptr<typename BasicJsonType::string_t*>();
+        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!obj.emplace(key_string, BasicJsonType(p.second)).second))
+        {
+            JSON_THROW(type_error::create(318, concat("duplicate object key '", key_string, "'"), &key));
+        }
+    }
+    external_constructor<value_t::object>::construct(j, std::move(obj));
+}
+#endif
+
 template<typename BasicJsonType>
 inline void to_json(BasicJsonType& j, typename BasicJsonType::object_t&& obj)
 {
@@ -34266,6 +34367,7 @@ struct formatter<nlohmann::NLOHMANN_BASIC_JSON_TPL, char> // NOLINT(cert-dcl58-c
     #undef JSON_PRECISE_STREAM_POSITION
     #undef JSON_STRICT_NUL_HANDLING
     #undef JSON_STRICT_BINARY_UTF8
+    #undef JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS
 #endif
 
 // #include <nlohmann/thirdparty/hedley/hedley_undef.hpp>

single_include/nlohmann/json_fwd.hpp

@@ -67,6 +67,10 @@
     #define JSON_STRICT_BINARY_UTF8 0
 #endif
 
+#ifndef JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS
+    #define JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS 0
+#endif
+
 #if JSON_DIAGNOSTICS
     #define NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAG_DIAGNOSTICS _diag
 #else
@@ -109,14 +113,20 @@
     #define NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAG_STRICT_BINARY_UTF8
 #endif
 
+#if JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS
+    #define NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAG_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS _ekmo
+#else
+    #define NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAG_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS
+#endif
+
 #ifndef NLOHMANN_JSON_NAMESPACE_NO_VERSION
     #define NLOHMANN_JSON_NAMESPACE_NO_VERSION 0
 #endif
 
 // Construct the namespace ABI tags component
-#define NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAGS_CONCAT_EX(a, b, c, d, e, f, g) json_abi ## a ## b ## c ## d ## e ## f ## g
-#define NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAGS_CONCAT(a, b, c, d, e, f, g) \
-    NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAGS_CONCAT_EX(a, b, c, d, e, f, g)
+#define NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAGS_CONCAT_EX(a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h) json_abi ## a ## b ## c ## d ## e ## f ## g ## h
+#define NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAGS_CONCAT(a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h) \
+    NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAGS_CONCAT_EX(a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h)
 
 #define NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAGS                                       \
     NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAGS_CONCAT(                                   \
@@ -126,7 +136,8 @@
             NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAG_BRACE_INIT_COPY_SEMANTICS,         \
             NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAG_PRECISE_STREAM_POSITION,           \
             NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAG_STRICT_NUL_HANDLING,               \
-            NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAG_STRICT_BINARY_UTF8)
+            NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAG_STRICT_BINARY_UTF8,                \
+            NLOHMANN_JSON_ABI_TAG_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS)
 
 // Construct the namespace version component
 #define NLOHMANN_JSON_NAMESPACE_VERSION_CONCAT_EX(major, minor, patch) \

tests/abi/config/default.cpp

@@ -48,6 +48,10 @@ TEST_CASE("default namespace")
         expected += "_sbu8";
 #endif
 
+#if JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS
+        expected += "_ekmo";
+#endif
+
         expected += "_v" STRINGIZE(NLOHMANN_JSON_VERSION_MAJOR);
         expected += "_" STRINGIZE(NLOHMANN_JSON_VERSION_MINOR);
         expected += "_" STRINGIZE(NLOHMANN_JSON_VERSION_PATCH) "::basic_json";

tests/abi/config/noversion.cpp

@@ -49,6 +49,10 @@ TEST_CASE("default namespace without version component")
         expected += "_sbu8";
 #endif
 
+#if JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS
+        expected += "_ekmo";
+#endif
+
         expected += "::basic_json";
 
         // fallback for Clang

tests/src/unit-enum_keyed_maps.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,246 @@
+//     __ _____ _____ _____
+//  __|  |   __|     |   | |  JSON for Modern C++ (supporting code)
+// |  |  |__   |  |  | | | |  version 3.12.0
+// |_____|_____|_____|_|___|  https://github.com/nlohmann/json
+//
+// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2013-2026 Niels Lohmann <https://nlohmann.me>
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+
+#include "doctest_compatibility.h"
+
+// skip tests if JSON_DisableEnumSerialization=ON (#4384)
+#if defined(JSON_DISABLE_ENUM_SERIALIZATION) && (JSON_DISABLE_ENUM_SERIALIZATION == 1)
+    #define SKIP_TESTS_FOR_ENUM_SERIALIZATION
+#endif
+
+// This file tests the opt-in JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS, so it defines
+// the macro itself rather than relying on a -D flag, and runs in every build.
+// The default behavior is tested in unit-enum_keyed_maps_default.cpp.
+#ifdef JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS
+    #undef JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS
+#endif
+
+#define JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS 1
+
+#include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
+using nlohmann::json;
+using nlohmann::ordered_json;
+
+#include <cstddef>
+#include <functional>
+#include <map>
+#include <string>
+#include <unordered_map>
+#include <utility>
+#include <vector>
+
+#define STRINGIZE_EX(x) #x
+#define STRINGIZE(x) STRINGIZE_EX(x)
+
+// NLOHMANN_JSON_SERIALIZE_ENUM uses a static std::pair
+DOCTEST_CLANG_SUPPRESS_WARNING_PUSH
+DOCTEST_CLANG_SUPPRESS_WARNING("-Wexit-time-destructors")
+
+namespace
+{
+// std::hash is only required for enums since C++14
+struct enum_hash
+{
+    template<typename T>
+    std::size_t operator()(T t) const noexcept
+    {
+        return static_cast<std::size_t>(t);
+    }
+};
+} // namespace
+
+// the example from #4378
+enum TaskState // NOLINT(cert-int09-c,readability-enum-initial-value,cppcoreguidelines-use-enum-class)
+{
+    TS_STOPPED,
+    TS_RUNNING,
+    TS_COMPLETED,
+    TS_INVALID = -1,
+};
+
+// NOLINTNEXTLINE(misc-const-correctness,misc-use-internal-linkage,cppcoreguidelines-avoid-c-arrays,hicpp-avoid-c-arrays,modernize-avoid-c-arrays) - false positive
+NLOHMANN_JSON_SERIALIZE_ENUM(TaskState,
+{
+    {TS_INVALID, nullptr},
+    {TS_STOPPED, "stopped"},
+    {TS_RUNNING, "running"},
+    {TS_COMPLETED, "completed"},
+})
+
+enum class color {red, green, blue}; // blue is not mapped and falls back to "red"
+
+// NOLINTNEXTLINE(misc-const-correctness,misc-use-internal-linkage,cppcoreguidelines-avoid-c-arrays,hicpp-avoid-c-arrays,modernize-avoid-c-arrays) - false positive
+NLOHMANN_JSON_SERIALIZE_ENUM(color,
+{
+    {color::red, "red"},
+    {color::green, "green"},
+})
+
+enum class strict_color {red, green, blue}; // blue is not mapped
+
+// NOLINTNEXTLINE(misc-const-correctness,misc-use-internal-linkage,cppcoreguidelines-avoid-c-arrays,hicpp-avoid-c-arrays,modernize-avoid-c-arrays) - false positive
+NLOHMANN_JSON_SERIALIZE_ENUM_STRICT(strict_color,
+{
+    {strict_color::red, "red"},
+    {strict_color::green, "green"},
+})
+
+enum class digit {zero, one};
+
+// NOLINTNEXTLINE(misc-const-correctness,misc-use-internal-linkage,cppcoreguidelines-avoid-c-arrays,hicpp-avoid-c-arrays,modernize-avoid-c-arrays) - false positive
+NLOHMANN_JSON_SERIALIZE_ENUM(digit,
+{
+    {digit::zero, 0},
+    {digit::one, 1},
+})
+
+#ifndef SKIP_TESTS_FOR_ENUM_SERIALIZATION
+enum class plain {zero, one}; // serialized as integer
+#endif
+
+TEST_CASE("JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS")
+{
+    SECTION("the macro is part of the ABI tag")
+    {
+        const std::string ns = STRINGIZE(NLOHMANN_JSON_NAMESPACE);
+        CHECK(ns.find("_ekmo") != std::string::npos);
+    }
+
+    SECTION("std::map (#4378)")
+    {
+        using task_map = std::map<TaskState, std::string>;
+        const task_map m = {{TS_STOPPED, "aa"}, {TS_COMPLETED, "bb"}};
+        const json j = m;
+        CHECK(j == json::parse(R"({"stopped":"aa","completed":"bb"})"));
+        CHECK(j.get<task_map>() == m);
+
+        json j2;
+        j2["x"] = m;
+        CHECK(j2.dump() == R"({"x":{"completed":"bb","stopped":"aa"}})");
+    }
+
+    SECTION("std::map with custom comparator")
+    {
+        using task_map = std::map<TaskState, int, std::greater<TaskState>>;
+        const task_map m = {{TS_STOPPED, 1}, {TS_RUNNING, 2}};
+        const json j = m;
+        CHECK(j == json::parse(R"({"stopped":1,"running":2})"));
+        CHECK(j.get<task_map>() == m);
+    }
+
+    SECTION("std::unordered_map")
+    {
+        using task_map = std::unordered_map<TaskState, int, enum_hash>;
+        const task_map m = {{TS_STOPPED, 1}, {TS_RUNNING, 2}};
+        const json j = m;
+        CHECK(j == json::parse(R"({"stopped":1,"running":2})"));
+        CHECK(j.get<task_map>() == m);
+    }
+
+    SECTION("nested maps")
+    {
+        using nested_map = std::map<color, std::map<TaskState, int>>;
+        const nested_map m = {{color::green, {{TS_RUNNING, 1}}}, {color::red, {}}};
+        const json j = m;
+        CHECK(j == json::parse(R"({"green":{"running":1},"red":{}})"));
+        CHECK(j.get<nested_map>() == m);
+    }
+
+    SECTION("ordered_json keeps the order of the map")
+    {
+        using task_map = std::map<TaskState, int>;
+        const task_map m = {{TS_STOPPED, 1}, {TS_RUNNING, 2}, {TS_COMPLETED, 3}};
+        const ordered_json j = m;
+        CHECK(j.dump() == R"({"stopped":1,"running":2,"completed":3})");
+        CHECK(j.get<task_map>() == m);
+    }
+
+    SECTION("empty map")
+    {
+        const json j = std::map<TaskState, int>();
+        CHECK(j.is_object());
+        CHECK(j.empty());
+    }
+
+    SECTION("NLOHMANN_JSON_SERIALIZE_ENUM_STRICT")
+    {
+        using color_map = std::map<strict_color, int>;
+        const color_map m = {{strict_color::red, 1}, {strict_color::green, 2}};
+        const json j = m;
+        CHECK(j == json::parse(R"({"red":1,"green":2})"));
+        CHECK(j.get<color_map>() == m);
+
+        const color_map unmapped = {{strict_color::blue, 1}};
+        json _;
+        CHECK_THROWS_WITH_AS(_ = unmapped,
+                             "[json.exception.out_of_range.410] enum value out of range for strict_color", json::out_of_range&);
+    }
+
+    SECTION("arrays of [key, value] pairs are still read")
+    {
+        using task_map = std::map<TaskState, int>;
+        const task_map m = {{TS_STOPPED, 1}};
+        CHECK(json::parse(R"([["stopped",1]])").get<task_map>() == m);
+    }
+
+    SECTION("other containers are not affected")
+    {
+        const std::vector<std::pair<TaskState, int>> pairs = {{TS_STOPPED, 1}};
+        const std::map<std::string, TaskState> string_keys = {{"a", TS_STOPPED}};
+        const std::map<int, int> int_keys = {{1, 2}};
+        CHECK(json(pairs) == json::parse(R"([["stopped",1]])"));
+        CHECK(json(string_keys) == json::parse(R"({"a":"stopped"})"));
+        CHECK(json(int_keys) == json::parse("[[1,2]]"));
+    }
+
+    SECTION("maps with non-unique keys are still stored as arrays of pairs")
+    {
+        const std::multimap<TaskState, int> mm = {{TS_STOPPED, 1}, {TS_STOPPED, 2}};
+        const std::unordered_multimap<TaskState, int, enum_hash> umm = {{TS_RUNNING, 3}, {TS_RUNNING, 3}};
+        CHECK(json(mm) == json::parse(R"([["stopped",1],["stopped",2]])"));
+        CHECK(json(umm) == json::parse(R"([["running",3],["running",3]])"));
+    }
+
+    SECTION("keys that do not serialize to strings")
+    {
+        const std::map<TaskState, int> null_key = {{TS_INVALID, 1}};
+        const std::map<digit, int> number_key = {{digit::zero, 1}};
+        json j = "unchanged";
+
+        // mapped to null
+        CHECK_THROWS_WITH_AS(j = null_key,
+                             "[json.exception.type_error.302] type must be string, but is null", json::type_error&);
+
+        // mapped to a number
+        CHECK_THROWS_WITH_AS(j = number_key,
+                             "[json.exception.type_error.302] type must be string, but is number", json::type_error&);
+
+#ifndef SKIP_TESTS_FOR_ENUM_SERIALIZATION
+        // enum without NLOHMANN_JSON_SERIALIZE_ENUM
+        const std::map<plain, int> plain_key = {{plain::zero, 1}};
+        CHECK_THROWS_WITH_AS(j = plain_key,
+                             "[json.exception.type_error.302] type must be string, but is number", json::type_error&);
+#endif
+
+        CHECK(j == "unchanged");
+    }
+
+    SECTION("keys that serialize to the same string")
+    {
+        const std::map<color, int> m = {{color::red, 1}, {color::blue, 2}};
+        json j = "unchanged";
+
+        // color::blue is not mapped and falls back to "red"
+        CHECK_THROWS_WITH_AS(j = m,
+                             "[json.exception.type_error.318] duplicate object key 'red'", json::type_error&);
+
+        CHECK(j == "unchanged");
+    }
+}
+
+DOCTEST_CLANG_SUPPRESS_WARNING_POP

tests/src/unit-enum_keyed_maps_default.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,144 @@
+//     __ _____ _____ _____
+//  __|  |   __|     |   | |  JSON for Modern C++ (supporting code)
+// |  |  |__   |  |  | | | |  version 3.12.0
+// |_____|_____|_____|_|___|  https://github.com/nlohmann/json
+//
+// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2013-2026 Niels Lohmann <https://nlohmann.me>
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+
+#include "doctest_compatibility.h"
+
+// This file tests maps with enum keys with the default setting of
+// JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS (or whatever a -D flag sets it to).
+// unit-enum_keyed_maps.cpp tests JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS=1.
+// These tests are not part of unit-conversions.cpp, because that object file
+// is already too big for the MinGW linker of some compilers.
+
+#include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
+using nlohmann::json;
+
+#include <cstddef>
+#include <functional>
+#include <map>
+#include <string>
+#include <unordered_map>
+
+// NLOHMANN_JSON_SERIALIZE_ENUM uses a static std::pair
+DOCTEST_CLANG_SUPPRESS_WARNING_PUSH
+DOCTEST_CLANG_SUPPRESS_WARNING("-Wexit-time-destructors")
+
+enum class cards {kreuz, pik, herz, karo};
+
+// NOLINTNEXTLINE(misc-use-internal-linkage,misc-const-correctness,cppcoreguidelines-avoid-c-arrays,hicpp-avoid-c-arrays,modernize-avoid-c-arrays) - false positive
+NLOHMANN_JSON_SERIALIZE_ENUM(cards,
+{
+    {cards::kreuz, "kreuz"},
+    {cards::pik, "pik"},
+    {cards::herz, "herz"},
+    {cards::karo, "karo"}
+})
+
+enum TaskState // NOLINT(cert-int09-c,readability-enum-initial-value,cppcoreguidelines-use-enum-class)
+{
+    TS_STOPPED,
+    TS_RUNNING,
+    TS_COMPLETED,
+    TS_INVALID = -1,
+};
+
+// NOLINTNEXTLINE(misc-const-correctness,misc-use-internal-linkage,cppcoreguidelines-avoid-c-arrays,hicpp-avoid-c-arrays,modernize-avoid-c-arrays) - false positive
+NLOHMANN_JSON_SERIALIZE_ENUM(TaskState,
+{
+    {TS_INVALID, nullptr},
+    {TS_STOPPED, "stopped"},
+    {TS_RUNNING, "running"},
+    {TS_COMPLETED, "completed"},
+})
+
+enum class strict_cards {kreuz, pik, herz, karo, andere}; // andere not included in mapping
+
+// NOLINTNEXTLINE(misc-use-internal-linkage,misc-const-correctness,cppcoreguidelines-avoid-c-arrays,hicpp-avoid-c-arrays,modernize-avoid-c-arrays) - false positive
+NLOHMANN_JSON_SERIALIZE_ENUM_STRICT(strict_cards,
+{
+    {strict_cards::kreuz, "kreuz"},
+    {strict_cards::pik, "pik"},
+    {strict_cards::herz, "herz"},
+    {strict_cards::karo, "karo"}
+})
+
+namespace
+{
+// std::hash is only required for enums since C++14
+struct enum_hash
+{
+    template<typename T>
+    std::size_t operator()(T t) const noexcept
+    {
+        return static_cast<std::size_t>(t);
+    }
+};
+} // namespace
+
+// see unit-enum_keyed_maps.cpp for JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS=1
+TEST_CASE("maps with enum keys")
+{
+    using task_map = std::map<TaskState, std::string>;
+    using task_umap = std::unordered_map<TaskState, std::string, enum_hash>;
+    using task_gmap = std::map<TaskState, std::string, std::greater<TaskState>>;
+    using nested_map = std::map<cards, std::map<TaskState, int>>;
+    using strict_map = std::map<strict_cards, int>;
+    using int_map = std::map<int, int>;
+    using int_umap = std::unordered_map<int, int>;
+
+    const task_map m = {{TS_STOPPED, "aa"}, {TS_COMPLETED, "bb"}};
+
+#if !JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS
+    SECTION("stored as array of pairs")
+    {
+        CHECK(json(m) == json::parse(R"([["stopped","aa"],["completed","bb"]])"));
+        CHECK(json(task_umap {{TS_RUNNING, "cc"}}) == json::parse(R"([["running","cc"]])"));
+    }
+#endif
+
+    SECTION("read from array of pairs")
+    {
+        CHECK(json::parse(R"([["stopped","aa"],["completed","bb"]])").get<task_map>() == m);
+    }
+
+    SECTION("read from object (#4378)")
+    {
+        const json j = json::parse(R"({"stopped":"aa","completed":"bb"})");
+        CHECK(j.get<task_map>() == m);
+        CHECK(j.get<task_umap>() == task_umap(m.begin(), m.end()));
+        CHECK(j.get<task_gmap>() == task_gmap(m.begin(), m.end()));
+        CHECK(json::parse(R"({"kreuz":{"stopped":1}})").get<nested_map>() == nested_map {{cards::kreuz, {{TS_STOPPED, 1}}}});
+        CHECK(nlohmann::ordered_json::parse(R"({"stopped":"aa","completed":"bb"})").get<task_map>() == m);
+
+        // object keys go through the enum's from_json
+        strict_map sm;
+        CHECK_THROWS_WITH_AS(json::parse(R"({"what?":1})").get_to(sm),
+                             "[json.exception.out_of_range.410] enum value out of range for strict_cards: \"what?\"", json::out_of_range&);
+    }
+
+    SECTION("objects are only read for enum keys")
+    {
+        // built rather than parsed, so that the messages do not gain a byte
+        // range with JSON_DIAGNOSTIC_POSITIONS
+        const json j = {{"1", 2}};
+        int_map im;
+        int_umap ium;
+        CHECK_THROWS_WITH_AS(j.get_to(im),
+                             "[json.exception.type_error.302] type must be array, but is object", json::type_error&);
+        CHECK_THROWS_WITH_AS(j.get_to(ium),
+                             "[json.exception.type_error.302] type must be array, but is object", json::type_error&);
+    }
+
+    SECTION("other types are rejected")
+    {
+        task_map tm;
+        CHECK_THROWS_WITH_AS(json("stopped").get_to(tm),
+                             "[json.exception.type_error.302] type must be array, but is string", json::type_error&);
+    }
+}
+
+DOCTEST_CLANG_SUPPRESS_WARNING_POP