Move elements when converting rvalue containers to JSON

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

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

@@ -68,6 +68,14 @@ basic_json(basic_json&& other) noexcept;
      `std::unordered_map`, `std::multimap`, and `std::unordered_multimap` with a `key_type` compatible to `string_t`
      and a `value_type` from which a `basic_json` value can be constructed.
     - **strings**: `string_t`, string literals, and all compatible string containers can be used.
+
+    !!! note "Rvalue containers are moved from"
+
+        If `val` is an rvalue of a compatible array-like or object-like container other than `array_t`/`object_t`
+        (e.g., `json j = std::move(vec);` or `json j(std::vector<std::string>{...});`), the elements are moved into
+        the JSON value instead of copied. Afterwards, the elements of the source container are in a valid but
+        unspecified state (**moved-from**). Keys of associative containers are `const` and therefore still copied.
+        Lvalues and `const` rvalues are copied, and the source is left unchanged.
     - **numbers**: [`number_integer_t`](number_integer_t.md), [`number_unsigned_t`](number_unsigned_t.md),
      [`number_float_t`](number_float_t.md), and all convertible number types such as `int`, `size_t`, `int64_t`, `float`
      or `double` can be used.
@@ -236,7 +244,9 @@ basic_json(basic_json&& other) noexcept;
 2. No-throw guarantee: this constructor never throws exceptions.
 3. Depends on the called constructor. For types directly supported by the library (i.e., all types for which no
    `to_json()` function was provided), a strong guarantee holds: if an exception is thrown, there are no changes to any
-   JSON value.
+   JSON value. **Exception:** when `val` is an rvalue array-like or object-like container, its elements are moved one
+   by one; if an exception is thrown in the middle of the conversion (e.g., an allocation failure), the JSON value is
+   unchanged, but the source container may be left partially moved-from.
 4. Depends on the called constructor. For types directly supported by the library (i.e., all types for which no
    `to_json()` function was provided), a strong guarantee holds: if an exception is thrown, there are no changes to any
    JSON value.

docs/mkdocs/docs/home/releases.md

@@ -9,6 +9,15 @@ published on the [GitHub releases page](https://github.com/nlohmann/json/release
     This documentation is built from the `develop` branch and may describe changes that are not part of a release
     yet. Their version numbers are followed by an <span class="unreleased-version">unreleased</span> badge.
 
+## Unreleased
+
+- Converting an rvalue container to JSON (`json j = std::move(vec);`, `json j = std::map<std::string, std::string>{...};`)
+  now **moves** the elements instead of copying them (e.g., `std::vector<std::string>` with 100,000 strings: 4.7 ms to
+  2.3 ms). Two consequences: the source container is left in a valid but unspecified (moved-from) state, and if an
+  exception is thrown during the conversion, the source may be partially moved-from, so the strong exception guarantee
+  no longer holds for the source of an rvalue conversion (the JSON value itself is unaffected). Lvalues and `const`
+  objects are still copied. See [`basic_json`](../api/basic_json/basic_json.md).
+
 ## v3.12.0 (2025-04-11)
 
 Fixes bugs found in 3.11.3 and adds several features. All changes are backward-compatible.

include/nlohmann/detail/conversions/from_json.hpp

@@ -266,6 +266,22 @@ template<typename ConstructibleArrayType>
 void from_json_array_reserve(ConstructibleArrayType& /*arr*/, std::size_t /*size*/, priority_tag<0> /*unused*/)
 {}
 
+// append through push_back() where available; containers without it (such as
+// std::set) fall back to insert(end(), ...), which is what std::inserter did
+template<typename ConstructibleArrayType, typename ValueType>
+auto from_json_array_append(ConstructibleArrayType& arr, ValueType&& value, priority_tag<1> /*unused*/)
+-> decltype(arr.push_back(std::forward<ValueType>(value)), void())
+{
+    arr.push_back(std::forward<ValueType>(value));
+}
+
+template<typename ConstructibleArrayType, typename ValueType>
+void from_json_array_append(ConstructibleArrayType& arr, ValueType&& value, priority_tag<0> /*unused*/)
+{
+    using std::end;
+    arr.insert(end(arr), std::forward<ValueType>(value));
+}
+
 template<typename BasicJsonType, typename ConstructibleArrayType,
          enable_if_t<
              std::is_assignable<ConstructibleArrayType&, ConstructibleArrayType>::value,
@@ -275,17 +291,15 @@ auto from_json_array_impl(const BasicJsonType& j, ConstructibleArrayType& arr, p
     j.template get<typename ConstructibleArrayType::value_type>(),
     void())
 {
-    using std::end;
-
     ConstructibleArrayType ret;
-    from_json_array_reserve(ret, j.size(), priority_tag<1> {});
+    const auto* inner_array = j.template get_ptr<const typename BasicJsonType::array_t*>();
-    std::transform(j.begin(), j.end(),
+    from_json_array_reserve(ret, inner_array->size(), priority_tag<1> {});
-                   std::inserter(ret, end(ret)), [](const BasicJsonType & i)
+    for (const auto& elem : *inner_array)
     {
         // get<BasicJsonType>() returns *this, this won't call a from_json
         // method when value_type is BasicJsonType
-        return i.template get<typename ConstructibleArrayType::value_type>();
+        from_json_array_append(ret, elem.template get<typename ConstructibleArrayType::value_type>(), priority_tag<1> {});
-    });
+    }
     arr = std::move(ret);
 }
 
@@ -383,9 +397,13 @@ inline void from_json(const BasicJsonType& j, ConstructibleObjectType& obj)
     ConstructibleObjectType ret;
     const auto* inner_object = j.template get_ptr<const typename BasicJsonType::object_t*>();
     from_json_object_reserve(ret, inner_object->size(), priority_tag<1> {});
+    using value_type = typename ConstructibleObjectType::value_type;
     for (const auto& p : *inner_object)
     {
-        ret.emplace(p.first, p.second.template get<typename ConstructibleObjectType::mapped_type>());
+        // the keys of the source are sorted for the usual object types, so
+        // hinting the end makes every insertion constant-time (for containers
+        // that order their keys the same way)
+        ret.insert(ret.end(), value_type(p.first, p.second.template get<typename ConstructibleObjectType::mapped_type>()));
     }
     obj = std::move(ret);
 }

include/nlohmann/detail/conversions/to_json.hpp

@@ -167,6 +167,17 @@ struct external_constructor<value_t::array>
         j.replace_value(value_t::array, value);
     }
 
+    /// an rvalue container: move its elements
+    template<typename BasicJsonType, typename CompatibleArrayType>
+    static void construct_moving(BasicJsonType& j, CompatibleArrayType& arr)
+    {
+        using std::begin;
+        using std::end;
+
+        const typename BasicJsonType::json_value value(j.template create<typename BasicJsonType::array_t>(std::make_move_iterator(begin(arr)), std::make_move_iterator(end(arr))));
+        j.replace_value(value_t::array, value);
+    }
+
     template<typename BasicJsonType>
     static void construct(BasicJsonType& j, const std::vector<bool>& arr)
     {
@@ -217,6 +228,17 @@ struct external_constructor<value_t::object>
         j.replace_value(value_t::object, value);
     }
 
+    /// an rvalue container: move its values
+    template<typename BasicJsonType, typename CompatibleObjectType>
+    static void construct_moving(BasicJsonType& j, CompatibleObjectType& obj)
+    {
+        using std::begin;
+        using std::end;
+
+        const typename BasicJsonType::json_value value(j.template create<typename BasicJsonType::object_t>(std::make_move_iterator(begin(obj)), std::make_move_iterator(end(obj))));
+        j.replace_value(value_t::object, value);
+    }
+
     template < typename BasicJsonType, typename CompatibleObjectType,
                enable_if_t < !std::is_same<CompatibleObjectType, typename BasicJsonType::object_t>::value, int > = 0 >
     static void construct(BasicJsonType& j, const CompatibleObjectType& obj)
@@ -354,6 +376,66 @@ inline void to_json(BasicJsonType& j, const CompatibleArrayType& arr)
     external_constructor<value_t::array>::construct(j, arr);
 }
 
+// types that have a dedicated to_json overload and must not be treated as generic containers
+template<typename T>
+struct has_dedicated_to_json : std::false_type {};
+
+#if JSON_HAS_FILESYSTEM || JSON_HAS_EXPERIMENTAL_FILESYSTEM
+template<>
+struct has_dedicated_to_json<std_fs::path> : std::true_type {};
+#endif
+
+#if defined(__cpp_lib_char8_t)
+template<typename Tr, typename Allocator>
+struct has_dedicated_to_json<std::basic_string<char8_t, Tr, Allocator>> : std::true_type {};
+#endif
+
+#if JSON_HAS_RANGE_VIEW_CONVERSION
+template<typename T>
+struct is_range_view_type : is_compatible_range_view<T> {};
+#else
+template<typename T>
+struct is_range_view_type : std::false_type {};
+#endif
+
+#if JSON_USE_OBJECTS_FOR_ENUM_KEYED_MAPS
+template<typename T>
+struct is_enum_keyed_map_type : is_enum_keyed_map<T> {};
+#else
+template<typename T>
+struct is_enum_keyed_map_type : std::false_type {};
+#endif
+
+// rvalue (non-const) container: the generic to_json takes its elements by move
+template<typename T>
+using is_movable_container_rvalue = conjunction <
+                                    negation<std::is_lvalue_reference<T>>,
+                                    negation<std::is_const<T>>,
+                                    negation<has_dedicated_to_json<T>>,
+                                    negation<is_basic_json<T>>,
+                                    negation<is_range_view_type<T>>,
+                                    negation<is_enum_keyed_map_type<T>>,
+                                    negation<std::is_same<T, std::vector<bool>>> >;
+
+// rvalue array-like containers
+template<typename BasicJsonType, typename T>
+using is_rvalue_array_to_json = conjunction <
+                                is_movable_container_rvalue<T>,
+                                negation<std::is_same<T, typename BasicJsonType::array_t>>,
+                                negation<std::is_same<T, typename BasicJsonType::binary_t>>,
+                                is_compatible_array_type<BasicJsonType, T>,
+                                negation<is_compatible_object_type<BasicJsonType, T>>,
+                                negation<is_compatible_string_type<BasicJsonType, T>>,
+                                negation<is_compatible_binary_type<BasicJsonType, T>> >;
+
+// rvalue containers: their elements are moved instead of copied
+template < typename BasicJsonType, typename CompatibleArrayType,
+           enable_if_t < is_rvalue_array_to_json<BasicJsonType, CompatibleArrayType>::value, int > = 0 >
+inline void to_json(BasicJsonType& j, CompatibleArrayType && arr)
+{
+    external_constructor<value_t::array>::construct_moving(j, arr);
+}
+
 #if JSON_HAS_RANGE_VIEW_CONVERSION
 template < typename BasicJsonType, typename T,
            enable_if_t < is_compatible_range_view<std::remove_cvref_t<T>>::value
@@ -427,6 +509,20 @@ inline void to_json(BasicJsonType& j, const EnumKeyedMap& map)
 }
 #endif
 
+// rvalue object-like containers
+template<typename BasicJsonType, typename T>
+using is_rvalue_object_to_json = conjunction <
+                                 is_movable_container_rvalue<T>,
+                                 negation<std::is_same<T, typename BasicJsonType::object_t>>,
+                                 is_compatible_object_type<BasicJsonType, T> >;
+
+template < typename BasicJsonType, typename CompatibleObjectType,
+           enable_if_t < is_rvalue_object_to_json<BasicJsonType, CompatibleObjectType>::value, int > = 0 >
+inline void to_json(BasicJsonType& j, CompatibleObjectType && obj)
+{
+    external_constructor<value_t::object>::construct_moving(j, obj);
+}
+
 template<typename BasicJsonType>
 inline void to_json(BasicJsonType& j, typename BasicJsonType::object_t&& obj)
 {

include/nlohmann/detail/input/json_sax.hpp

@@ -674,16 +674,19 @@ class json_sax_dom_callback_parser
         if (keep && ref_stack.back())
         {
             auto& obj = *ref_stack.back()->m_data.m_value.object;
-            const auto it = obj.find(val);
+            // a single lookup: insert the placeholder, or find the existing member
-            if (it != obj.end())
+            const auto inserted = obj.emplace(val, discarded);
+            const auto it = inserted.first;
+            if (!inserted.second)
             {
                 // this is a duplicate key (legal in JSON); remember its
                 // current value so it can be restored later if the new
                 // value is rejected by the callback, instead of being
                 // erased together with the discarded placeholder
                 duplicate_key_stash.emplace_back(&(it->second), it->second);
+                it->second = discarded;
             }
-            object_element = &(obj[val] = discarded);
+            object_element = &(it->second);
         }
 
         return true;

include/nlohmann/detail/json_pointer.hpp

@@ -16,8 +16,6 @@
     #include <iosfwd> // ostream
 #endif  // JSON_NO_IO
 #include <limits> // max
-#include <map> // map
-#include <numeric> // accumulate
 #include <string> // string
 #include <utility> // move
 #include <vector> // vector
@@ -69,12 +67,21 @@ class json_pointer
     /// @sa https://json.nlohmann.me/api/json_pointer/to_string/
     string_t to_string() const
     {
-        return std::accumulate(reference_tokens.begin(), reference_tokens.end(),
+        // one buffer: every token adds its escaped form (at least its length) and a slash
-                               string_t{},
+        std::size_t length = 0;
-                               [](const string_t& a, const string_t& b)
+        for (const auto& reference_token : reference_tokens)
         {
-            return detail::concat<string_t>(a, '/', detail::escape(b));
+            length += reference_token.size() + 1;
-        });
+        }
+
+        string_t result;
+        result.reserve(length);
+        for (const auto& reference_token : reference_tokens)
+        {
+            result.append("/", 1);
+            detail::escape_into(result, reference_token);
+        }
+        return result;
     }
 
     /// @brief return a string representation of the JSON pointer
@@ -129,21 +136,29 @@ class json_pointer
     friend json_pointer operator/(const json_pointer& lhs,
                                   const json_pointer& rhs)
     {
-        return json_pointer(lhs) /= rhs;
+        json_pointer result;
+        result.reference_tokens.reserve(lhs.reference_tokens.size() + rhs.reference_tokens.size());
+        result.reference_tokens.insert(result.reference_tokens.end(), lhs.reference_tokens.begin(), lhs.reference_tokens.end());
+        result.reference_tokens.insert(result.reference_tokens.end(), rhs.reference_tokens.begin(), rhs.reference_tokens.end());
+        return result;
     }
 
     /// @brief create a new JSON pointer by appending the unescaped token at the end of the JSON pointer
     /// @sa https://json.nlohmann.me/api/json_pointer/operator_slash/
     friend json_pointer operator/(const json_pointer& lhs, string_t token) // NOLINT(performance-unnecessary-value-param)
     {
-        return json_pointer(lhs) /= std::move(token);
+        json_pointer result;
+        result.reference_tokens.reserve(lhs.reference_tokens.size() + 1);
+        result.reference_tokens.insert(result.reference_tokens.end(), lhs.reference_tokens.begin(), lhs.reference_tokens.end());
+        result.reference_tokens.push_back(std::move(token));
+        return result;
     }
 
     /// @brief create a new JSON pointer by appending the array-index-token at the end of the JSON pointer
     /// @sa https://json.nlohmann.me/api/json_pointer/operator_slash/
     friend json_pointer operator/(const json_pointer& lhs, std::size_t array_idx)
     {
-        return json_pointer(lhs) /= array_idx;
+        return lhs / detail::to_string<string_t>(array_idx);
     }
 
     /// @brief returns the parent of this JSON pointer
@@ -155,8 +170,8 @@ class json_pointer
             return *this;
         }
 
-        json_pointer res = *this;
+        json_pointer res;
-        res.pop_back();
+        res.reference_tokens = std::vector<string_t>(reference_tokens.begin(), reference_tokens.end() - 1);
         return res;
     }
 
@@ -245,14 +260,14 @@ class json_pointer
 
   private:
     /// @throw out_of_range.405 always
-    JSON_HEDLEY_NO_RETURN static void throw_no_parent()
+    JSON_HEDLEY_NEVER_INLINE JSON_HEDLEY_NO_RETURN static void throw_no_parent()
     {
         JSON_THROW(detail::out_of_range::create(detail::exception_id::patch_on_root, "JSON pointer has no parent", nullptr));
     }
 
     /// @throw out_of_range.404 always
     template<typename BasicJsonContext>
-    JSON_HEDLEY_NO_RETURN static void throw_unresolved(const string_t& reference_token, BasicJsonContext context)
+    JSON_HEDLEY_NEVER_INLINE JSON_HEDLEY_NO_RETURN static void throw_unresolved(const string_t& reference_token, BasicJsonContext context)
     {
         static_cast<void>(reference_token); // unused when JSON_NOEXCEPTION is defined
         static_cast<void>(context);
@@ -305,6 +320,28 @@ class json_pointer
             return array_index_status::not_a_number;
         }
 
+        // fast path: up to 18 decimal digits cannot overflow unsigned long long or
+        // size_type (9 digits for a 32-bit size_type), so strtoull and errno are not needed
+        constexpr std::size_t max_fast_digits = sizeof(size_type) >= 8 ? 18 : 9;
+        if (!s.empty() && s.size() <= max_fast_digits)
+        {
+            size_type acc = 0;
+            for (std::size_t i = 0; i < s.size(); ++i)
+            {
+                const char c = s[i];
+                if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(c < '0' || c > '9'))
+                {
+                    break; // not a plain number: let strtoull decide
+                }
+                acc = static_cast<size_type>(acc * 10 + static_cast<size_type>(c - '0'));
+                if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(i == s.size() - 1))
+                {
+                    idx = acc;
+                    return array_index_status::ok;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
         const char* p = s.data();
         char* p_end = nullptr; // NOLINT(misc-const-correctness)
         errno = 0; // strtoull doesn't reset errno
@@ -361,6 +398,83 @@ class json_pointer
         return idx;
     }
 
+    /*!
+    @brief compare with a JSON pointer string without splitting it into tokens
+
+    @throw parse_error.107  if the string is not empty or begins with '/'
+    @throw parse_error.108  if character '~' is not followed by '0' or '1'
+    */
+    bool equals_string(const string_t& reference_string) const
+    {
+        if (reference_string.empty())
+        {
+            return reference_tokens.empty();
+        }
+
+        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(reference_string[0] != '/'))
+        {
+            JSON_THROW(detail::parse_error::create(detail::exception_id::pointer_missing_slash, 1, detail::concat("JSON pointer must be empty or begin with '/' - was: '", reference_string, "'"), nullptr));
+        }
+
+        // the whole string is validated, whether or not it matches
+        const std::size_t size = reference_string.size();
+        for (std::size_t pos = reference_string.find_first_of('~');
+                pos != string_t::npos;
+                pos = reference_string.find_first_of('~', pos + 1))
+        {
+            if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(pos == size - 1 || (reference_string[pos + 1] != '0' && reference_string[pos + 1] != '1')))
+            {
+                JSON_THROW(detail::parse_error::create(detail::exception_id::pointer_invalid_escape, 0, "escape character '~' must be followed with '0' or '1'", nullptr));
+            }
+        }
+
+        // compare token by token, unescaping the string on the fly
+        std::size_t pos = 0; // the slash in front of the next token
+        for (const auto& reference_token : reference_tokens)
+        {
+            if (pos >= size)
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            std::size_t i = pos + 1;
+            std::size_t j = 0;
+            const std::size_t token_size = reference_token.size();
+            while (i < size && reference_string[i] != '/')
+            {
+                char c = reference_string[i++];
+                if (c == '~')
+                {
+                    c = (reference_string[i++] == '0') ? '~' : '/';
+                }
+                if (j == token_size || reference_token[j] != c)
+                {
+                    return false;
+                }
+                ++j;
+            }
+            if (j != token_size)
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+            pos = i;
+        }
+        return pos == size;
+    }
+
+    /// @brief object member access with a key that is only copied if it is inserted
+    template<typename BasicJsonType>
+    static BasicJsonType& object_member(BasicJsonType& object, const string_t& key)
+    {
+        auto& members = *object.m_data.m_value.object;
+        const auto it = members.find(key);
+        if (it != members.end())
+        {
+            return it->second;
+        }
+        return object.operator[](key);
+    }
+
   JSON_PRIVATE_UNLESS_TESTED:
     json_pointer top() const
     {
@@ -384,84 +498,141 @@ class json_pointer
     the result independent of the order in which the flattened object is
     iterated, which is unspecified for some object types.
 
-    The prefixes form a tree and are numbered, so each of them is stored only
+    The prefixes form a tree and are numbered (number 0 is the empty prefix),
-    once (as a node) rather than as a copy of all of its reference tokens.
+    so each of them is stored only once (as a node) rather than as a copy of
+    all of its reference tokens. The tree does not own the reference tokens:
+    it refers to the tokens of the parsed keys, which must outlive it.
     */
     struct prefix_tree
     {
-        // children[id] maps a reference token to the number of the prefix
+        // open-addressing hash table from (parent, last reference token) to
-        // extended by that token; number 0 is the empty prefix
+        // the number of the node; empty slots have token == nullptr
-        std::vector<std::map<string_t, std::size_t>> children;
+        struct slot
+        {
+            std::size_t hash;
+            std::size_t parent;
+            const string_t* token;
+            std::size_t id;
+
+            slot() noexcept
+                : hash(0), parent(0), token(nullptr), id(0)
+            {}
+
+            slot(std::size_t h, std::size_t p, const string_t* t, std::size_t i) noexcept
+                : hash(h), parent(p), token(t), id(i)
+            {}
+        };
+
+        std::vector<slot> slots;
+        std::size_t used = 0;
+
+        static std::size_t hash_of(std::size_t parent, const string_t& token) noexcept
+        {
+            std::size_t h = parent * static_cast<std::size_t>(0x9E3779B97F4A7C15ULL);
+            for (std::size_t i = 0; i < token.size(); ++i)
+            {
+                h = (h ^ static_cast<unsigned char>(token[i])) * static_cast<std::size_t>(0x100000001B3ULL);
+            }
+            return h ^ (h >> 29u);
+        }
+
+        void grow()
+        {
+            std::vector<slot> old(slots.size() * 2);
+            old.swap(slots);
+            const std::size_t mask = slots.size() - 1;
+            for (const auto& s : old)
+            {
+                if (s.token != nullptr)
+                {
+                    std::size_t i = s.hash & mask;
+                    while (slots[i].token != nullptr)
+                    {
+                        i = (i + 1) & mask;
+                    }
+                    slots[i] = s;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        // parent[id] is the number of the prefix without its last token
+        std::vector<std::size_t> parent;
         // is_array[id] is true iff some flattened key has the reference token
         // 0 directly below the prefix with number id
         std::vector<bool> is_array;
 
         // start with the empty prefix only
         prefix_tree()
-            : children(1)
+            : slots(16)
+            , parent(1, 0)
             , is_array(1, false)
         {}
 
         // return the number of the prefix with number id extended by
         // reference_token, adding it if it is new
-        std::size_t add_child(std::size_t id, string_t&& reference_token)
+        std::size_t add_child(std::size_t id, const string_t& reference_token)
         {
+            const std::size_t hash = hash_of(id, reference_token);
+            const std::size_t mask = slots.size() - 1;
+            std::size_t i = hash & mask;
+            while (slots[i].token != nullptr)
+            {
+                if (slots[i].hash == hash && slots[i].parent == id && *slots[i].token == reference_token)
+                {
+                    return slots[i].id;
+                }
+                i = (i + 1) & mask;
+            }
+
+            // new prefix
+            const std::size_t child = parent.size();
+            slots[i] = slot(hash, id, &reference_token, child);
             if (reference_token == "0")
             {
                 is_array[id] = true;
             }
+            parent.push_back(id);
+            is_array.push_back(false);
 
-            // read the number before the emplace_back below, which may
+            // keep the load factor below 1/2
-            // reallocate children and invalidate the iterator
+            if (++used * 2 > slots.size())
-            const std::size_t next = children.size();
-            const auto inserted = children[id].emplace(std::move(reference_token), next);
-            const std::size_t child = inserted.first->second;
-            if (inserted.second)
             {
-                children.emplace_back();
+                grow();
-                is_array.push_back(false);
             }
             return child;
         }
-
-        // return the number of the prefix with number id extended by
-        // reference_token, which must have been added before
-        std::size_t find_child(std::size_t id, const string_t& reference_token) const
-        {
-            const auto it = children[id].find(reference_token);
-            JSON_ASSERT(it != children[id].end());
-            return it->second;
-        }
     };
 
     /*!
     @brief create and return a reference to the pointed to value
 
-    Complexity: Linear in the number of reference tokens (times the logarithm
+    @param[in] j  the value to create the pointed to value in
-    of the number of siblings for the prefix lookup).
+    @param[in] tokens  the reference tokens of the pointer
+    @param[in] prefixes  prefixes[i] is the number in @a tree of the prefix
+                         consisting of the first i reference tokens
+
+    Complexity: Linear in the number of reference tokens.
 
     @throw parse_error.106 if an array index begins with '0'
     @throw parse_error.109 if array index is not a number
     @throw type_error.313 if value cannot be unflattened
     */
     template<typename BasicJsonType>
-    BasicJsonType& get_and_create(BasicJsonType& j, const prefix_tree& tree) const
+    static BasicJsonType& get_and_create(BasicJsonType& j, const std::vector<string_t>& tokens,
+                                         const std::vector<std::size_t>& prefixes, const prefix_tree& tree)
     {
         auto* result = &j;
 
-        // the number of the prefix consumed so far; used to look up whether
-        // the value to be created below is an array or an object
-        std::size_t id = 0;
-
         // in case no reference tokens exist, return a reference to the JSON value
         // j which will be overwritten by a primitive value
-        for (const auto& reference_token : reference_tokens)
+        for (std::size_t i = 0; i < tokens.size(); ++i)
         {
+            const auto& reference_token = tokens[i];
             switch (result->type())
             {
                 case detail::value_t::null:
                 {
-                    if (tree.is_array[id])
+                    if (tree.is_array[prefixes[i]])
                     {
                         // some reference token below this position is 0, so the
                         // value is an array
@@ -478,7 +649,7 @@ class json_pointer
                 case detail::value_t::object:
                 {
                     // create an entry in the object
-                    result = &result->operator[](reference_token);
+                    result = &object_member(*result, reference_token);
                     break;
                 }
 
@@ -505,8 +676,6 @@ class json_pointer
                 default:
                     JSON_THROW(detail::type_error::create(detail::exception_id::unflatten_invalid_value, "invalid value to unflatten", &j));
             }
-
-            id = tree.find_child(id, reference_token);
         }
 
         return *result;
@@ -558,7 +727,7 @@ class json_pointer
                 case detail::value_t::object:
                 {
                     // use unchecked object access
-                    ptr = &ptr->operator[](reference_token);
+                    ptr = &object_member(*ptr, reference_token);
                     break;
                 }
 
@@ -608,8 +777,13 @@ class json_pointer
             {
                 case detail::value_t::object:
                 {
-                    // note: at performs range check
+                    const auto it = ptr->m_data.m_value.object->find(reference_token);
-                    ptr = &ptr->at(reference_token);
+                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(it == ptr->m_data.m_value.object->end()))
+                    {
+                        // at() throws out_of_range.403 with the usual message
+                        ptr->at(reference_token);
+                    }
+                    ptr = &it->second;
                     break;
                 }
 
@@ -630,7 +804,7 @@ class json_pointer
                         JSON_THROW(detail::out_of_range::create(detail::exception_id::array_index_out_of_range, detail::concat(
                                 "array index ", std::to_string(idx), " is out of range"), ptr));
                     }
-                    ptr = &ptr->operator[](idx);
+                    ptr = &(*ptr->m_data.m_value.array)[idx];
                     break;
                 }
 
@@ -678,7 +852,9 @@ class json_pointer
                 {
                     // use unchecked object access; the const operator[]
                     // asserts that the key exists
-                    ptr = &ptr->operator[](reference_token);
+                    const auto it = ptr->m_data.m_value.object->find(reference_token);
+                    JSON_ASSERT(it != ptr->m_data.m_value.object->end());
+                    ptr = &it->second;
                     break;
                 }
 
@@ -692,7 +868,9 @@ class json_pointer
 
                     // use unchecked array access; the const operator[]
                     // asserts that the index exists
-                    ptr = &ptr->operator[](array_index<BasicJsonType>(reference_token));
+                    const auto idx = array_index<BasicJsonType>(reference_token);
+                    JSON_ASSERT(idx < ptr->m_data.m_value.array->size());
+                    ptr = &(*ptr->m_data.m_value.array)[idx];
                     break;
                 }
 
@@ -733,12 +911,12 @@ class json_pointer
             {
                 case detail::value_t::object:
                 {
-                    const auto it = ptr->find(reference_token);
+                    const auto it = ptr->m_data.m_value.object->find(reference_token);
-                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(it == ptr->end()))
+                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(it == ptr->m_data.m_value.object->end()))
                     {
                         return nullptr;
                     }
-                    ptr = &*it;
+                    ptr = &it->second;
                     break;
                 }
 
@@ -775,7 +953,7 @@ class json_pointer
                     {
                         return nullptr;
                     }
-                    ptr = &ptr->operator[](idx);
+                    ptr = &(*ptr->m_data.m_value.array)[idx];
                     break;
                 }
 
@@ -808,13 +986,14 @@ class json_pointer
             {
                 case detail::value_t::object:
                 {
-                    if (!ptr->contains(reference_token))
+                    const auto it = ptr->m_data.m_value.object->find(reference_token);
+                    if (it == ptr->m_data.m_value.object->end())
                     {
                         // we did not find the key in the object
                         return false;
                     }
 
-                    ptr = &ptr->operator[](reference_token);
+                    ptr = &it->second;
                     break;
                 }
 
@@ -836,13 +1015,13 @@ class json_pointer
                         return false;
                     }
 
-                    if (idx >= ptr->size())
+                    if (idx >= ptr->m_data.m_value.array->size())
                     {
                         // index out of range
                         return false;
                     }
 
-                    ptr = &ptr->operator[](idx);
+                    ptr = &(*ptr->m_data.m_value.array)[idx];
                     break;
                 }
 
@@ -892,6 +1071,15 @@ class json_pointer
             JSON_THROW(detail::parse_error::create(detail::exception_id::pointer_missing_slash, 1, detail::concat("JSON pointer must be empty or begin with '/' - was: '", reference_string, "'"), nullptr));
         }
 
+        // every slash starts a reference token
+        const std::size_t size = reference_string.size();
+        std::size_t token_count = 0;
+        for (std::size_t i = 0; i < size; ++i)
+        {
+            token_count += (reference_string[i] == '/') ? 1 : 0;
+        }
+        result.reserve(token_count);
+
         // extract the reference tokens:
         // - slash: position of the last read slash (or end of string)
         // - start: position after the previous slash
@@ -913,31 +1101,52 @@ class json_pointer
             const auto count = (slash == string_t::npos ? reference_string.size() : slash) - start;
             auto reference_token = string_t(reference_string.data() + start, count);
 
-            // check reference tokens are properly escaped
+            // check reference tokens are properly escaped; a token without
-            for (std::size_t pos = reference_token.find_first_of('~');
+            // a '~' (the common case) needs neither check nor unescaping
-                    pos != string_t::npos;
+            std::size_t pos = reference_token.find_first_of('~');
-                    pos = reference_token.find_first_of('~', pos + 1))
+            if (pos != string_t::npos)
             {
-                JSON_ASSERT(reference_token[pos] == '~');
+                for (; pos != string_t::npos; pos = reference_token.find_first_of('~', pos + 1))
-
-                // ~ must be followed by 0 or 1
-                if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(pos == reference_token.size() - 1 ||
-                                         (reference_token[pos + 1] != '0' &&
-                                          reference_token[pos + 1] != '1')))
                 {
-                    JSON_THROW(detail::parse_error::create(detail::exception_id::pointer_invalid_escape, 0, "escape character '~' must be followed with '0' or '1'", nullptr));
+                    JSON_ASSERT(reference_token[pos] == '~');
+
+                    // ~ must be followed by 0 or 1
+                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(pos == reference_token.size() - 1 ||
+                                             (reference_token[pos + 1] != '0' &&
+                                              reference_token[pos + 1] != '1')))
+                    {
+                        JSON_THROW(detail::parse_error::create(detail::exception_id::pointer_invalid_escape, 0, "escape character '~' must be followed with '0' or '1'", nullptr));
+                    }
                 }
+
+                detail::unescape(reference_token);
             }
 
             // finally, store the reference token
-            detail::unescape(reference_token);
+            result.push_back(std::move(reference_token));
-            result.push_back(reference_token);
         }
 
         return result;
     }
 
   private:
+    // Add the entry (key, v) to the object `obj`. Flattened paths are pairwise
+    // distinct, so objects that can append a key known to be absent
+    // (ordered_map) skip the lookup, which is linear and would make flatten
+    // quadratic; all other object types use operator[].
+    template<typename ObjectType, typename ValueType>
+    static auto add_flattened(ObjectType& obj, const string_t& key, ValueType&& v, int /*unused*/)
+    -> decltype(obj.emplace_new_key(key, std::forward<ValueType>(v)), void())
+    {
+        obj.emplace_new_key(key, std::forward<ValueType>(v));
+    }
+
+    template<typename ObjectType, typename ValueType>
+    static void add_flattened(ObjectType& obj, const string_t& key, ValueType&& v, ...)
+    {
+        obj[key] = std::forward<ValueType>(v);
+    }
+
     /*!
     @param[in] reference_string  the reference string to the current value
     @param[in] value             the value to consider
@@ -982,7 +1191,8 @@ class json_pointer
 
         // flatten `v`, whose path is `path`: primitives and empty containers
         // are added to the result right away; other containers get a frame
-        const auto enter = [&stack, &path, &result](const BasicJsonType & v)
+        auto& object = *result.m_data.m_value.object;
+        const auto enter = [&stack, &path, &object](const BasicJsonType & v)
         {
             switch (v.type())
             {
@@ -991,7 +1201,7 @@ class json_pointer
                     if (v.m_data.m_value.array->empty())
                     {
                         // flatten empty array as null
-                        result[path] = nullptr;
+                        add_flattened(object, path, nullptr, 0);
                     }
                     else
                     {
@@ -1005,7 +1215,7 @@ class json_pointer
                     if (v.m_data.m_value.object->empty())
                     {
                         // flatten empty object as null
-                        result[path] = nullptr;
+                        add_flattened(object, path, nullptr, 0);
                     }
                     else
                     {
@@ -1025,7 +1235,7 @@ class json_pointer
                 default:
                 {
                     // add a primitive value with its reference string
-                    result[path] = v;
+                    add_flattened(object, path, v, 0);
                     return;
                 }
             }
@@ -1071,6 +1281,10 @@ class json_pointer
                 enter(it->second);
             }
         }
+
+        // the entries were added without going through basic_json, so the
+        // parent pointers (JSON_DIAGNOSTICS) have to be set now
+        result.set_parents();
     }
 
     /*!
@@ -1094,21 +1308,53 @@ class json_pointer
 
         BasicJsonType result;
 
+        // parse every key once; the reference tokens are kept for the second
+        // pass (the vectors are never resized, so the tree may refer to them)
+        std::vector<std::vector<string_t>> keys;
+        keys.reserve(value.m_data.m_value.object->size());
+        for (const auto& element : *value.m_data.m_value.object)
+        {
+            json_pointer ptr(element.first);
+            keys.push_back(std::move(ptr.reference_tokens));
+        }
+
         // collect the pointer prefixes that have a reference token 0 among
         // their children; the values below them are arrays, all others are
         // objects (see prefix_tree)
         prefix_tree tree;
-        for (const auto& element : *value.m_data.m_value.object)
+        // the number of the prefix with i + 1 tokens of the previous key; keys
+        // are often sorted, so most of the prefix is the same as for the
+        // previous key and need not be looked up again
+        std::vector<std::size_t> path;
+        const std::vector<string_t>* previous = nullptr;
+        // the number of the complete prefix (i.e., the key) of each key
+        std::vector<std::size_t> leaves;
+        leaves.reserve(keys.size());
+        for (const auto& tokens : keys)
         {
-            json_pointer ptr(element.first);
+            std::size_t common = 0;
-            std::size_t id = 0;
+            if (previous != nullptr)
-            for (auto& reference_token : ptr.reference_tokens)
             {
-                id = tree.add_child(id, std::move(reference_token));
+                const std::size_t limit = (std::min)(tokens.size(), previous->size());
+                while (common < limit && tokens[common] == (*previous)[common])
+                {
+                    ++common;
+                }
             }
+            path.resize(common);
+            std::size_t id = common == 0 ? 0 : path[common - 1];
+            for (std::size_t i = common; i < tokens.size(); ++i)
+            {
+                id = tree.add_child(id, tokens[i]);
+                path.push_back(id);
+            }
+            leaves.push_back(id);
+            previous = &tokens;
         }
 
         // iterate the JSON object values
+        std::vector<std::size_t> prefixes;
+        std::size_t key_index = 0;
         for (const auto& element : *value.m_data.m_value.object)
         {
             if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!element.second.is_primitive()))
@@ -1116,11 +1362,21 @@ class json_pointer
                 JSON_THROW(detail::type_error::create(detail::exception_id::unflatten_value_not_primitive, "values in object must be primitive", &element.second));
             }
 
+            const auto& tokens = keys[key_index];
+            // number the prefixes of this key from its last one to the first
+            prefixes.resize(tokens.size());
+            for (std::size_t i = tokens.size(), id = leaves[key_index]; i > 0; --i)
+            {
+                id = tree.parent[id];
+                prefixes[i - 1] = id;
+            }
+            ++key_index;
+
             // Assign the value to the reference pointed to by JSON pointer. Note
             // that if the JSON pointer is "" (i.e., points to the whole value),
             // function get_and_create returns a reference to the result itself.
             // An assignment will then create a primitive value.
-            json_pointer(element.first).get_and_create(result, tree) = element.second;
+            get_and_create(result, tokens, prefixes, tree) = element.second;
         }
 
         return result;
@@ -1159,7 +1415,7 @@ class json_pointer
         = delete;
 #else
     {
-        return *this == json_pointer(rhs);
+        return equals_string(rhs);
     }
 #endif
 
@@ -1243,7 +1499,7 @@ inline bool operator==(const json_pointer<RefStringTypeLhs>& lhs,
     = delete;
 #else
 {
-    return lhs == json_pointer<RefStringTypeLhs>(rhs);
+    return lhs.equals_string(rhs);
 }
 #endif
 
@@ -1256,7 +1512,7 @@ inline bool operator==(const StringType& lhs,
     = delete;
 #else
 {
-    return json_pointer<RefStringTypeRhs>(lhs) == rhs;
+    return rhs.equals_string(lhs);
 }
 #endif
 

include/nlohmann/detail/string_escape.hpp

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include <cstddef> // size_t
+#include <utility> // move
 
 #include <nlohmann/detail/abi_macros.hpp>
 
@@ -24,39 +25,46 @@ namespace detail
  * Note the order of escaping "~" to "~0" and "/" to "~1" is important.
  *
  * The string is rebuilt in a single pass, appending whole runs between the
- * characters that need escaping. Scanning with find_first_of() keeps the
+ * characters that need escaping, while repeated replace() calls would move
- * common case -- nothing to escape -- as fast as a single search, while
+ * the tail of the string once per escaped character. @ref escape_into appends
- * repeated replace() calls would move the tail of the string once per
+ * the escaped string to an existing one.
- * escaped character.
  */
+template<typename StringType>
+inline void escape_into(StringType& out, const StringType& s)
+{
+    const std::size_t size = s.size();
+    std::size_t run = 0;
+    for (std::size_t i = 0; i < size; ++i)
+    {
+        const char c = s[i];
+        if (c == '~' || c == '/')
+        {
+            out.append(s.data() + run, i - run);
+            out.append(c == '~' ? "~0" : "~1", 2);
+            run = i + 1;
+        }
+    }
+    out.append(s.data() + run, size - run);
+}
+
 template<typename StringType>
 inline StringType escape(const StringType& s)
 {
-    auto next_special = [&s](std::size_t from)
+    // a single scan for both special characters; nothing to escape is the common case
+    const std::size_t size = s.size();
+    std::size_t i = 0;
+    while (i < size && s[i] != '~' && s[i] != '/')
     {
-        const auto tilde = s.find_first_of('~', from);
+        ++i;
-        const auto slash = s.find_first_of('/', from);
+    }
-        return tilde < slash ? tilde : slash; // npos is the largest value
+    if (i == size)
-    };
-
-    auto pos = next_special(0);
-    if (pos == StringType::npos)
     {
         return s;
     }
 
     StringType result;
-    result.reserve(s.size() + 2);
+    result.reserve(size + 2);
-
+    escape_into(result, s);
-    std::size_t run = 0;
-    while (pos != StringType::npos)
-    {
-        result.append(s.data() + run, pos - run);
-        result.append(s[pos] == '~' ? "~0" : "~1", 2);
-        run = pos + 1;
-        pos = next_special(run);
-    }
-    result.append(s.data() + run, s.size() - run);
     return result;
 }
 
@@ -101,7 +109,7 @@ inline void unescape(StringType& s)
         pos = s.find_first_of('~', run);
     }
     result.append(s.data() + run, s.size() - run);
-    s = result;
+    s = std::move(result);
 }
 
 }  // namespace detail

include/nlohmann/json.hpp

@@ -6562,24 +6562,18 @@ public:
         };
 
         // wrapper for "add" operation; add value at ptr
-        const auto operation_add = [&result](json_pointer & ptr, const basic_json & val)
+        const auto operation_add = [&result](json_pointer & ptr, basic_json val)
         {
             // adding to the root of the target document means replacing it
             if (ptr.empty())
             {
-                result = val;
+                result = std::move(val);
                 return;
             }
 
-            // make sure the top element of the pointer exists
+            // get reference to the parent of the JSON pointer ptr; a missing
-            json_pointer const top_pointer = ptr.top();
+            // parent (or one of its ancestors) is reported by at()
-            if (top_pointer != ptr)
+            auto last_path = std::move(ptr.reference_tokens.back());
-            {
-                result.at(top_pointer);
-            }
-
-            // get reference to the parent of the JSON pointer ptr
-            const auto last_path = ptr.back();
             ptr.pop_back();
             // parent must exist when performing patch add per RFC6902 specs
             basic_json& parent = result.at(ptr);
@@ -6590,7 +6584,7 @@ public:
                 case value_t::object:
                 {
                     // use operator[] to add value
-                    parent[last_path] = val;
+                    parent[std::move(last_path)] = std::move(val);
                     break;
                 }
 
@@ -6599,7 +6593,7 @@ public:
                     if (last_path == "-")
                     {
                         // special case: append to back
-                        parent.push_back(val);
+                        parent.push_back(std::move(val));
                     }
                     else
                     {
@@ -6611,7 +6605,7 @@ public:
                         }
 
                         // default case: insert add offset
-                        parent.insert(parent.begin() + static_cast<difference_type>(idx), val);
+                        parent.insert(parent.begin() + static_cast<difference_type>(idx), std::move(val));
                     }
                     break;
                 }
@@ -6634,7 +6628,8 @@ public:
         const auto operation_remove = [this, & result](json_pointer & ptr)
         {
             // get reference to the parent of the JSON pointer ptr
-            const auto last_path = ptr.back();
+            static_cast<void>(ptr.back()); // throws out_of_range.405 if ptr is the root
+            const auto last_path = std::move(ptr.reference_tokens.back());
             ptr.pop_back();
             basic_json& parent = result.at(ptr);
 
@@ -6734,8 +6729,8 @@ public:
             }
 
             // collect mandatory members
-            const auto op = get_value("op", "op", true).template get<string_t>();
+            const string_t& op = *get_value("op", "op", true).m_data.m_value.string;
-            const auto path = get_value(op, "path", true).template get<string_t>();
+            const string_t& path = *get_value(op, "path", true).m_data.m_value.string;
             json_pointer ptr(path);
 
             switch (get_op(op))
@@ -6761,7 +6756,7 @@ public:
 
                 case patch_operations::move:
                 {
-                    const auto from_path = get_value("move", "from", true).template get<string_t>();
+                    const string_t& from_path = *get_value("move", "from", true).m_data.m_value.string;
                     json_pointer from_ptr(from_path);
 
                     if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(is_proper_prefix(from_ptr, ptr)))
@@ -6770,29 +6765,28 @@ public:
                     }
 
                     // the "from" location must exist - use at()
-                    basic_json const v = result.at(from_ptr);
+                    // a root "from" is rejected by operation_remove below, which must leave result intact
+                    basic_json v = from_ptr.empty() ? basic_json(result) : std::move(result.at(from_ptr));
 
                     // The move operation is functionally identical to a
                     // "remove" operation on the "from" location, followed
                     // immediately by an "add" operation at the target
                     // location with the value that was just removed.
                     operation_remove(from_ptr);
-                    operation_add(ptr, v);
+                    operation_add(ptr, std::move(v));
                     break;
                 }
 
                 case patch_operations::copy:
                 {
-                    const auto from_path = get_value("copy", "from", true).template get<string_t>();
+                    const string_t& from_path = *get_value("copy", "from", true).m_data.m_value.string;
                     const json_pointer from_ptr(from_path);
 
-                    // the "from" location must exist - use at()
-                    basic_json const v = result.at(from_ptr);
-
                     // The copy is functionally identical to an "add"
                     // operation at the target location using the value
-                    // specified in the "from" member.
+                    // specified in the "from" member; the "from" location
-                    operation_add(ptr, v);
+                    // must exist - use at()
+                    operation_add(ptr, result.at(from_ptr));
                     break;
                 }
 

include/nlohmann/ordered_map.hpp

@@ -143,6 +143,17 @@ public:
         return {std::prev(this->end()), true};
     }
 
+    /// @brief add an element at the end without checking whether the key exists
+    /// @note The caller must guarantee that @a key is not yet contained, otherwise
+    ///       the container holds duplicate keys. This avoids the linear search of
+    ///       emplace() and operator[] when many keys known to be new are added.
+    template<class V, detail::enable_if_t<
+                 detail::is_constructible<T, V>::value, int> = 0>
+    void emplace_new_key(const key_type& key, V && t)
+    {
+        append(key, std::forward<V>(t));
+    }
+
     T& operator[](const key_type& key)
     {
         return emplace(key, T{}).first->second;

tests/benchmarks/src/benchmarks.cpp

@@ -9,7 +9,10 @@
 #include <benchmark/benchmark.h>
 #include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
 #include <fstream>
+#include <array>
+#include <deque>
 #include <numeric>
+#include <set>
 #include <vector>
 #include <test_data.hpp>
 
@@ -621,4 +624,27 @@ static void FromCborChunkedString(benchmark::State& state, const std::size_t chu
 
 BENCHMARK_CAPTURE(FromCborChunkedString, 10000 chunks, 10000);
 
+// conversion of a JSON array into standard containers
+template<typename Container>
+static void GetArray(benchmark::State& state)
+{
+    json j = json::array();
+    for (int i = 0; i < 1000; ++i)
+    {
+        j.push_back(i);
+    }
+
+    for (auto _ : state)
+    {
+        auto c = j.get<Container>();
+        benchmark::DoNotOptimize(c);
+    }
+    state.SetItemsProcessed(state.iterations() * 1000);
+}
+
+BENCHMARK_TEMPLATE(GetArray, std::vector<int>);
+BENCHMARK_TEMPLATE(GetArray, std::deque<int>);
+BENCHMARK_TEMPLATE(GetArray, std::set<int>);
+BENCHMARK_TEMPLATE(GetArray, std::array<int, 1000>);
+
 BENCHMARK_MAIN();

tests/src/unit-algorithms.cpp

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #include "doctest_compatibility.h"
 
 #include <algorithm>
+#include <numeric>
 #include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
 using nlohmann::json;
 

tests/src/unit-json_pointer.cpp

@@ -23,8 +23,14 @@ using nlohmann::json;
     using namespace nlohmann::literals; // NOLINT(google-build-using-namespace)
 #endif
 
+#include <cerrno>
+#include <cstdlib>
+#include <limits>
 #include <map>
+#include <random>
 #include <sstream>
+#include <string>
+#include <vector>
 
 TEST_CASE("JSON pointers")
 {
@@ -1071,3 +1077,242 @@ TEST_CASE("flatten of structured values")
               R"({"/z":"s","/a~1b/~0":1,"/a~1b/k":null,"/a/0":1,"/a/1/c":null,"/a/1/b":null,"/a/2/0/x~0~1/0":true,"/a/2/0/x~0~1/1":null,"/a/2/0/w":2})");
     }
 }
+
+TEST_CASE("flatten of ordered_json")
+{
+    using nlohmann::ordered_json;
+
+    SECTION("keeps the document order of the leaves")
+    {
+        const ordered_json j = ordered_json::parse(R"({
+            "z": 1, "a": {"y": [true, null, {}], "b": "x", "": []},
+            "m~n": 2.5, "o/p": {"k": {}}, "0": [[1], [2, 3]]
+        })");
+
+        const ordered_json flat = j.flatten();
+        std::vector<std::string> keys;
+        for (const auto& el : flat.items())
+        {
+            keys.push_back(el.key());
+        }
+        const std::vector<std::string> expected =
+        {
+            "/z", "/a/y/0", "/a/y/1", "/a/y/2", "/a/b", "/a/", "/m~0n", "/o~1p/k", "/0/0/0", "/0/1/0", "/0/1/1"
+        };
+        CHECK(keys == expected);
+        CHECK(flat.size() == expected.size());
+        CHECK(flat["/m~0n"] == 2.5);
+        CHECK(flat["/a/y/2"].is_null());
+    }
+
+    SECTION("round-trips and agrees with json")
+    {
+        ordered_json j;
+        for (int i = 0; i < 200; ++i)
+        {
+            j["k" + std::to_string(i)] = {{"v", i}, {"l", {i, i + 1, "s"}}};
+        }
+        const ordered_json flat = j.flatten();
+        CHECK(flat.size() == 800);
+        CHECK(flat.unflatten() == j);
+
+        // same entries as for a sorted object
+        const nlohmann::json plain = nlohmann::json::parse(j.dump());
+        CHECK(nlohmann::json::parse(flat.dump()) == plain.flatten());
+    }
+
+    SECTION("primitive and empty root")
+    {
+        CHECK(ordered_json(1).flatten() == ordered_json({{"", 1}}));
+        CHECK(ordered_json::array().flatten() == ordered_json({{"", nullptr}}));
+    }
+}
+namespace
+{
+// reference implementation of the array index rules (RFC 6901, Sect. 4) based on strtoull
+enum class index_class
+{
+    ok,
+    leading_zero,
+    not_a_number,
+    unresolved,
+    exceeds_size_type
+};
+
+index_class classify_index(const std::string& s, std::size_t& idx)
+{
+    if (s.size() > 1 && s[0] == '0')
+    {
+        return index_class::leading_zero;
+    }
+    if (!s.empty() && s != "-" && !(s[0] >= '0' && s[0] <= '9'))
+    {
+        return index_class::not_a_number;
+    }
+    char* end = nullptr;
+    errno = 0;
+    const unsigned long long res = std::strtoull(s.c_str(), &end, 10); // NOLINT(runtime/int)
+    if (end == s.c_str() || errno == ERANGE || static_cast<std::size_t>(end - s.c_str()) != s.size())
+    {
+        return index_class::unresolved;
+    }
+    if (res >= static_cast<unsigned long long>((std::numeric_limits<std::size_t>::max)())) // NOLINT(runtime/int)
+    {
+        return index_class::exceeds_size_type;
+    }
+    idx = static_cast<std::size_t>(res);
+    return index_class::ok;
+}
+
+// the observable behavior of json_pointer::at() and contains() for an array index token
+void check_index_token(const std::string& token)
+{
+    const json array = {10, 20, 30};
+    const json::json_pointer ptr("/" + token);
+
+    std::size_t idx = 0;
+    const auto cls = classify_index(token, idx);
+    const bool exists = cls == index_class::ok && idx < array.size();
+
+    CAPTURE(token)
+    CHECK(array.contains(ptr) == (exists && token != "-"));
+
+    if (token == "-")
+    {
+        CHECK_THROWS_AS(array.at(ptr), json::out_of_range&);
+        return;
+    }
+
+    switch (cls)
+    {
+        case index_class::leading_zero:
+            CHECK_THROWS_AS(array.at(ptr), json::parse_error&);
+            break;
+        case index_class::not_a_number:
+            CHECK_THROWS_AS(array.at(ptr), json::parse_error&);
+            break;
+        case index_class::unresolved:
+        case index_class::exceeds_size_type:
+            CHECK_THROWS_AS(array.at(ptr), json::out_of_range&);
+            break;
+        case index_class::ok:
+        default:
+            if (exists)
+            {
+                CHECK(array.at(ptr) == array[idx]);
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                CHECK_THROWS_AS(array.at(ptr), json::out_of_range&);
+            }
+            break;
+    }
+}
+} // namespace
+
+TEST_CASE("JSON pointer array index tokens match strtoull semantics")
+{
+    SECTION("boundary values")
+    {
+        const std::string max_digits = std::to_string((std::numeric_limits<std::size_t>::max)());
+        const std::vector<std::string> tokens =
+        {
+            "", "-", "0", "1", "2", "3", "00", "01", "007", "+1", "-1", " 1", "1 ", "1a", "a1", "0x1", "1e1", "1.0",
+            "999999999", "1000000000", "99999999999999999", "999999999999999999", "1000000000000000000",
+            "9999999999999999999", "18446744073709551614", max_digits, "18446744073709551616",
+            "99999999999999999999999", "000000000000000000000"
+        };
+        for (const auto& token : tokens)
+        {
+            check_index_token(token);
+        }
+    }
+
+    SECTION("random tokens")
+    {
+        std::mt19937 gen(42);
+        const std::string alphabet = "0123456789012345678901234567890123456789-+ ex";
+        for (int i = 0; i < 5000; ++i)
+        {
+            std::string token(static_cast<std::size_t>(gen() % 23), '0');
+            for (auto& c : token)
+            {
+                c = alphabet[gen() % alphabet.size()];
+            }
+            check_index_token(token);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+TEST_CASE("JSON pointer operations on pointers with escaped tokens")
+{
+    const std::vector<std::string> strings =
+    {
+        "", "/", "//", "/a", "/a/b", "/a~1b", "/~0", "/~01", "/~10", "/a~0~1/b/", "/0/1/2", "/ ", "/a/", "/~1/~0"
+    };
+
+    for (const auto& str : strings)
+    {
+        CAPTURE(str)
+        const json::json_pointer ptr(str);
+        CHECK(ptr.to_string() == str);
+        CHECK(ptr / "x" / "y" / std::size_t{3} == json::json_pointer(str + "/x/y/3"));
+        CHECK(ptr.parent_pointer() == (str.empty() ? ptr : json::json_pointer(str.substr(0, str.rfind('/')))));
+
+        // comparison with a string, in place, and with every other pointer
+#if !defined(JSON_TEST_DEPRECATED_FUNCTIONS_DELETED)
+        for (const auto& other : strings)
+        {
+            CAPTURE(other)
+            CHECK((ptr == other) == (str == other));
+            CHECK((other == ptr) == (str == other));
+            CHECK((ptr != other) == (str != other));
+        }
+        CHECK_THROWS_AS(ptr == "x", json::parse_error&);
+        CHECK_THROWS_AS(ptr == "/~", json::parse_error&);
+        CHECK_THROWS_AS(ptr == "/b/~2", json::parse_error&);
+#endif
+    }
+}
+
+TEST_CASE("JSON pointer lookups")
+{
+    json j = {{"a", {{"b", {1, 2, 3}}}}, {"", 7}, {"~/", {{"x", nullptr}}}};
+    const json& cj = j;
+
+    CHECK(cj[json::json_pointer("/a/b/2")] == 3);
+    CHECK(cj.at(json::json_pointer("/a/b/1")) == 2);
+    CHECK(cj.at(json::json_pointer("/")) == 7);
+    CHECK(cj.contains(json::json_pointer("/~0~1/x")));
+    CHECK(!cj.contains(json::json_pointer("/a/c")));
+    CHECK(cj.value(json::json_pointer("/a/b/0"), 5) == 1);
+    CHECK(cj.value(json::json_pointer("/a/b/3"), 5) == 5);
+    CHECK(cj.value(json::json_pointer("/a/zz"), 5) == 5);
+
+    CHECK_THROWS_AS(cj.at(json::json_pointer("/a/c")), json::out_of_range&);
+    CHECK_THROWS_AS(cj.at(json::json_pointer("/a/b/3")), json::out_of_range&);
+
+    // non-const access reuses existing entries and creates missing ones
+    j[json::json_pointer("/a/b/1")] = 20;
+    j[json::json_pointer("/n/m")] = 1;
+    CHECK(j["a"]["b"] == json({1, 20, 3}));
+    CHECK(j["n"]["m"] == 1);
+}
+
+TEST_CASE("JSON patch with moves and copies")
+{
+    json doc = {{"a", {{"b", {1, 2, 3}}}}, {"c", {{"d", "x"}}}};
+
+    CHECK(doc.patch(json::parse(R"([{"op":"move","from":"/a/b","path":"/c/e"}])")) ==
+          json::parse(R"({"a":{},"c":{"d":"x","e":[1,2,3]}})"));
+    CHECK(doc.patch(json::parse(R"([{"op":"copy","from":"/a/b","path":"/c/e"}])")) ==
+          json::parse(R"({"a":{"b":[1,2,3]},"c":{"d":"x","e":[1,2,3]}})"));
+    CHECK(doc.patch(json::parse(R"([{"op":"move","from":"/a/b/0","path":"/a/b/2"}])")) ==
+          json::parse(R"({"a":{"b":[2,3,1]},"c":{"d":"x"}})"));
+
+    // a failing move leaves a copy-patched document untouched
+    CHECK_THROWS_AS(doc.patch(json::parse(R"([{"op":"move","from":"","path":""}])")), json::out_of_range&);
+    json inplace = doc;
+    CHECK_THROWS_AS(inplace.patch_inplace(json::parse(R"([{"op":"move","from":"","path":""}])")), json::out_of_range&);
+    CHECK(inplace == doc);
+}

tests/src/unit-to_json-rvalue.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,257 @@
+//     __ _____ _____ _____
+//  __|  |   __|     |   | |  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"
+
+#include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
+using nlohmann::json;
+
+#include <array>
+#include <deque>
+#include <forward_list>
+#include <list>
+#include <map>
+#include <set>
+#include <string>
+#include <unordered_map>
+#include <utility>
+#include <valarray>
+#include <vector>
+
+#if (defined(__cplusplus) && __cplusplus >= 201703L) || (defined(_HAS_CXX17) && _HAS_CXX17 == 1)
+    #if __has_include(<filesystem>)
+        #include <filesystem>
+        #define TO_JSON_RVALUE_HAS_FS 1
+    #endif
+#endif
+
+namespace
+{
+// element type that counts how it is converted to JSON: a conversion from an
+// lvalue copies, a conversion from an rvalue moves
+struct tracked
+{
+    std::string payload;
+    bool moved_from = false;
+
+    explicit tracked(std::string p) : payload(std::move(p)) {}
+    tracked(const tracked&) = default;
+    tracked& operator=(const tracked&) = default;
+    tracked(tracked&& other) noexcept : payload(std::move(other.payload)), moved_from(other.moved_from)
+    {
+        other.moved_from = true;
+    }
+    tracked& operator=(tracked&& other) noexcept
+    {
+        payload = std::move(other.payload);
+        moved_from = other.moved_from;
+        other.moved_from = true;
+        return *this;
+    }
+    ~tracked() = default;
+};
+
+int tracked_copies = 0; // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables,misc-use-internal-linkage)
+int tracked_moves = 0;  // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables,misc-use-internal-linkage)
+
+void to_json(json& j, const tracked& t)
+{
+    ++tracked_copies;
+    j = t.payload;
+}
+
+void to_json(json& j, tracked&& t)
+{
+    ++tracked_moves;
+    j = std::move(t.payload);
+    t.moved_from = true;
+}
+
+// user type with its own rvalue-aware serializer
+struct udt_container
+{
+    std::vector<int> values;
+};
+} // namespace
+
+namespace nlohmann
+{
+template<>
+struct adl_serializer<udt_container>
+{
+    static void to_json(json& j, const udt_container& c)
+    {
+        j = c.values;
+        j.push_back("copied");
+    }
+    static void to_json(json& j, udt_container&& c)
+    {
+        j = std::move(c.values);
+        j.push_back("moved");
+    }
+};
+} // namespace nlohmann
+
+TEST_CASE("to_json from rvalue containers")
+{
+    const std::string long_a(64, 'a');
+    const std::string long_b(64, 'b');
+
+    SECTION("vector<std::string>: elements are moved")
+    {
+        std::vector<std::string> v{long_a, long_b};
+        const json j = std::move(v);
+        CHECK(j == json::array({long_a, long_b}));
+        for (const auto& s : v) // NOLINT(bugprone-use-after-move,hicpp-invalid-access-moved)
+        {
+            CHECK(s.empty()); // long strings leave the source element empty when moved
+        }
+    }
+
+    SECTION("vector<std::string>: lvalues are copied and left untouched")
+    {
+        const std::vector<std::string> v{long_a, long_b};
+        const json j = v;
+        CHECK(j == json::array({long_a, long_b}));
+        CHECK(v[0] == long_a);
+        CHECK(v[1] == long_b);
+
+        std::vector<std::string> v2{long_a, long_b};
+        const json j2 = v2;
+        CHECK(j2 == j);
+        CHECK(v2[0] == long_a);
+        CHECK(v2[1] == long_b);
+    }
+
+    SECTION("tracked elements: rvalue moves, lvalue copies")
+    {
+        tracked_copies = 0;
+        tracked_moves = 0;
+
+        std::vector<tracked> v;
+        v.emplace_back("x");
+        v.emplace_back("y");
+
+        const json copy = v;
+        CHECK(copy == json::array({"x", "y"}));
+        CHECK(tracked_copies == 2);
+        CHECK(tracked_moves == 0);
+        CHECK_FALSE(v[0].moved_from);
+
+        const json moved = std::move(v);
+        CHECK(moved == copy);
+        CHECK(tracked_copies == 2);
+        CHECK(tracked_moves == 2);
+    }
+
+    SECTION("const rvalue is copied")
+    {
+        tracked_copies = 0;
+        tracked_moves = 0;
+        const std::vector<tracked> v(2, tracked("z"));
+        const json j = std::move(v); // NOLINT(performance-move-const-arg,hicpp-move-const-arg)
+        CHECK(j == json::array({"z", "z"}));
+        CHECK(tracked_copies == 2);
+        CHECK(tracked_moves == 0);
+    }
+
+    SECTION("other sequence containers")
+    {
+        CHECK(json(std::deque<std::string> {long_a, long_b}) == json::array({long_a, long_b}));
+        CHECK(json(std::list<std::string> {long_a, long_b}) == json::array({long_a, long_b}));
+        CHECK(json(std::forward_list<std::string> {long_a, long_b}) == json::array({long_a, long_b}));
+        CHECK(json(std::array<std::string, 2> {{long_a, long_b}}) == json::array({long_a, long_b}));
+        CHECK(json(std::set<std::string> {long_a, long_b}) == json::array({long_a, long_b}));
+        CHECK(json(std::vector<bool> {true, false}) == json::array({true, false}));
+        CHECK(json(std::vector<int> {1, 2, 3}) == json::array({1, 2, 3}));
+        CHECK(json(std::vector<std::vector<std::string>> {{long_a}, {long_b}}) == json::array({json::array({long_a}), json::array({long_b})}));
+        CHECK(json(std::vector<json> {1, "a"}) == json::array({1, "a"}));
+    }
+
+    SECTION("valarray")
+    {
+        std::valarray<int> va(3);
+        va[0] = 1;
+        va[1] = 2;
+        va[2] = 3;
+        CHECK(json(std::move(va)) == json::array({1, 2, 3})); // NOLINT(performance-move-const-arg,hicpp-move-const-arg)
+        CHECK(json(std::valarray<int>(2)) == json::array({0, 0}));
+    }
+
+    SECTION("array_t and json arrays")
+    {
+        json::array_t arr{1, 2};
+        CHECK(json(std::move(arr)) == json::array({1, 2}));
+        json a = json::array({1, 2});
+        const json b = std::move(a);
+        CHECK(b == json::array({1, 2}));
+    }
+
+    SECTION("object-like containers")
+    {
+        std::map<std::string, std::string> m{{"a", long_a}, {"b", long_b}};
+        const json j = std::move(m);
+        CHECK(j == json({{"a", long_a}, {"b", long_b}}));
+        for (const auto& kv : m) // NOLINT(bugprone-use-after-move,hicpp-invalid-access-moved)
+        {
+            CHECK(kv.second.empty()); // values moved, keys (const) copied
+        }
+
+        const std::map<std::string, std::string> cm{{"a", long_a}};
+        const json jc = cm;
+        CHECK(jc["a"] == long_a);
+        CHECK(cm.at("a") == long_a);
+
+        std::unordered_map<std::string, std::string> um{{"a", long_a}};
+        CHECK(json(std::move(um)) == json({{"a", long_a}}));
+
+        std::multimap<std::string, int> mm{{"a", 1}};
+        CHECK(json(std::move(mm)) == json({{"a", 1}}));
+
+        tracked_copies = 0;
+        tracked_moves = 0;
+        std::map<std::string, tracked> mt;
+        mt.emplace("k", tracked("v"));
+        const json jt = std::move(mt);
+        CHECK(jt == json({{"k", "v"}}));
+        CHECK(tracked_moves == 1);
+        CHECK(tracked_copies == 0);
+
+        json::object_t obj{{"a", 1}};
+        CHECK(json(std::move(obj)) == json({{"a", 1}}));
+    }
+
+    SECTION("user type with its own to_json overloads")
+    {
+        udt_container c{{1, 2}};
+        const json lv = c;
+        CHECK(lv == json::array({1, 2, "copied"}));
+        const json rv = std::move(c);
+        CHECK(rv == json::array({1, 2, "moved"}));
+    }
+
+    SECTION("assignment and implicit conversion")
+    {
+        std::vector<std::string> v{long_a};
+        json j;
+        j = std::move(v);
+        CHECK(j == json::array({long_a}));
+        json k = {std::vector<std::string>{long_b}};
+        CHECK(k.size() == 1);
+    }
+
+#ifdef TO_JSON_RVALUE_HAS_FS
+    SECTION("std::filesystem::path rvalue is still a string")
+    {
+        CHECK(json(std::filesystem::path("a/b")) == json("a/b"));
+#ifdef __cpp_lib_char8_t
+        CHECK(json(std::u8string(u8"a/b")) == json("a/b"));
+#endif
+    }
+#endif
+}