Throw when JSON Patch remove's target path resolves through a primitive or null parent

RFC 6902 (section 4.2) requires the target location of a "remove"
operation to exist. operation_remove handled parent.is_object() and
parent.is_array(), but had no final else branch: when the resolved
parent was a primitive value or null, neither branch matched and the
operation silently did nothing instead of failing.

Add the missing else branch, throwing out_of_range.413 with wording
that matches the existing out_of_range.411 thrown by the analogous
"add" case (operation_add) for the same kind of invalid parent.

Fixes #5396.

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

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

@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ Strong guarantee: if an exception is thrown, there are no changes in the JSON va
   ("add", "remove", "move")
 - Throws [`out_of_range.411`](../../home/exceptions.md#jsonexceptionout_of_range411) if an "add" operation's target
   location has a parent that is neither an object nor an array.
+- Throws [`out_of_range.413`](../../home/exceptions.md#jsonexceptionout_of_range413) if a "remove" operation's target
+  location has a parent that is neither an object nor an array.
 - Throws [`other_error.501`](../../home/exceptions.md#jsonexceptionother_error501) if "test" operation was
   unsuccessful.
 
@@ -75,3 +77,5 @@ is thrown. In any case, the original value is not changed: the patch is applied
 - Added in version 2.0.0.
 - Added [`out_of_range.411`](../../home/exceptions.md#jsonexceptionout_of_range411) and stopped relying on an internal assertion when an "add" operation's
   target location has a non-object/non-array parent in version 3.13.0.
+- Added [`out_of_range.413`](../../home/exceptions.md#jsonexceptionout_of_range413) and stopped silently ignoring a "remove" operation whose target
+  location has a non-object/non-array parent in version 3.13.0.

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

@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ No guarantees, value may be corrupted by an unsuccessful patch operation.
   ("add", "remove", "move")
 - Throws [`out_of_range.411`](../../home/exceptions.md#jsonexceptionout_of_range411) if an "add" operation's target
   location has a parent that is neither an object nor an array.
+- Throws [`out_of_range.413`](../../home/exceptions.md#jsonexceptionout_of_range413) if a "remove" operation's target
+  location has a parent that is neither an object nor an array.
 - Throws [`other_error.501`](../../home/exceptions.md#jsonexceptionother_error501) if "test" operation was
   unsuccessful.
 
@@ -72,3 +74,5 @@ function throws an exception.
 - Added in version 3.11.0.
 - Added [`out_of_range.411`](../../home/exceptions.md#jsonexceptionout_of_range411) and stopped relying on an internal assertion when an "add" operation's
   target location has a non-object/non-array parent in version 3.13.0.
+- Added [`out_of_range.413`](../../home/exceptions.md#jsonexceptionout_of_range413) and stopped silently ignoring a "remove" operation whose target
+  location has a non-object/non-array parent in version 3.13.0.

docs/mkdocs/docs/home/exceptions.md

@@ -933,6 +933,20 @@ BSON stores the length of documents, arrays, strings, and binary values in a sig
     [`to_bson`](../api/basic_json/to_bson.md) produced documents with negative length prefixes that
     [`from_bson`](../api/basic_json/from_bson.md) rejected.
 
+### json.exception.out_of_range.413
+
+A JSON Patch `remove` operation cannot be applied because the target location's parent is neither an object nor an array. Per [RFC 6902](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc6902), a `remove` target must reference a member of an existing object or an element of an existing array; a primitive value (string, number, boolean, etc.) or `null` has no members or elements to remove.
+
+!!! failure "Example message"
+
+    ```
+    cannot remove value: the JSON Patch 'remove' target's parent is of type number, but must be an object or array
+    ```
+
+!!! note
+
+    This exception was added in version 3.13.0. Before that, this situation was silently ignored (the `remove` operation had no effect).
+
 ## Further exceptions
 
 This exception is thrown in case of errors that cannot be classified with the

include/nlohmann/json.hpp

@@ -4939,6 +4939,12 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
                 // note erase performs range check
                 parent.erase(json_pointer::template array_index<basic_json_t>(last_path));
             }
+            else
+            {
+                // the parent of a "remove" target must be an object or array
+                // (see #5396)
+                JSON_THROW(out_of_range::create(413, detail::concat("cannot remove value: the JSON Patch 'remove' target's parent is of type ", parent.type_name(), ", but must be an object or array"), &parent));
+            }
         };
 
         // type check: top level value must be an array

single_include/nlohmann/json.hpp

@@ -26367,6 +26367,12 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
                 // note erase performs range check
                 parent.erase(json_pointer::template array_index<basic_json_t>(last_path));
             }
+            else
+            {
+                // the parent of a "remove" target must be an object or array
+                // (see #5396)
+                JSON_THROW(out_of_range::create(413, detail::concat("cannot remove value: the JSON Patch 'remove' target's parent is of type ", parent.type_name(), ", but must be an object or array"), &parent));
+            }
         };
 
         // type check: top level value must be an array

tests/CMakeLists.txt

@@ -177,24 +177,6 @@ json_test_add_test_for(src/unit-comparison.cpp
     MAIN test_main CXX_STANDARDS ${test_cxx_standards} ${test_force}
 )
 
-# test the parser again with JSON_DIAGNOSTIC_POSITIONS enabled
-json_test_set_test_options(test-class_parser_diagnostic_positions
-    COMPILE_DEFINITIONS JSON_DIAGNOSTIC_POSITIONS=1
-)
-json_test_add_test_for(src/unit-class_parser.cpp
-    NAME test-class_parser_diagnostic_positions
-    MAIN test_main CXX_STANDARDS ${test_cxx_standards} ${test_force}
-)
-
-# test diagnostic positions again without regular diagnostics (JSON pointer paths)
-json_test_set_test_options(test-diagnostic-positions_only
-    COMPILE_DEFINITIONS JSON_DIAGNOSTICS=0
-)
-json_test_add_test_for(src/unit-diagnostic-positions.cpp
-    NAME test-diagnostic-positions_only
-    MAIN test_main CXX_STANDARDS ${test_cxx_standards} ${test_force}
-)
-
 # *DO NOT* use json_test_set_test_options() below this line
 
 #############################################################################

tests/src/unit-class_parser.cpp

@@ -344,50 +344,6 @@ void trailing_comma_helper(const std::string& s)
     }
 }
 
-#if JSON_DIAGNOSTIC_POSITIONS
-/**
- * Validates that the generated JSON object is the same as expected
- * Validates that the start position and end position match the start and end of the string
- *
- * This check assumes that there is no whitespace around the json object in the original string.
- */
-void validate_generated_json_and_start_end_pos_helper(const std::string& original_string, const json& j, const json& check)
-{
-    CHECK(j == check);
-    CHECK(j.start_pos() == 0);
-    CHECK(j.end_pos() == original_string.size());
-}
-
-/**
- * Parses the root object from the given root string and validates that the start and end positions for the nested object are correct.
- *
- * This checks that whitespace around the nested object is included in the start and end positions of the root object.
- */
-void validate_start_end_pos_for_nested_obj_helper(const std::string& nested_type_json_str, const std::string& root_type_json_str, const json& expected_json, const json::parser_callback_t& cb = nullptr)
-{
-    json j;
-
-    // 1. If callback is provided, use callback version of parse()
-    if (cb)
-    {
-        j = json::parse(root_type_json_str, cb);
-    }
-    else
-    {
-        j = json::parse(root_type_json_str);
-    }
-
-    // 2. Check if the generated JSON is as expected
-    // Assumptions: The root_type_json_str does not have any whitespace around the json object
-    validate_generated_json_and_start_end_pos_helper(root_type_json_str, j, expected_json);
-
-    // 3. Get the nested object
-    const auto& nested = j["nested"];
-    // 4. Check if the start and end positions are generated correctly for nested objects and arrays
-    CHECK(nested_type_json_str == root_type_json_str.substr(nested.start_pos(), nested.end_pos() - nested.start_pos()));
-}
-#endif
-
 } // namespace
 
 TEST_CASE("parser class")
@@ -1823,228 +1779,6 @@ TEST_CASE("parser class")
         CHECK_THROWS_WITH_AS(_ = json::parse("/a", nullptr, true, true), "[json.exception.parse_error.101] parse error at line 1, column 2: syntax error while parsing value - invalid comment; expecting '/' or '*' after '/'; last read: '/a'", json::parse_error);
         CHECK_THROWS_WITH_AS(_ = json::parse("/*", nullptr, true, true), "[json.exception.parse_error.101] parse error at line 1, column 3: syntax error while parsing value - invalid comment; missing closing '*/'; last read: '/*<U+0000>'", json::parse_error);
     }
-
-#if JSON_DIAGNOSTIC_POSITIONS
-    // Macro for all test cases for start_pos and end_pos
-#define SETUP_TESTCASES() \
-    SECTION("with callback") \
-    { \
-        SECTION("filter nothing") \
-        { \
-            json::parser_callback_t const cb = [](int /*unused*/, json::parse_event_t /*unused*/, json& /*unused*/) noexcept \
-            { \
-                return true; \
-            }; \
-            validate_start_end_pos_for_nested_obj_helper(nested_type_json_str, root_type_json_str, expected, cb); \
-        } \
-        SECTION("filter element") \
-        { \
-            json::parser_callback_t const cb = [](int /*unused*/, json::parse_event_t event, json& j) noexcept \
-            { \
-                return (event != json::parse_event_t::key && event != json::parse_event_t::value) || j != json("a"); \
-            }; \
-            validate_start_end_pos_for_nested_obj_helper(nested_type_json_str, root_type_json_str, filteredExpected, cb); \
-        } \
-    } \
-    SECTION("without callback") \
-    { \
-        validate_start_end_pos_for_nested_obj_helper(nested_type_json_str, root_type_json_str, expected); \
-    }
-
-    SECTION("retrieve start position and end position")
-    {
-        SECTION("for object")
-        {
-            // Create an object with spaces to test the start and end positions. Spaces will not be included in the
-            // JSON object, however, the start and end positions should include the spaces from the input JSON string.
-            const std::string nested_type_json_str =  R"({    "a":       1,"b"      : "test1"})";
-            const std::string root_type_json_str =  R"({    "nested": )" + nested_type_json_str + R"(, "anotherValue": "test2"})";
-            auto expected = json({{"nested", {{"a", 1}, {"b", "test1"}}}, {"anotherValue", "test2"}});
-            auto filteredExpected = expected;
-            filteredExpected["nested"].erase("a");
-
-            SETUP_TESTCASES()
-        }
-
-        SECTION("for array")
-        {
-            const std::string nested_type_json_str =  R"(["a", "test", 45])";
-            const std::string root_type_json_str =  R"({   "nested": )" + nested_type_json_str + R"(, "anotherValue": "test" })";
-            auto expected = json({{"nested", {"a", "test", 45}}, {"anotherValue", "test"}});
-            auto filteredExpected = expected;
-            filteredExpected["nested"] = json({"test", 45});
-            SETUP_TESTCASES()
-        }
-
-        SECTION("for array with objects")
-        {
-            const std::string nested_type_json_str =  R"([{"a": 1, "b": "test"}, {"c": 2, "d": "test2"}])";
-            const std::string root_type_json_str =  R"({   "nested": )" + nested_type_json_str + R"(, "anotherValue": "test" })";
-            auto expected = json({{"nested", {{{"a", 1}, {"b", "test"}}, {{"c", 2}, {"d", "test2"}}}}, {"anotherValue", "test"}});
-            auto filteredExpected = expected;
-            filteredExpected["nested"][0].erase("a");
-            SETUP_TESTCASES()
-
-            auto j = json::parse(root_type_json_str);
-            auto nested_array = j["nested"];
-            const auto& nested_obj = nested_array[0];
-            CHECK(nested_type_json_str.substr(1, 21) == root_type_json_str.substr(nested_obj.start_pos(), nested_obj.end_pos() - nested_obj.start_pos()));
-            CHECK(nested_type_json_str.substr(24, 22) == root_type_json_str.substr(nested_array[1].start_pos(), nested_array[1].end_pos() - nested_array[1].start_pos()));
-        }
-
-        SECTION("for two levels of nesting objects")
-        {
-            const std::string nested_type_json_str =  R"({"nested2": {"b": "test"}})";
-            const std::string root_type_json_str =  R"({   "a": 2, "nested": )" + nested_type_json_str + R"(, "anotherValue": "test" })";
-            auto expected = json({{"a", 2}, {"nested", {{"nested2", {{"b", "test"}}}}}, {"anotherValue", "test"}});
-            auto filteredExpected = expected;
-            filteredExpected.erase("a");
-            SETUP_TESTCASES()
-
-            auto j = json::parse(root_type_json_str);
-            auto nested_obj = j["nested"]["nested2"];
-            CHECK(nested_type_json_str.substr(12, 13) == root_type_json_str.substr(nested_obj.start_pos(), nested_obj.end_pos() - nested_obj.start_pos()));
-        }
-
-        SECTION("for simple types")
-        {
-            SECTION("no nested")
-            {
-                SECTION("with callback")
-                {
-                    json::parser_callback_t const cb = [](int /*unused*/, json::parse_event_t /*unused*/, json& /*unused*/) noexcept
-                    {
-                        return true;
-                    };
-
-                    // 1. string type
-                    std::string json_str =  R"("test")";
-                    auto j = json::parse(json_str, cb);
-                    validate_generated_json_and_start_end_pos_helper(json_str, j, "test");
-
-                    // 2. number type
-                    json_str =  R"(1)";
-                    j = json::parse(json_str, cb);
-                    validate_generated_json_and_start_end_pos_helper(json_str, j, 1);
-
-                    // 3. boolean type
-                    json_str =  R"(true)";
-                    j = json::parse(json_str, cb);
-                    validate_generated_json_and_start_end_pos_helper(json_str, j, true);
-
-                    // 4. null type
-                    json_str =  R"(null)";
-                    j = json::parse(json_str, cb);
-                    validate_generated_json_and_start_end_pos_helper(json_str, j, nullptr);
-                }
-
-                SECTION("without callback")
-                {
-                    // 1. string type
-                    std::string json_str =  R"("test")";
-                    auto j = json::parse(json_str);
-                    validate_generated_json_and_start_end_pos_helper(json_str, j, "test");
-
-                    // 2. number type
-                    json_str =  R"(1)";
-                    j = json::parse(json_str);
-                    validate_generated_json_and_start_end_pos_helper(json_str, j, 1);
-
-                    json_str = R"(1.001239923)";
-                    j = json::parse(json_str);
-                    validate_generated_json_and_start_end_pos_helper(json_str, j, 1.001239923);
-
-                    json_str = R"(1.123812389000000)";
-                    j = json::parse(json_str);
-                    validate_generated_json_and_start_end_pos_helper(json_str, j, 1.123812389);
-
-                    // 3. boolean type
-                    json_str =  R"(true)";
-                    j = json::parse(json_str);
-                    validate_generated_json_and_start_end_pos_helper(json_str, j, true);
-
-                    json_str =  R"(false)";
-                    j = json::parse(json_str);
-                    validate_generated_json_and_start_end_pos_helper(json_str, j, false);
-
-                    // 4. null type
-                    json_str =  R"(null)";
-                    j = json::parse(json_str);
-                    validate_generated_json_and_start_end_pos_helper(json_str, j, nullptr);
-                }
-            }
-
-            SECTION("string type")
-            {
-                const std::string nested_type_json_str =  R"("test")";
-                const std::string root_type_json_str =  R"({ "a": 1,   "nested": )" + nested_type_json_str + R"(, "anotherValue": "test" })";
-                auto expected = json({{"nested", "test"}, {"anotherValue", "test"}, {"a", 1}});
-                auto filteredExpected = expected;
-                filteredExpected.erase("a");
-                SETUP_TESTCASES()
-            }
-
-            SECTION("number type")
-            {
-                const std::string nested_type_json_str =  R"(2)";
-                const std::string root_type_json_str =  R"({ "a": 1,   "nested": )" + nested_type_json_str + R"(, "anotherValue": "test" })";
-                auto expected = json({{"nested", 2}, {"anotherValue", "test"}, {"a", 1}});
-                auto filteredExpected = expected;
-                filteredExpected.erase("a");
-                SETUP_TESTCASES()
-            }
-
-            SECTION("boolean type")
-            {
-                const std::string nested_type_json_str =  R"(true)";
-                const std::string root_type_json_str =  R"({ "a": 1,   "nested": )" + nested_type_json_str + R"(, "anotherValue": "test" })";
-                auto expected = json({{"nested", true}, {"anotherValue", "test"}, {"a", 1}});
-                auto filteredExpected = expected;
-                filteredExpected.erase("a");
-                SETUP_TESTCASES()
-            }
-
-            SECTION("null type")
-            {
-                const std::string nested_type_json_str =  R"(null)";
-                const std::string root_type_json_str =  R"({ "a": 1,   "nested": )" + nested_type_json_str + R"(, "anotherValue": "test" })";
-                auto expected = json({{"nested", nullptr}, {"anotherValue", "test"}, {"a", 1}});
-                auto filteredExpected = expected;
-                filteredExpected.erase("a");
-                SETUP_TESTCASES()
-            }
-        }
-        SECTION("with leading whitespace and newlines around root JSON")
-        {
-            const std::string initial_whitespace = R"(
-                
-            )";
-            const std::string nested_type_json_str = R"({
-                "a": 1,
-                "nested": {
-                    "b": "test"
-                },
-                "anotherValue": "test"
-            })";
-            const std::string end_whitespace = R"(
-                
-            )";
-            const std::string root_type_json_str = initial_whitespace + nested_type_json_str + end_whitespace;
-
-            auto expected = json({{"a", 1}, {"nested", {{"b", "test"}}}, {"anotherValue", "test"}});
-
-            auto j = json::parse(root_type_json_str);
-
-            // 2. Check if the generated JSON is as expected
-            CHECK(j == expected);
-
-            // 3. Check if the start and end positions do not include the surrounding whitespace
-            CHECK(j.start_pos() == initial_whitespace.size());
-            CHECK(j.end_pos() == root_type_json_str.size() - end_whitespace.size());
-        }
-    }
-#undef SETUP_TESTCASES
-#endif
 }
 
 // this test relies on parse errors being thrown, so it is skipped when

tests/src/unit-diagnostic-positions-only.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+//     __ _____ _____ _____
+//  __|  |   __|     |   | |  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"
+
+#ifdef JSON_DIAGNOSTICS
+    #undef JSON_DIAGNOSTICS
+#endif
+
+#define JSON_DIAGNOSTICS 0
+#define JSON_DIAGNOSTIC_POSITIONS 1
+#include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
+
+using json = nlohmann::json;
+
+TEST_CASE("Better diagnostics with positions only")
+{
+    SECTION("invalid type")
+    {
+        const std::string json_invalid_string = R"(
+        {
+            "address": {
+                "street": "Fake Street",
+                "housenumber": "1"
+            }
+        }
+        )";
+        json j = json::parse(json_invalid_string);
+        CHECK_THROWS_WITH_AS(j.at("address").at("housenumber").get<int>(),
+                             "[json.exception.type_error.302] (bytes 108-111) type must be number, but is string", json::type_error);
+    }
+
+    SECTION("invalid type without positions")
+    {
+        const json j = "foo";
+        CHECK_THROWS_WITH_AS(j.get<int>(),
+                             "[json.exception.type_error.302] type must be number, but is string", json::type_error);
+    }
+}

tests/src/unit-diagnostic-positions.cpp

@@ -8,9 +8,7 @@
 
 #include "doctest_compatibility.h"
 
-#ifndef JSON_DIAGNOSTICS
-    #define JSON_DIAGNOSTICS 1
-#endif
+#define JSON_DIAGNOSTICS 1
 #define JSON_DIAGNOSTIC_POSITIONS 1
 #include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
 
@@ -29,13 +27,8 @@ TEST_CASE("Better diagnostics with positions")
         }
         )";
         json j = json::parse(json_invalid_string);
-#if JSON_DIAGNOSTICS
         CHECK_THROWS_WITH_AS(j.at("address").at("housenumber").get<int>(),
                              "[json.exception.type_error.302] (/address/housenumber) (bytes 108-111) type must be number, but is string", json::type_error);
-#else
-        CHECK_THROWS_WITH_AS(j.at("address").at("housenumber").get<int>(),
-                             "[json.exception.type_error.302] (bytes 108-111) type must be number, but is string", json::type_error);
-#endif
     }
 
     SECTION("invalid type without positions")
@@ -81,12 +74,7 @@ TEST_CASE("Better diagnostics with positions")
         // (/foo/bar); the position of that parent is reported in the message
         const json doc = json::parse(R"({"foo":{"bar":"a string"}})");
         const json patch = json::parse(R"([{"op":"add","path":"/foo/bar/baz","value":1}])");
-#if JSON_DIAGNOSTICS
         CHECK_THROWS_WITH_AS(doc.patch(patch),
                              "[json.exception.out_of_range.411] (/foo/bar) (bytes 14-24) cannot add value: the JSON Patch 'add' target's parent is of type string, but must be an object or array", json::out_of_range);
-#else
-        CHECK_THROWS_WITH_AS(doc.patch(patch),
-                             "[json.exception.out_of_range.411] (bytes 14-24) cannot add value: the JSON Patch 'add' target's parent is of type string, but must be an object or array", json::out_of_range);
-#endif
     }
 }

tests/src/unit-json_patch.cpp

@@ -1389,6 +1389,61 @@ TEST_CASE("JSON patch - add to a primitive parent (regression #4292)")
     }
 }
 
+TEST_CASE("JSON patch - remove with primitive or null parent (regression #5396)")
+{
+    // Regression test for https://github.com/nlohmann/json/issues/5396
+    //
+    // RFC 6902 (§4.2) requires the target location of a "remove" operation
+    // to exist. When the target's parent resolves to a primitive value or
+    // null, the operation must fail. Previously operation_remove silently
+    // did nothing in this case (neither the "is_object" nor the "is_array"
+    // branch matched, and there was no final "else"), so the patch appeared
+    // to succeed without changing the document. It now throws
+    // out_of_range.413.
+
+    SECTION("parent is a primitive (number)")
+    {
+        json const doc = {{"a", 1}};
+        json const patch = {{{"op", "remove"}, {"path", "/a/b"}}};
+#if JSON_DIAGNOSTICS
+        CHECK_THROWS_WITH_AS(doc.patch(patch), "[json.exception.out_of_range.413] (/a) cannot remove value: the JSON Patch 'remove' target's parent is of type number, but must be an object or array", json::out_of_range&);
+#else
+        CHECK_THROWS_WITH_AS(doc.patch(patch), "[json.exception.out_of_range.413] cannot remove value: the JSON Patch 'remove' target's parent is of type number, but must be an object or array", json::out_of_range&);
+#endif
+    }
+
+    SECTION("parent is a primitive (string)")
+    {
+        json const doc = {{"foo", {{"bar", "a string"}}}};
+        json const patch = {{{"op", "remove"}, {"path", "/foo/bar/baz"}}};
+#if JSON_DIAGNOSTICS
+        CHECK_THROWS_WITH_AS(doc.patch(patch), "[json.exception.out_of_range.413] (/foo/bar) cannot remove value: the JSON Patch 'remove' target's parent is of type string, but must be an object or array", json::out_of_range&);
+#else
+        CHECK_THROWS_WITH_AS(doc.patch(patch), "[json.exception.out_of_range.413] cannot remove value: the JSON Patch 'remove' target's parent is of type string, but must be an object or array", json::out_of_range&);
+#endif
+    }
+
+    SECTION("top-level document is null")
+    {
+        json const doc = nullptr;
+        json const patch = {{{"op", "remove"}, {"path", "/a"}}};
+        CHECK_THROWS_WITH_AS(doc.patch(patch), "[json.exception.out_of_range.413] cannot remove value: the JSON Patch 'remove' target's parent is of type null, but must be an object or array", json::out_of_range&);
+    }
+
+    SECTION("legitimate removes still work")
+    {
+        // object member
+        json const doc1 = {{"a", 1}, {"b", 2}};
+        json const patch1 = {{{"op", "remove"}, {"path", "/a"}}};
+        CHECK(doc1.patch(patch1) == json({{"b", 2}}));
+
+        // array element
+        json const doc2 = R"([1, 2, 3])"_json;
+        json const patch2 = {{{"op", "remove"}, {"path", "/1"}}};
+        CHECK(doc2.patch(patch2) == R"([1, 3])"_json);
+    }
+}
+
 TEST_CASE("JSON patch - diff emits array removals in descending index order")
 {
     SECTION("array shrunk to empty")