Make serializer's indent_string lazily allocated

The serializer constructor unconditionally allocated a 512-byte
indent_string, even though it is only ever read inside the
pretty_print branches of dump(). This wasted a heap allocation (and
its matching deallocation) on every compact (i.e. default, non-pretty)
dump() call.

indent_string is now default-constructed empty and lazily grown to
512 bytes, filled with indent_char, the first time a pretty-print
branch actually needs it. The existing doubling/growth logic for
larger indents is otherwise untouched, so output remains byte-identical
to before -- including in the pre-existing edge case where growth
beyond the initial buffer fills with ' ' instead of indent_char
(tracked separately by open PR #5186, which is left alone here).

The second, larger optimization mentioned in #5413 (removing the
shared_ptr-based output adapter) is intentionally out of scope, as it
overlaps open PR #5285.

Fixes #5413

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

include/nlohmann/detail/input/binary_reader.hpp

@@ -996,21 +996,23 @@ class binary_reader
     }
 
     /*!
-    @brief reads a definite-length CBOR string
+    @brief reads a CBOR string
 
-    Reads everything @ref get_cbor_string accepts except the indefinite-length
-    form, which that function handles itself. The bytes are appended to @a
-    result, so consecutive chunks of an indefinite-length string can be read
-    into the same string.
+    This function first reads starting bytes to determine the expected
+    string length and then copies this number of bytes into a string.
+    Additionally, CBOR's strings with indefinite lengths are supported.
 
-    @param[out] result  string the bytes are appended to
+    @param[out] result  created string
 
     @return whether string creation completed
-
-    @pre @a current is not EOF
     */
-    bool get_cbor_string_chunk(string_t& result)
+    bool get_cbor_string(string_t& result)
     {
+        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!unexpect_eof(input_format_t::cbor, "string")))
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+
         switch (current)
         {
             // UTF-8 string (0x00..0x17 bytes follow)
@@ -1066,6 +1068,20 @@ class binary_reader
                 return get_number(input_format_t::cbor, len) && get_string(input_format_t::cbor, len, result);
             }
 
+            case 0x7F: // UTF-8 string (indefinite length)
+            {
+                while (get() != 0xFF)
+                {
+                    string_t chunk;
+                    if (!get_cbor_string(chunk))
+                    {
+                        return false;
+                    }
+                    result.append(chunk);
+                }
+                return true;
+            }
+
             default:
             {
                 auto last_token = get_token_string();
@@ -1076,82 +1092,23 @@ class binary_reader
     }
 
     /*!
-    @brief reads a CBOR string
+    @brief reads a CBOR byte array
 
     This function first reads starting bytes to determine the expected
-    string length and then copies this number of bytes into a string.
-    Additionally, CBOR's strings with indefinite lengths are supported.
+    byte array length and then copies this number of bytes into the byte array.
+    Additionally, CBOR's byte arrays with indefinite lengths are supported.
 
-    @param[out] result  created string
-
-    @return whether string creation completed
-    */
-    bool get_cbor_string(string_t& result)
-    {
-        // number of indefinite-length strings that have been opened and not
-        // closed yet. RFC 8949, Section 3.2.3 does not permit nesting them,
-        // but this reader has always accepted it, so the open levels are
-        // counted instead of recursed through, which overflowed the stack for
-        // an input of repeated 0x7F bytes (see #5104). Every chunk is appended
-        // to the same result, so no per-level state is needed.
-        std::size_t open = 0;
-
-        while (true)
-        {
-            if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!unexpect_eof(input_format_t::cbor, "string")))
-            {
-                return false;
-            }
-
-            if (current == 0x7F) // UTF-8 string (indefinite length)
-            {
-                ++open;
-                get();
-                continue;
-            }
-
-            // a break marker closes the innermost indefinite-length string;
-            // outside of one it is not a string and falls through to the error
-            if (open != 0 && current == 0xFF)
-            {
-                if (--open == 0)
-                {
-                    return true;
-                }
-                get();
-                continue;
-            }
-
-            if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!get_cbor_string_chunk(result)))
-            {
-                return false;
-            }
-
-            if (open == 0)
-            {
-                return true;
-            }
-
-            get();
-        }
-    }
-
-    /*!
-    @brief reads a definite-length CBOR byte array
-
-    Reads everything @ref get_cbor_binary accepts except the indefinite-length
-    form, which that function handles itself. The bytes are appended to @a
-    result, so consecutive chunks of an indefinite-length byte array can be
-    read into the same byte array.
-
-    @param[out] result  byte array the bytes are appended to
+    @param[out] result  created byte array
 
     @return whether byte array creation completed
-
-    @pre @a current is not EOF
     */
-    bool get_cbor_binary_chunk(binary_t& result)
+    bool get_cbor_binary(binary_t& result)
     {
+        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!unexpect_eof(input_format_t::cbor, "binary")))
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+
         switch (current)
         {
             // Binary data (0x00..0x17 bytes follow)
@@ -1211,6 +1168,20 @@ class binary_reader
                        get_binary(input_format_t::cbor, len, result);
             }
 
+            case 0x5F: // Binary data (indefinite length)
+            {
+                while (get() != 0xFF)
+                {
+                    binary_t chunk;
+                    if (!get_cbor_binary(chunk))
+                    {
+                        return false;
+                    }
+                    result.insert(result.end(), chunk.begin(), chunk.end());
+                }
+                return true;
+            }
+
             default:
             {
                 auto last_token = get_token_string();
@@ -1220,63 +1191,6 @@ class binary_reader
         }
     }
 
-    /*!
-    @brief reads a CBOR byte array
-
-    This function first reads starting bytes to determine the expected
-    byte array length and then copies this number of bytes into the byte array.
-    Additionally, CBOR's byte arrays with indefinite lengths are supported.
-
-    @param[out] result  created byte array
-
-    @return whether byte array creation completed
-    */
-    bool get_cbor_binary(binary_t& result)
-    {
-        // the open indefinite-length byte arrays are counted rather than
-        // recursed through, for the reason given in @ref get_cbor_string
-        std::size_t open = 0;
-
-        while (true)
-        {
-            if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!unexpect_eof(input_format_t::cbor, "binary")))
-            {
-                return false;
-            }
-
-            if (current == 0x5F) // Binary data (indefinite length)
-            {
-                ++open;
-                get();
-                continue;
-            }
-
-            // a break marker closes the innermost indefinite-length byte
-            // array; outside of one it falls through to the error below
-            if (open != 0 && current == 0xFF)
-            {
-                if (--open == 0)
-                {
-                    return true;
-                }
-                get();
-                continue;
-            }
-
-            if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!get_cbor_binary_chunk(result)))
-            {
-                return false;
-            }
-
-            if (open == 0)
-            {
-                return true;
-            }
-
-            get();
-        }
-    }
-
     /*!
     @brief narrow a definite CBOR array/map length to std::size_t
 

include/nlohmann/detail/output/serializer.hpp

@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ class serializer
         , thousands_sep(loc->thousands_sep == nullptr ? '\0' : std::char_traits<char>::to_char_type(* (loc->thousands_sep)))
         , decimal_point(loc->decimal_point == nullptr ? '\0' : std::char_traits<char>::to_char_type(* (loc->decimal_point)))
         , indent_char(ichar)
-        , indent_string(512, indent_char)
+        , indent_string()
         , error_handler(error_handler_)
     {}
 
@@ -126,6 +126,10 @@ class serializer
 
                     // variable to hold indentation for recursive calls
                     const auto new_indent = current_indent + indent_step;
+                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(indent_string.empty()))
+                    {
+                        indent_string.resize(512, indent_char);
+                    }
                     if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(indent_string.size() < new_indent))
                     {
                         indent_string.resize(indent_string.size() * 2, ' ');
@@ -199,6 +203,10 @@ class serializer
 
                     // variable to hold indentation for recursive calls
                     const auto new_indent = current_indent + indent_step;
+                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(indent_string.empty()))
+                    {
+                        indent_string.resize(512, indent_char);
+                    }
                     if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(indent_string.size() < new_indent))
                     {
                         indent_string.resize(indent_string.size() * 2, ' ');
@@ -260,6 +268,10 @@ class serializer
 
                     // variable to hold indentation for recursive calls
                     const auto new_indent = current_indent + indent_step;
+                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(indent_string.empty()))
+                    {
+                        indent_string.resize(512, indent_char);
+                    }
                     if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(indent_string.size() < new_indent))
                     {
                         indent_string.resize(indent_string.size() * 2, ' ');
@@ -1010,7 +1022,7 @@ class serializer
 
     /// the indentation character
     const char indent_char;
-    /// the indentation string
+    /// the indentation string (lazily allocated on first use by a pretty-print branch)
     string_t indent_string;
 
     /// error_handler how to react on decoding errors

include/nlohmann/json.hpp

@@ -4473,11 +4473,8 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
         basic_json result;
         auto ia = detail::input_adapter(std::forward<InputType>(i));
         detail::json_sax_dom_parser<basic_json, decltype(ia)> sdp(result, allow_exceptions);
-        if (!binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::cbor).sax_parse(input_format_t::cbor, &sdp, strict, tag_handler)) // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
-        {
-            result = value_t::discarded;
-        }
-        return result;
+        const bool res = binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::cbor).sax_parse(input_format_t::cbor, &sdp, strict, tag_handler); // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
+        return res ? result : basic_json(value_t::discarded);
     }
 
     /// @brief create a JSON value from an input in CBOR format (iterator pair, or iterator+sentinel pair for C++20 ranges support)
@@ -4493,11 +4490,8 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
         basic_json result;
         auto ia = detail::input_adapter(std::move(first), std::move(last));
         detail::json_sax_dom_parser<basic_json, decltype(ia)> sdp(result, allow_exceptions);
-        if (!binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::cbor).sax_parse(input_format_t::cbor, &sdp, strict, tag_handler)) // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
-        {
-            result = value_t::discarded;
-        }
-        return result;
+        const bool res = binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::cbor).sax_parse(input_format_t::cbor, &sdp, strict, tag_handler); // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
+        return res ? result : basic_json(value_t::discarded);
     }
 
     template<typename T>
@@ -4522,11 +4516,8 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
         auto ia = i.get();
         detail::json_sax_dom_parser<basic_json, decltype(ia)> sdp(result, allow_exceptions);
         // NOLINTNEXTLINE(hicpp-move-const-arg,performance-move-const-arg)
-        if (!binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::cbor).sax_parse(input_format_t::cbor, &sdp, strict, tag_handler)) // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
-        {
-            result = value_t::discarded;
-        }
-        return result;
+        const bool res = binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::cbor).sax_parse(input_format_t::cbor, &sdp, strict, tag_handler); // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
+        return res ? result : basic_json(value_t::discarded);
     }
 
     /// @brief create a JSON value from an input in MessagePack format
@@ -4540,11 +4531,8 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
         basic_json result;
         auto ia = detail::input_adapter(std::forward<InputType>(i));
         detail::json_sax_dom_parser<basic_json, decltype(ia)> sdp(result, allow_exceptions);
-        if (!binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::msgpack).sax_parse(input_format_t::msgpack, &sdp, strict)) // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
-        {
-            result = value_t::discarded;
-        }
-        return result;
+        const bool res = binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::msgpack).sax_parse(input_format_t::msgpack, &sdp, strict); // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
+        return res ? result : basic_json(value_t::discarded);
     }
 
     /// @brief create a JSON value from an input in MessagePack format (iterator pair, or iterator+sentinel pair for C++20 ranges support)
@@ -4559,11 +4547,8 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
         basic_json result;
         auto ia = detail::input_adapter(std::move(first), std::move(last));
         detail::json_sax_dom_parser<basic_json, decltype(ia)> sdp(result, allow_exceptions);
-        if (!binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::msgpack).sax_parse(input_format_t::msgpack, &sdp, strict)) // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
-        {
-            result = value_t::discarded;
-        }
-        return result;
+        const bool res = binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::msgpack).sax_parse(input_format_t::msgpack, &sdp, strict); // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
+        return res ? result : basic_json(value_t::discarded);
     }
 
     template<typename T>
@@ -4586,11 +4571,8 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
         auto ia = i.get();
         detail::json_sax_dom_parser<basic_json, decltype(ia)> sdp(result, allow_exceptions);
         // NOLINTNEXTLINE(hicpp-move-const-arg,performance-move-const-arg)
-        if (!binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::msgpack).sax_parse(input_format_t::msgpack, &sdp, strict)) // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
-        {
-            result = value_t::discarded;
-        }
-        return result;
+        const bool res = binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::msgpack).sax_parse(input_format_t::msgpack, &sdp, strict); // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
+        return res ? result : basic_json(value_t::discarded);
     }
 
     /// @brief create a JSON value from an input in UBJSON format
@@ -4604,11 +4586,8 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
         basic_json result;
         auto ia = detail::input_adapter(std::forward<InputType>(i));
         detail::json_sax_dom_parser<basic_json, decltype(ia)> sdp(result, allow_exceptions);
-        if (!binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::ubjson).sax_parse(input_format_t::ubjson, &sdp, strict)) // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
-        {
-            result = value_t::discarded;
-        }
-        return result;
+        const bool res = binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::ubjson).sax_parse(input_format_t::ubjson, &sdp, strict); // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
+        return res ? result : basic_json(value_t::discarded);
     }
 
     /// @brief create a JSON value from an input in UBJSON format (iterator pair, or iterator+sentinel pair for C++20 ranges support)
@@ -4623,11 +4602,8 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
         basic_json result;
         auto ia = detail::input_adapter(std::move(first), std::move(last));
         detail::json_sax_dom_parser<basic_json, decltype(ia)> sdp(result, allow_exceptions);
-        if (!binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::ubjson).sax_parse(input_format_t::ubjson, &sdp, strict)) // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
-        {
-            result = value_t::discarded;
-        }
-        return result;
+        const bool res = binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::ubjson).sax_parse(input_format_t::ubjson, &sdp, strict); // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
+        return res ? result : basic_json(value_t::discarded);
     }
 
     template<typename T>
@@ -4650,11 +4626,8 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
         auto ia = i.get();
         detail::json_sax_dom_parser<basic_json, decltype(ia)> sdp(result, allow_exceptions);
         // NOLINTNEXTLINE(hicpp-move-const-arg,performance-move-const-arg)
-        if (!binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::ubjson).sax_parse(input_format_t::ubjson, &sdp, strict)) // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
-        {
-            result = value_t::discarded;
-        }
-        return result;
+        const bool res = binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::ubjson).sax_parse(input_format_t::ubjson, &sdp, strict); // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
+        return res ? result : basic_json(value_t::discarded);
     }
 
     /// @brief create a JSON value from an input in BJData format
@@ -4668,11 +4641,8 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
         basic_json result;
         auto ia = detail::input_adapter(std::forward<InputType>(i));
         detail::json_sax_dom_parser<basic_json, decltype(ia)> sdp(result, allow_exceptions);
-        if (!binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::bjdata).sax_parse(input_format_t::bjdata, &sdp, strict)) // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
-        {
-            result = value_t::discarded;
-        }
-        return result;
+        const bool res = binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::bjdata).sax_parse(input_format_t::bjdata, &sdp, strict); // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
+        return res ? result : basic_json(value_t::discarded);
     }
 
     /// @brief create a JSON value from an input in BJData format (iterator pair, or iterator+sentinel pair for C++20 ranges support)
@@ -4687,11 +4657,8 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
         basic_json result;
         auto ia = detail::input_adapter(std::move(first), std::move(last));
         detail::json_sax_dom_parser<basic_json, decltype(ia)> sdp(result, allow_exceptions);
-        if (!binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::bjdata).sax_parse(input_format_t::bjdata, &sdp, strict)) // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
-        {
-            result = value_t::discarded;
-        }
-        return result;
+        const bool res = binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::bjdata).sax_parse(input_format_t::bjdata, &sdp, strict); // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
+        return res ? result : basic_json(value_t::discarded);
     }
 
     /// @brief create a JSON value from an input in BSON format
@@ -4705,11 +4672,8 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
         basic_json result;
         auto ia = detail::input_adapter(std::forward<InputType>(i));
         detail::json_sax_dom_parser<basic_json, decltype(ia)> sdp(result, allow_exceptions);
-        if (!binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::bson).sax_parse(input_format_t::bson, &sdp, strict)) // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
-        {
-            result = value_t::discarded;
-        }
-        return result;
+        const bool res = binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::bson).sax_parse(input_format_t::bson, &sdp, strict); // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
+        return res ? result : basic_json(value_t::discarded);
     }
 
     /// @brief create a JSON value from an input in BSON format (iterator pair, or iterator+sentinel pair for C++20 ranges support)
@@ -4724,11 +4688,8 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
         basic_json result;
         auto ia = detail::input_adapter(std::move(first), std::move(last));
         detail::json_sax_dom_parser<basic_json, decltype(ia)> sdp(result, allow_exceptions);
-        if (!binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::bson).sax_parse(input_format_t::bson, &sdp, strict)) // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
-        {
-            result = value_t::discarded;
-        }
-        return result;
+        const bool res = binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::bson).sax_parse(input_format_t::bson, &sdp, strict); // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
+        return res ? result : basic_json(value_t::discarded);
     }
 
     template<typename T>
@@ -4751,11 +4712,8 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
         auto ia = i.get();
         detail::json_sax_dom_parser<basic_json, decltype(ia)> sdp(result, allow_exceptions);
         // NOLINTNEXTLINE(hicpp-move-const-arg,performance-move-const-arg)
-        if (!binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::bson).sax_parse(input_format_t::bson, &sdp, strict)) // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
-        {
-            result = value_t::discarded;
-        }
-        return result;
+        const bool res = binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::bson).sax_parse(input_format_t::bson, &sdp, strict); // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
+        return res ? result : basic_json(value_t::discarded);
     }
     /// @}
 

single_include/nlohmann/json.hpp

@@ -11683,21 +11683,23 @@ class binary_reader
     }
 
     /*!
-    @brief reads a definite-length CBOR string
+    @brief reads a CBOR string
 
-    Reads everything @ref get_cbor_string accepts except the indefinite-length
-    form, which that function handles itself. The bytes are appended to @a
-    result, so consecutive chunks of an indefinite-length string can be read
-    into the same string.
+    This function first reads starting bytes to determine the expected
+    string length and then copies this number of bytes into a string.
+    Additionally, CBOR's strings with indefinite lengths are supported.
 
-    @param[out] result  string the bytes are appended to
+    @param[out] result  created string
 
     @return whether string creation completed
-
-    @pre @a current is not EOF
     */
-    bool get_cbor_string_chunk(string_t& result)
+    bool get_cbor_string(string_t& result)
     {
+        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!unexpect_eof(input_format_t::cbor, "string")))
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+
         switch (current)
         {
             // UTF-8 string (0x00..0x17 bytes follow)
@@ -11753,6 +11755,20 @@ class binary_reader
                 return get_number(input_format_t::cbor, len) && get_string(input_format_t::cbor, len, result);
             }
 
+            case 0x7F: // UTF-8 string (indefinite length)
+            {
+                while (get() != 0xFF)
+                {
+                    string_t chunk;
+                    if (!get_cbor_string(chunk))
+                    {
+                        return false;
+                    }
+                    result.append(chunk);
+                }
+                return true;
+            }
+
             default:
             {
                 auto last_token = get_token_string();
@@ -11763,82 +11779,23 @@ class binary_reader
     }
 
     /*!
-    @brief reads a CBOR string
+    @brief reads a CBOR byte array
 
     This function first reads starting bytes to determine the expected
-    string length and then copies this number of bytes into a string.
-    Additionally, CBOR's strings with indefinite lengths are supported.
+    byte array length and then copies this number of bytes into the byte array.
+    Additionally, CBOR's byte arrays with indefinite lengths are supported.
 
-    @param[out] result  created string
-
-    @return whether string creation completed
-    */
-    bool get_cbor_string(string_t& result)
-    {
-        // number of indefinite-length strings that have been opened and not
-        // closed yet. RFC 8949, Section 3.2.3 does not permit nesting them,
-        // but this reader has always accepted it, so the open levels are
-        // counted instead of recursed through, which overflowed the stack for
-        // an input of repeated 0x7F bytes (see #5104). Every chunk is appended
-        // to the same result, so no per-level state is needed.
-        std::size_t open = 0;
-
-        while (true)
-        {
-            if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!unexpect_eof(input_format_t::cbor, "string")))
-            {
-                return false;
-            }
-
-            if (current == 0x7F) // UTF-8 string (indefinite length)
-            {
-                ++open;
-                get();
-                continue;
-            }
-
-            // a break marker closes the innermost indefinite-length string;
-            // outside of one it is not a string and falls through to the error
-            if (open != 0 && current == 0xFF)
-            {
-                if (--open == 0)
-                {
-                    return true;
-                }
-                get();
-                continue;
-            }
-
-            if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!get_cbor_string_chunk(result)))
-            {
-                return false;
-            }
-
-            if (open == 0)
-            {
-                return true;
-            }
-
-            get();
-        }
-    }
-
-    /*!
-    @brief reads a definite-length CBOR byte array
-
-    Reads everything @ref get_cbor_binary accepts except the indefinite-length
-    form, which that function handles itself. The bytes are appended to @a
-    result, so consecutive chunks of an indefinite-length byte array can be
-    read into the same byte array.
-
-    @param[out] result  byte array the bytes are appended to
+    @param[out] result  created byte array
 
     @return whether byte array creation completed
-
-    @pre @a current is not EOF
     */
-    bool get_cbor_binary_chunk(binary_t& result)
+    bool get_cbor_binary(binary_t& result)
     {
+        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!unexpect_eof(input_format_t::cbor, "binary")))
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+
         switch (current)
         {
             // Binary data (0x00..0x17 bytes follow)
@@ -11898,6 +11855,20 @@ class binary_reader
                        get_binary(input_format_t::cbor, len, result);
             }
 
+            case 0x5F: // Binary data (indefinite length)
+            {
+                while (get() != 0xFF)
+                {
+                    binary_t chunk;
+                    if (!get_cbor_binary(chunk))
+                    {
+                        return false;
+                    }
+                    result.insert(result.end(), chunk.begin(), chunk.end());
+                }
+                return true;
+            }
+
             default:
             {
                 auto last_token = get_token_string();
@@ -11907,63 +11878,6 @@ class binary_reader
         }
     }
 
-    /*!
-    @brief reads a CBOR byte array
-
-    This function first reads starting bytes to determine the expected
-    byte array length and then copies this number of bytes into the byte array.
-    Additionally, CBOR's byte arrays with indefinite lengths are supported.
-
-    @param[out] result  created byte array
-
-    @return whether byte array creation completed
-    */
-    bool get_cbor_binary(binary_t& result)
-    {
-        // the open indefinite-length byte arrays are counted rather than
-        // recursed through, for the reason given in @ref get_cbor_string
-        std::size_t open = 0;
-
-        while (true)
-        {
-            if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!unexpect_eof(input_format_t::cbor, "binary")))
-            {
-                return false;
-            }
-
-            if (current == 0x5F) // Binary data (indefinite length)
-            {
-                ++open;
-                get();
-                continue;
-            }
-
-            // a break marker closes the innermost indefinite-length byte
-            // array; outside of one it falls through to the error below
-            if (open != 0 && current == 0xFF)
-            {
-                if (--open == 0)
-                {
-                    return true;
-                }
-                get();
-                continue;
-            }
-
-            if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!get_cbor_binary_chunk(result)))
-            {
-                return false;
-            }
-
-            if (open == 0)
-            {
-                return true;
-            }
-
-            get();
-        }
-    }
-
     /*!
     @brief narrow a definite CBOR array/map length to std::size_t
 
@@ -20236,7 +20150,7 @@ class serializer
         , thousands_sep(loc->thousands_sep == nullptr ? '\0' : std::char_traits<char>::to_char_type(* (loc->thousands_sep)))
         , decimal_point(loc->decimal_point == nullptr ? '\0' : std::char_traits<char>::to_char_type(* (loc->decimal_point)))
         , indent_char(ichar)
-        , indent_string(512, indent_char)
+        , indent_string()
         , error_handler(error_handler_)
     {}
 
@@ -20291,6 +20205,10 @@ class serializer
 
                     // variable to hold indentation for recursive calls
                     const auto new_indent = current_indent + indent_step;
+                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(indent_string.empty()))
+                    {
+                        indent_string.resize(512, indent_char);
+                    }
                     if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(indent_string.size() < new_indent))
                     {
                         indent_string.resize(indent_string.size() * 2, ' ');
@@ -20364,6 +20282,10 @@ class serializer
 
                     // variable to hold indentation for recursive calls
                     const auto new_indent = current_indent + indent_step;
+                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(indent_string.empty()))
+                    {
+                        indent_string.resize(512, indent_char);
+                    }
                     if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(indent_string.size() < new_indent))
                     {
                         indent_string.resize(indent_string.size() * 2, ' ');
@@ -20425,6 +20347,10 @@ class serializer
 
                     // variable to hold indentation for recursive calls
                     const auto new_indent = current_indent + indent_step;
+                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(indent_string.empty()))
+                    {
+                        indent_string.resize(512, indent_char);
+                    }
                     if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(indent_string.size() < new_indent))
                     {
                         indent_string.resize(indent_string.size() * 2, ' ');
@@ -21175,7 +21101,7 @@ class serializer
 
     /// the indentation character
     const char indent_char;
-    /// the indentation string
+    /// the indentation string (lazily allocated on first use by a pretty-print branch)
     string_t indent_string;
 
     /// error_handler how to react on decoding errors
@@ -25987,11 +25913,8 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
         basic_json result;
         auto ia = detail::input_adapter(std::forward<InputType>(i));
         detail::json_sax_dom_parser<basic_json, decltype(ia)> sdp(result, allow_exceptions);
-        if (!binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::cbor).sax_parse(input_format_t::cbor, &sdp, strict, tag_handler)) // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
-        {
-            result = value_t::discarded;
-        }
-        return result;
+        const bool res = binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::cbor).sax_parse(input_format_t::cbor, &sdp, strict, tag_handler); // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
+        return res ? result : basic_json(value_t::discarded);
     }
 
     /// @brief create a JSON value from an input in CBOR format (iterator pair, or iterator+sentinel pair for C++20 ranges support)
@@ -26007,11 +25930,8 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
         basic_json result;
         auto ia = detail::input_adapter(std::move(first), std::move(last));
         detail::json_sax_dom_parser<basic_json, decltype(ia)> sdp(result, allow_exceptions);
-        if (!binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::cbor).sax_parse(input_format_t::cbor, &sdp, strict, tag_handler)) // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
-        {
-            result = value_t::discarded;
-        }
-        return result;
+        const bool res = binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::cbor).sax_parse(input_format_t::cbor, &sdp, strict, tag_handler); // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
+        return res ? result : basic_json(value_t::discarded);
     }
 
     template<typename T>
@@ -26036,11 +25956,8 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
         auto ia = i.get();
         detail::json_sax_dom_parser<basic_json, decltype(ia)> sdp(result, allow_exceptions);
         // NOLINTNEXTLINE(hicpp-move-const-arg,performance-move-const-arg)
-        if (!binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::cbor).sax_parse(input_format_t::cbor, &sdp, strict, tag_handler)) // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
-        {
-            result = value_t::discarded;
-        }
-        return result;
+        const bool res = binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::cbor).sax_parse(input_format_t::cbor, &sdp, strict, tag_handler); // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
+        return res ? result : basic_json(value_t::discarded);
     }
 
     /// @brief create a JSON value from an input in MessagePack format
@@ -26054,11 +25971,8 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
         basic_json result;
         auto ia = detail::input_adapter(std::forward<InputType>(i));
         detail::json_sax_dom_parser<basic_json, decltype(ia)> sdp(result, allow_exceptions);
-        if (!binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::msgpack).sax_parse(input_format_t::msgpack, &sdp, strict)) // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
-        {
-            result = value_t::discarded;
-        }
-        return result;
+        const bool res = binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::msgpack).sax_parse(input_format_t::msgpack, &sdp, strict); // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
+        return res ? result : basic_json(value_t::discarded);
     }
 
     /// @brief create a JSON value from an input in MessagePack format (iterator pair, or iterator+sentinel pair for C++20 ranges support)
@@ -26073,11 +25987,8 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
         basic_json result;
         auto ia = detail::input_adapter(std::move(first), std::move(last));
         detail::json_sax_dom_parser<basic_json, decltype(ia)> sdp(result, allow_exceptions);
-        if (!binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::msgpack).sax_parse(input_format_t::msgpack, &sdp, strict)) // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
-        {
-            result = value_t::discarded;
-        }
-        return result;
+        const bool res = binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::msgpack).sax_parse(input_format_t::msgpack, &sdp, strict); // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
+        return res ? result : basic_json(value_t::discarded);
     }
 
     template<typename T>
@@ -26100,11 +26011,8 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
         auto ia = i.get();
         detail::json_sax_dom_parser<basic_json, decltype(ia)> sdp(result, allow_exceptions);
         // NOLINTNEXTLINE(hicpp-move-const-arg,performance-move-const-arg)
-        if (!binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::msgpack).sax_parse(input_format_t::msgpack, &sdp, strict)) // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
-        {
-            result = value_t::discarded;
-        }
-        return result;
+        const bool res = binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::msgpack).sax_parse(input_format_t::msgpack, &sdp, strict); // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
+        return res ? result : basic_json(value_t::discarded);
     }
 
     /// @brief create a JSON value from an input in UBJSON format
@@ -26118,11 +26026,8 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
         basic_json result;
         auto ia = detail::input_adapter(std::forward<InputType>(i));
         detail::json_sax_dom_parser<basic_json, decltype(ia)> sdp(result, allow_exceptions);
-        if (!binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::ubjson).sax_parse(input_format_t::ubjson, &sdp, strict)) // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
-        {
-            result = value_t::discarded;
-        }
-        return result;
+        const bool res = binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::ubjson).sax_parse(input_format_t::ubjson, &sdp, strict); // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
+        return res ? result : basic_json(value_t::discarded);
     }
 
     /// @brief create a JSON value from an input in UBJSON format (iterator pair, or iterator+sentinel pair for C++20 ranges support)
@@ -26137,11 +26042,8 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
         basic_json result;
         auto ia = detail::input_adapter(std::move(first), std::move(last));
         detail::json_sax_dom_parser<basic_json, decltype(ia)> sdp(result, allow_exceptions);
-        if (!binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::ubjson).sax_parse(input_format_t::ubjson, &sdp, strict)) // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
-        {
-            result = value_t::discarded;
-        }
-        return result;
+        const bool res = binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::ubjson).sax_parse(input_format_t::ubjson, &sdp, strict); // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
+        return res ? result : basic_json(value_t::discarded);
     }
 
     template<typename T>
@@ -26164,11 +26066,8 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
         auto ia = i.get();
         detail::json_sax_dom_parser<basic_json, decltype(ia)> sdp(result, allow_exceptions);
         // NOLINTNEXTLINE(hicpp-move-const-arg,performance-move-const-arg)
-        if (!binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::ubjson).sax_parse(input_format_t::ubjson, &sdp, strict)) // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
-        {
-            result = value_t::discarded;
-        }
-        return result;
+        const bool res = binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::ubjson).sax_parse(input_format_t::ubjson, &sdp, strict); // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
+        return res ? result : basic_json(value_t::discarded);
     }
 
     /// @brief create a JSON value from an input in BJData format
@@ -26182,11 +26081,8 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
         basic_json result;
         auto ia = detail::input_adapter(std::forward<InputType>(i));
         detail::json_sax_dom_parser<basic_json, decltype(ia)> sdp(result, allow_exceptions);
-        if (!binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::bjdata).sax_parse(input_format_t::bjdata, &sdp, strict)) // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
-        {
-            result = value_t::discarded;
-        }
-        return result;
+        const bool res = binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::bjdata).sax_parse(input_format_t::bjdata, &sdp, strict); // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
+        return res ? result : basic_json(value_t::discarded);
     }
 
     /// @brief create a JSON value from an input in BJData format (iterator pair, or iterator+sentinel pair for C++20 ranges support)
@@ -26201,11 +26097,8 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
         basic_json result;
         auto ia = detail::input_adapter(std::move(first), std::move(last));
         detail::json_sax_dom_parser<basic_json, decltype(ia)> sdp(result, allow_exceptions);
-        if (!binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::bjdata).sax_parse(input_format_t::bjdata, &sdp, strict)) // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
-        {
-            result = value_t::discarded;
-        }
-        return result;
+        const bool res = binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::bjdata).sax_parse(input_format_t::bjdata, &sdp, strict); // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
+        return res ? result : basic_json(value_t::discarded);
     }
 
     /// @brief create a JSON value from an input in BSON format
@@ -26219,11 +26112,8 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
         basic_json result;
         auto ia = detail::input_adapter(std::forward<InputType>(i));
         detail::json_sax_dom_parser<basic_json, decltype(ia)> sdp(result, allow_exceptions);
-        if (!binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::bson).sax_parse(input_format_t::bson, &sdp, strict)) // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
-        {
-            result = value_t::discarded;
-        }
-        return result;
+        const bool res = binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::bson).sax_parse(input_format_t::bson, &sdp, strict); // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
+        return res ? result : basic_json(value_t::discarded);
     }
 
     /// @brief create a JSON value from an input in BSON format (iterator pair, or iterator+sentinel pair for C++20 ranges support)
@@ -26238,11 +26128,8 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
         basic_json result;
         auto ia = detail::input_adapter(std::move(first), std::move(last));
         detail::json_sax_dom_parser<basic_json, decltype(ia)> sdp(result, allow_exceptions);
-        if (!binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::bson).sax_parse(input_format_t::bson, &sdp, strict)) // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
-        {
-            result = value_t::discarded;
-        }
-        return result;
+        const bool res = binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::bson).sax_parse(input_format_t::bson, &sdp, strict); // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
+        return res ? result : basic_json(value_t::discarded);
     }
 
     template<typename T>
@@ -26265,11 +26152,8 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
         auto ia = i.get();
         detail::json_sax_dom_parser<basic_json, decltype(ia)> sdp(result, allow_exceptions);
         // NOLINTNEXTLINE(hicpp-move-const-arg,performance-move-const-arg)
-        if (!binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::bson).sax_parse(input_format_t::bson, &sdp, strict)) // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
-        {
-            result = value_t::discarded;
-        }
-        return result;
+        const bool res = binary_reader<decltype(ia)>(std::move(ia), input_format_t::bson).sax_parse(input_format_t::bson, &sdp, strict); // cppcheck-suppress[accessMoved]
+        return res ? result : basic_json(value_t::discarded);
     }
     /// @}
 

tests/src/unit-cbor.cpp

@@ -2035,58 +2035,6 @@ TEST_CASE("CBOR definite length equal to the indefinite-length sentinel")
     }
 }
 
-TEST_CASE("CBOR indefinite-length strings do not recurse per chunk")
-{
-    // Reading an indefinite-length string or byte array used to call itself
-    // once per chunk, so a payload of repeated 0x7F (or 0x5F) bytes exhausted
-    // the call stack before any of the input was rejected. The open levels are
-    // counted now, and the levels below prove the reader still reads the same
-    // values and reports the same errors at the same byte offsets.
-    json _;
-
-    SECTION("many open levels are reported, not crashed on")
-    {
-        const std::vector<uint8_t> input(200000, 0x7F);
-        CHECK_THROWS_WITH_AS(_ = json::from_cbor(input), "[json.exception.parse_error.110] parse error at byte 200001: syntax error while parsing CBOR string: unexpected end of input", json::parse_error&);
-        CHECK(json::from_cbor(input, true, false).is_discarded());
-    }
-
-    SECTION("many open levels are reported, not crashed on (binary)")
-    {
-        const std::vector<uint8_t> input(200000, 0x5F);
-        CHECK_THROWS_WITH_AS(_ = json::from_cbor(input), "[json.exception.parse_error.110] parse error at byte 200001: syntax error while parsing CBOR binary: unexpected end of input", json::parse_error&);
-        CHECK(json::from_cbor(input, true, false).is_discarded());
-    }
-
-    SECTION("chunks are still concatenated")
-    {
-        CHECK(json::from_cbor(std::vector<uint8_t>({0x7F, 0xFF})) == json(""));
-        CHECK(json::from_cbor(std::vector<uint8_t>({0x7F, 0x61, 0x61, 0xFF})) == json("a"));
-        // nested indefinite-length strings are concatenated across levels
-        CHECK(json::from_cbor(std::vector<uint8_t>({0x7F, 0x7F, 0x61, 0x61, 0xFF, 0x61, 0x62, 0xFF})) == json("ab"));
-        CHECK(json::from_cbor(std::vector<uint8_t>({0x7F, 0x7F, 0x7F, 0x61, 0x7A, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF})) == json("z"));
-        CHECK(json::from_cbor(std::vector<uint8_t>({0xA1, 0x7F, 0x61, 0x61, 0xFF, 0x01})) == json({{"a", 1}}));
-    }
-
-    SECTION("chunks are still concatenated (binary)")
-    {
-        CHECK(json::from_cbor(std::vector<uint8_t>({0x5F, 0x41, 0x61, 0xFF})) == json::binary({0x61}));
-        CHECK(json::from_cbor(std::vector<uint8_t>({0x5F, 0x5F, 0x41, 0x61, 0xFF, 0x41, 0x62, 0xFF})) == json::binary({0x61, 0x62}));
-    }
-
-    SECTION("a chunk that is not a string is still rejected")
-    {
-        CHECK_THROWS_WITH_AS(_ = json::from_cbor(std::vector<uint8_t>({0x7F, 0x7F, 0x00})), "[json.exception.parse_error.113] parse error at byte 3: syntax error while parsing CBOR string: expected length specification (0x60-0x7B) or indefinite string type (0x7F); last byte: 0x00", json::parse_error&);
-        CHECK_THROWS_WITH_AS(_ = json::from_cbor(std::vector<uint8_t>({0x5F, 0x5F, 0x00})), "[json.exception.parse_error.113] parse error at byte 3: syntax error while parsing CBOR binary: expected length specification (0x40-0x5B) or indefinite binary array type (0x5F); last byte: 0x00", json::parse_error&);
-    }
-
-    SECTION("a break marker outside an indefinite-length string is not a string")
-    {
-        // 0xFF only closes a string that was opened; on its own it is not one
-        CHECK_THROWS_WITH_AS(_ = json::from_cbor(std::vector<uint8_t>({0xA1, 0xFF, 0x01})), "[json.exception.parse_error.113] parse error at byte 2: syntax error while parsing CBOR string: expected length specification (0x60-0x7B) or indefinite string type (0x7F); last byte: 0xFF", json::parse_error&);
-    }
-}
-
 TEST_CASE("CBOR roundtrips" * doctest::skip())
 {
     SECTION("input from flynn")

tests/src/unit-serialization.cpp

@@ -14,6 +14,40 @@ using nlohmann::json;
 #include <array>
 #include <sstream>
 #include <iomanip>
+#include <cstdlib>
+#include <new>
+
+namespace
+{
+// heap allocation counter used by the regression test for issue #5413
+// (https://github.com/nlohmann/json/issues/5413); disabled (and thus a
+// no-op besides the counting) unless explicitly toggled on
+bool count_heap_allocations = false; // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
+std::size_t heap_allocations = 0; // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
+} // namespace
+
+void* operator new (std::size_t size) // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-owning-memory,misc-new-delete-overloads)
+{
+    if (count_heap_allocations)
+    {
+        ++heap_allocations;
+    }
+    if (void* ptr = std::malloc(size)) // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-no-malloc,cppcoreguidelines-owning-memory)
+    {
+        return ptr;
+    }
+    throw std::bad_alloc(); // NOLINT(hicpp-exception-baseclass)
+}
+
+void operator delete (void* ptr) noexcept // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-owning-memory,misc-new-delete-overloads)
+{
+    std::free(ptr); // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-no-malloc,cppcoreguidelines-owning-memory)
+}
+
+void operator delete (void* ptr, std::size_t /*size*/) noexcept // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-owning-memory,misc-new-delete-overloads)
+{
+    std::free(ptr); // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-no-malloc,cppcoreguidelines-owning-memory)
+}
 
 TEST_CASE("serialization")
 {
@@ -382,3 +416,76 @@ TEST_CASE("dump for basic_json with long double number_float_t")
         check_same(100.0L,  100.0);
     }
 }
+
+TEST_CASE("regression test for issue #5413 - lazily allocated indent_string")
+{
+    // the serializer used to unconditionally allocate a 512-byte
+    // indent_string in its constructor, even though it is only ever read
+    // inside the pretty_print branches of dump(). This wasted a heap
+    // allocation (and its matching deallocation) on every single compact
+    // (i.e. non-pretty, the default) dump() call. indent_string is now
+    // allocated lazily, the first time a pretty-print branch actually
+    // needs it -- so a compact dump() must perform strictly fewer heap
+    // allocations than a pretty dump() of the same value.
+    const json j = {{"level", "info"}, {"msg", "hello world"}, {"id", 12345}};
+
+    // warm up anything unrelated to indentation (e.g., one-time locale
+    // lookups) that might otherwise allocate on first use regardless of
+    // pretty-printing, so it does not skew the counts measured below
+    const auto warmup = j.dump();
+    const auto warmup_pretty = j.dump(4);
+    CHECK(!warmup.empty());
+    CHECK(!warmup_pretty.empty());
+
+    SECTION("compact dump() has a stable, minimal allocation count")
+    {
+        count_heap_allocations = true;
+
+        heap_allocations = 0;
+        const auto compact1 = j.dump();
+        const auto allocs_compact1 = heap_allocations;
+
+        heap_allocations = 0;
+        const auto compact2 = j.dump(-1);
+        const auto allocs_compact2 = heap_allocations;
+
+        count_heap_allocations = false;
+
+        CHECK(compact1 == compact2);
+        // dump() and dump(-1) both take the compact code path and must
+        // never touch indent_string, so they allocate identically often
+        CHECK(allocs_compact1 == allocs_compact2);
+    }
+
+    SECTION("first pretty dump() allocates more than a compact dump()")
+    {
+        // use a tiny value whose compact ({"a":1}, 7 bytes) and pretty
+        // ({"a": 1} with 1-space indent, 11 bytes) serializations both stay
+        // well inside every common std::string small-string-optimization
+        // buffer (>= 15 bytes on libstdc++/MSVC STL, >= 22 on libc++), so
+        // building the result string itself causes no heap allocation
+        // either way -- isolating indent_string as the only thing that can
+        // possibly account for a difference in allocation count
+        const json tiny = {{"a", 1}};
+
+        count_heap_allocations = true;
+
+        heap_allocations = 0;
+        const auto compact = tiny.dump();
+        const auto allocs_compact = heap_allocations;
+
+        heap_allocations = 0;
+        const auto pretty = tiny.dump(1);
+        const auto allocs_pretty = heap_allocations;
+
+        count_heap_allocations = false;
+
+        CHECK(compact == "{\"a\":1}");
+        CHECK(pretty == "{\n \"a\": 1\n}");
+        // a fresh serializer is created per dump() call; the pretty branch
+        // lazily allocates indent_string on its first use, so it must
+        // allocate at least once more than the compact branch, which never
+        // touches indent_string at all
+        CHECK(allocs_pretty > allocs_compact);
+    }
+}