docs: cross-reference json_view and json_document for 3.13.0

Document the new zero-copy document/view API across the docs: add a
"Documents and views" section to the basic_json API hub linking to all
specializations, point parsing/conversion/modifying pages to the view-based
alternatives, add document/view sections to feature pages, update the
landing page to mention json_view.hpp/json_literals.hpp, and cross-link
debugging/exceptions.

Also document wide-string inputs (and ill-formed UTF-16/32 rejection),
add parse/accept examples for wide strings, fix related doc gaps, and
align features/parsing and FAQ with the added support.

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

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

@@ -23,6 +23,9 @@ Checks whether the input is valid JSON.
     respectively as UTF-8, UTF-16, and UTF-32. If `SentinelType` differs from `IteratorType`, it must be comparable to
     the iterator type with `operator!=`.
     
+    Ill-formed UTF-16 and UTF-32 sequences are rejected: a lone surrogate, a high surrogate that is not followed by its
+    low surrogate, and a code point above `U+10FFFF` all make this function return `false`.
+
 Unlike the [`parse()`](parse.md) function, this function neither throws an exception in case of invalid JSON input
 (i.e., a parse error) nor creates diagnostic information.
 
@@ -35,9 +38,12 @@ Unlike the [`parse()`](parse.md) function, this function neither throws an excep
     - a `#!c FILE` pointer (throws if null)
     - a C-style array of characters
     - a pointer to a null-terminated string of single byte characters (throws if null)
-    - a `std::string`
+    - a `std::string` or a `std::string_view` (C++17)
     - a container `obj` for which `begin(obj)` and `end(obj)` produce a valid pair of iterators
       (as found via ADL or member functions, with semantics compatible to `std::begin` and `std::end`)
+    - wide characters (`wchar_t`, `char16_t`, `char32_t`), which are converted to UTF-8: a wide string object
+      (`std::wstring`, `std::u16string`, `std::u32string`) or an array (e.g. a wide string literal); a pointer to a
+      null-terminated wide string (e.g. `std::u16string::c_str()`) is not supported
 
 `IteratorType`
 :   a compatible iterator type, for instance.
@@ -125,6 +131,21 @@ outside of a string, invalid) byte; see the [FAQ entry](../../home/faq.md#nul-by
     --8<-- "examples/accept__iterator_pair.output"
     ```
 
+??? example "Example: (3) reading from UTF-16 strings"
+
+    The encoding is deduced from the character type of the input. String literals like `u"..."`, `U"..."`, and
+    `L"..."` work as well.
+
+    ```cpp
+    --8<-- "examples/accept__wide_string.cpp"
+    ```
+
+    Output:
+
+    ```json
+    --8<-- "examples/accept__wide_string.output"
+    ```
+
 ## See also
 
 - [parse](parse.md) - deserialize from a compatible input
@@ -151,6 +172,9 @@ outside of a string, invalid) byte; see the [FAQ entry](../../home/faq.md#nul-by
   ([`JSON_DISABLE_STREAM_BULK_SCAN`](../macros/json_disable_stream_bulk_scan.md)).
 - Parsing from a `FILE*` locks the file once instead of once per character in version 3.13.0
   ([`JSON_DISABLE_UNLOCKED_FILE_IO`](../macros/json_disable_unlocked_file_io.md)).
+- Ill-formed UTF-16 and UTF-32 input (a lone surrogate, a high surrogate that is not followed by its low surrogate, or
+  a code point above `U+10FFFF`) is rejected in version 3.13.0; before that, some such sequences were accepted or
+  ended the input silently.
 
 !!! warning "Deprecation"
 

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

@@ -44,6 +44,22 @@ are collected in [Template Parameter Requirements](../../features/types/template
 - [**json**](../json.md) - default specialization
 - [**ordered_json**](../ordered_json.md) - a specialization that maintains the insertion order of object keys
 
+## Documents and views
+
+Besides `basic_json`, the library offers a second way to hold a parsed JSON text: a
+[`basic_json_document`](../basic_json_document/index.md), which owns or borrows the text and holds a flat index of the
+values in it, and a [`basic_json_view`](../basic_json_view/index.md), a read-only handle to one value of such a document.
+Both are defined in the header `<nlohmann/json_view.hpp>`; see
+[Zero-copy JSON views](../../features/json_view.md) for the concept and the trade-offs.
+
+- [**json_document**](../json_document.md) / [**ordered_json_document**](../ordered_json_document.md) - read-only
+  documents of the `basic_json` specialization they belong to
+- [**json_editable_document**](../json_editable_document.md) /
+  [**ordered_json_editable_document**](../ordered_json_editable_document.md) - documents that can be modified in place
+- [**json_view**](../json_view.md) / [**ordered_json_view**](../ordered_json_view.md) - views of a document
+- [**json_editable_view**](../json_editable_view.md) /
+  [**ordered_json_editable_view**](../ordered_json_editable_view.md) - views of an editable document
+
 ## Iterator invalidation
 
 All operations that add values to an **array** ([`push_back`](push_back.md) , [`operator+=`](operator+=.md),
@@ -343,6 +359,9 @@ Access to the JSON value
 ## See also
 
 - [RFC 8259: The JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) Data Interchange Format](https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc8259)
+- [basic_json_document](../basic_json_document/index.md) / [basic_json_view](../basic_json_view/index.md) - parse a JSON
+  text into a flat index and read it through a view
+- [Zero-copy JSON views](../../features/json_view.md) - when to use a document and a view instead of a `basic_json`
 
 ## Version history
 

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

@@ -25,6 +25,10 @@ static basic_json parse(IteratorType first, SentinelType last,
     respectively as UTF-8, UTF-16, and UTF-32. If `SentinelType` differs from `IteratorType`, it must be comparable to
     the iterator type with `operator!=`.
 
+    Ill-formed UTF-16 and UTF-32 sequences are rejected: a lone surrogate, a high surrogate that is not followed by its
+    low surrogate, and a code point above `U+10FFFF` all yield a
+    [`parse_error.101`](../../home/exceptions.md#jsonexceptionparse_error101).
+
 ## Template parameters
 
 `InputType`
@@ -34,9 +38,12 @@ static basic_json parse(IteratorType first, SentinelType last,
     - a `FILE` pointer (throws if null)
     - a C-style array of characters
     - a pointer to a null-terminated string of single byte characters (throws if null)
-    - a `std::string`
+    - a `std::string` or a `std::string_view` (C++17)
     - a container `obj` for which `begin(obj)` and `end(obj)` produce a valid pair of iterators
       (as found via ADL or member functions, with semantics compatible to `std::begin` and `std::end`)
+    - wide characters (`wchar_t`, `char16_t`, `char32_t`), which are converted to UTF-8: a wide string object
+      (`std::wstring`, `std::u16string`, `std::u32string`) or an array (e.g. a wide string literal); a pointer to a
+      null-terminated wide string (e.g. `std::u16string::c_str()`) is not supported
 
 `IteratorType`
 :   a compatible iterator type, for instance.
@@ -112,6 +119,13 @@ By default, a `'\0'` (NUL) byte anywhere in the input is treated as end of input
 outside of a string, invalid) byte; see the [FAQ entry](../../home/faq.md#nul-bytes-in-the-input) for details and the
 [`JSON_STRICT_NUL_HANDLING`](../macros/json_strict_nul_handling.md) macro to opt into rejecting it instead.
 
+!!! tip "Parsing into a document instead of a value"
+
+    [`basic_json_document::parse`](../basic_json_document/parse.md) accepts the same inputs and the same options, but
+    keeps the result as a flat index of the parsed values instead of a tree of `basic_json` values. It is faster and uses
+    less memory when only parts of the document are read, and it also accepts a pointer to a null-terminated wide string,
+    which `parse()` does not. See [Zero-copy JSON views](../../features/json_view.md).
+
 !!! tip "Performance"
 
     Contiguous inputs (strings, string views, vectors, arrays, pointer ranges) are the fastest to parse. A
@@ -250,6 +264,22 @@ outside of a string, invalid) byte; see the [FAQ entry](../../home/faq.md#nul-by
     --8<-- "examples/trailing_commas.output"
     ```
 
+??? example "Example: parse from UTF-16, UTF-32, and wide strings"
+
+    The encoding is deduced from the character type of the input; `std::u16string` and `std::u32string` are interpreted
+    as UTF-16 and UTF-32, and `std::wstring` uses the platform's `wchar_t` width. String literals like `u"..."`,
+    `U"..."`, and `L"..."` work as well, as do iterators over wide characters.
+
+    ```cpp
+    --8<-- "examples/parse__wide_string.cpp"
+    ```
+
+    Output:
+
+    ```json
+    --8<-- "examples/parse__wide_string.output"
+    ```
+
 ## See also
 
 - [accept](accept.md) - check if the input is valid JSON
@@ -280,6 +310,9 @@ outside of a string, invalid) byte; see the [FAQ entry](../../home/faq.md#nul-by
   time).
 - Parsing from a `FILE*` locks the file once instead of once per character in version 3.13.0
   ([`JSON_DISABLE_UNLOCKED_FILE_IO`](../macros/json_disable_unlocked_file_io.md) restores `std::fgetc`).
+- Ill-formed UTF-16 and UTF-32 input (a lone surrogate, a high surrogate that is not followed by its low surrogate, or
+  a code point above `U+10FFFF`) is rejected with `parse_error.101` in version 3.13.0; before that, some such
+  sequences were accepted or ended the input silently.
 
 !!! warning "Deprecation"
 

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

@@ -31,6 +31,10 @@ Read from input and generate SAX events
     respectively as UTF-8, UTF-16, and UTF-32. If `SentinelType` differs from `IteratorType`, it must be comparable to
     the iterator type with `operator!=`.
 
+    Ill-formed UTF-16 and UTF-32 sequences are rejected: a lone surrogate, a high surrogate that is not followed by its
+    low surrogate, and a code point above `U+10FFFF` all yield a
+    [`parse_error.101`](../../home/exceptions.md#jsonexceptionparse_error101).
+
 The SAX event lister must follow the interface of [`json_sax`](../json_sax/index.md).
 
 ## Template parameters
@@ -42,8 +46,12 @@ The SAX event lister must follow the interface of [`json_sax`](../json_sax/index
     - a `FILE` pointer
     - a C-style array of characters
     - a pointer to a null-terminated string of single byte characters
+    - a `std::string` or a `std::string_view` (C++17)
     - a container `obj` for which `begin(obj)` and `end(obj)` produce a valid pair of iterators
       (as found via ADL or member functions, with semantics compatible to `std::begin` and `std::end`)
+    - wide characters (`wchar_t`, `char16_t`, `char32_t`), which are converted to UTF-8: a wide string object
+      (`std::wstring`, `std::u16string`, `std::u32string`) or an array (e.g. a wide string literal); a pointer to a
+      null-terminated wide string (e.g. `std::u16string::c_str()`) is not supported
 
 `IteratorType`
 :   a compatible iterator type for overload (2); a pair of character iterators whose `value_type` is an integral type
@@ -160,6 +168,9 @@ use the same file with stdio functions, but it must not wait for another thread
   ([`JSON_DISABLE_STREAM_BULK_SCAN`](../macros/json_disable_stream_bulk_scan.md)).
 - Parsing from a `FILE*` locks the file once instead of once per character in version 3.13.0
   ([`JSON_DISABLE_UNLOCKED_FILE_IO`](../macros/json_disable_unlocked_file_io.md)).
+- Ill-formed UTF-16 and UTF-32 input (a lone surrogate, a high surrogate that is not followed by its low surrogate, or
+  a code point above `U+10FFFF`) is rejected with `parse_error.101` in version 3.13.0; before that, some such
+  sequences were accepted or ended the input silently.
 
 !!! warning "Deprecation"
 

docs/mkdocs/docs/api/basic_json_document/index.md

@@ -115,6 +115,12 @@ points apply to every edit:
   [`source_offset()`](../basic_json_view/source_offset.md) of a value introduced by an edit is
   `#!cpp static_cast<std::size_t>(-1)`, the same value it reports for a decoded string.
 
+## See also
+
+- [basic_json_view](../basic_json_view/index.md) - the read-only handle to a value of a document
+- [json_document](../json_document.md) - the document type of the default specialization
+- [Zero-copy JSON views](../../features/json_view.md) - the concept behind documents and views
+
 ## Version history
 
 - Added in version 3.13.0.

docs/mkdocs/docs/api/basic_json_document/parse.md

@@ -21,17 +21,18 @@ static basic_json_document parse(IteratorType first, IteratorType last,
 
 Both overloads accept the same JSON text as [`BasicJsonType::parse()`](../basic_json/parse.md), with the same
 `ignore_comments`/`ignore_trailing_commas` options, but build a [`basic_json_document`](index.md) (a flat index into
-the input) instead of a tree of `BasicJsonType` values. They take the same inputs as `BasicJsonType::parse()`. Byte
+the input) instead of a tree of `BasicJsonType` values. They take the same inputs as `BasicJsonType::parse()`, plus a
-inputs that stay alive can be borrowed; all others (streams, `#!cpp FILE*`, wide characters, non-contiguous
+pointer to a null-terminated wide string, which `BasicJsonType::parse()` does not accept. Byte inputs that stay alive
-iterators) are read into a copy that the document owns -- see the Notes. Use [`parse_copy()`](parse_copy.md) to get an
+can be borrowed; all others (streams, `#!cpp FILE*`, wide characters, non-contiguous iterators) are read into a copy
-owned copy of a borrowable input as well.
+that the document owns -- see the Notes. Use [`parse_copy()`](parse_copy.md) to get an owned copy of a borrowable input
+as well.
 
 ## Template parameters
 
 `InputType`
 :   A compatible input, for instance:
 
-    - a `#!cpp std::string`, `#!cpp std::string_view`, or a C-style array of single-byte characters
+    - a `#!cpp std::string`, a `#!cpp std::string_view` (C++17), or a C-style array of single-byte characters
     - a pointer to a null-terminated string of single-byte characters (`#!cpp char`, `#!cpp signed char`,
       `#!cpp unsigned char`, `#!cpp std::uint8_t`)
     - a container for which `#!cpp obj.data()` and `#!cpp obj.size()` give contiguous single-byte access, e.g.
@@ -47,6 +48,10 @@ owned copy of a borrowable input as well.
     `#!cpp std::string::iterator`; the iterators of single-byte characters are borrowed or read like the byte inputs
     above, those of wide characters are converted to UTF-8
 
+Ill-formed UTF-16 and UTF-32 sequences are rejected: a lone surrogate, a high surrogate that is not followed by its low
+surrogate, and a code point above `U+10FFFF` all yield a
+[`parse_error.101`](../../home/exceptions.md#jsonexceptionparse_error101).
+
 ## Parameters
 
 `input` (in)
@@ -155,3 +160,5 @@ buffer of a given length, pass a pair of pointers: `#!cpp parse(ptr, ptr + len)`
 ## Version history
 
 - Added in version 3.13.0.
+- Ill-formed UTF-16 and UTF-32 input (a lone surrogate, a high surrogate that is not followed by its low surrogate, or
+  a code point above `U+10FFFF`) is rejected with `parse_error.101`.

docs/mkdocs/docs/api/basic_json_view/index.md

@@ -143,6 +143,12 @@ still refers to it -- including ones taken before the change -- reads the new va
 
 - [**source_offset**](source_offset.md) - byte offset of this value in the document's source text
 
+## See also
+
+- [basic_json_document](../basic_json_document/index.md) - the document a view refers into
+- [materialize](materialize.md) - build the `BasicJsonType` value of a subtree
+- [Zero-copy JSON views](../../features/json_view.md) - the concept behind documents and views
+
 ## Version history
 
 - Added in version 3.13.0.

docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/accept__wide_string.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+#include <iostream>
+#include <string>
+#include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
+
+using json = nlohmann::json;
+
+int main()
+{
+    // a valid JSON text, given as UTF-16
+    const std::u16string valid_text = u"{\"name\":\"\u00e9\"}";
+
+    // an invalid JSON text, given as UTF-16
+    const std::u16string invalid_text = u"{\"name\":\"\u00e9\",}";
+
+    std::cout << std::boolalpha
+              << json::accept(valid_text) << ' '
+              << json::accept(invalid_text) << '\n';
+}

docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/accept__wide_string.output

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+true false

docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/parse__wide_string.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+#include <iostream>
+#include <string>
+#include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
+
+using json = nlohmann::json;
+
+int main()
+{
+    // the same JSON text, given in different encodings
+    const std::string utf8 = "{\"name\":\"\u00e9\"}";
+    const std::u16string utf16 = u"{\"name\":\"\u00e9\"}";
+    const std::u32string utf32 = U"{\"name\":\"\u00e9\"}";
+    const std::wstring wide = L"{\"name\":\"\u00e9\"}";
+
+    // the encoding is deduced from the character type of the input, and all
+    // of them yield the same value
+    std::cout << json::parse(utf8) << '\n'
+              << json::parse(utf16) << '\n'
+              << json::parse(utf32) << '\n'
+              << json::parse(wide) << '\n';
+
+    // a wide string literal works as well: u"..." is UTF-16, U"..." is UTF-32
+    std::cout << json::parse(u"[1, 2, 3]") << '\n';
+
+    // iterators over wide characters work as well
+    std::cout << json::parse(utf16.begin(), utf16.end()) << '\n';
+}

docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/parse__wide_string.output

@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+{"name":"é"}
+{"name":"é"}
+{"name":"é"}
+{"name":"é"}
+[1,2,3]
+{"name":"é"}

docs/mkdocs/docs/features/conversions.md

@@ -38,6 +38,16 @@ which avoids repeating it:
     --8<-- "examples/get_to.output"
     ```
 
+!!! info "Getting values out of a document or a view"
+
+    A [view](../api/basic_json_view/index.md) offers the same `get<T>()` conversion, but reads it straight from the
+    document's index, without building a `basic_json` value first. Two conversions never copy at all:
+    [`get_string()`](../api/basic_json_view/get_string.md) returns a string as a view into the source text, and
+    [`number_token()`](../api/basic_json_view/number_token.md) returns a number exactly as it was written. Every other
+    type is obtained from a subtree that is built on demand with
+    [`materialize()`](../api/basic_json_view/materialize.md). See
+    [Zero-copy JSON views](json_view.md#getting-values-out-without-copying).
+
 The library already knows how to convert to and from the scalar types and the STL containers (such as
 `#!cpp std::vector`, `#!cpp std::map`, `#!cpp std::array`, `#!cpp std::optional`, and many more). Converting a JSON
 object back to a `#!cpp std::map` or a JSON array back to a `#!cpp std::vector` therefore works without any extra code:
@@ -234,3 +244,4 @@ The conversions above are built in for standard types. To make the same syntax w
 - [`get_ref`](../api/basic_json/get_ref.md) / [`get_ptr`](../api/basic_json/get_ptr.md) - access the stored value without copying
 - [Arbitrary types conversions](arbitrary_types.md) - support your own types
 - [`JSON_USE_IMPLICIT_CONVERSIONS`](../api/macros/json_use_implicit_conversions.md) - toggle implicit conversions
+- [Zero-copy JSON views](json_view.md) - get values out of a document or a view

docs/mkdocs/docs/features/creating_values.md

@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 # Creating JSON values
 
 There are several ways to create a JSON value in memory. This page gives an overview; to read a value from JSON text
-instead, see [parsing](parsing/index.md).
+instead, see [parsing](parsing/index.md). A JSON text can also be parsed into a
+[document](../api/basic_json_document/index.md) and read through a [view](../api/basic_json_view/index.md) instead of
+into a value; see [Zero-copy JSON views](json_view.md).
 
 ## From C++ values
 
@@ -101,3 +103,4 @@ string `#!json "42"`.
 - [`operator""_json`](../api/operator_literal_json.md) - the `_json` literal
 - [Converting values](conversions.md) - which C++ types can be used
 - [Parsing](parsing/index.md) - create a value from JSON text
+- [Zero-copy JSON views](json_view.md) - create a document and a view from JSON text instead of a value

docs/mkdocs/docs/features/macros.md

@@ -287,6 +287,23 @@ external dependency and is not defined by default.
 
 See [full documentation of `JSON_USE_SIMDUTF`](../api/macros/json_use_simdutf.md).
 
+## `JSON_VIEW_NO_SIMD`
+
+When defined, the parser of [`basic_json_document`](../api/basic_json_document/index.md)
+(`<nlohmann/json_view.hpp>`) uses only portable C++ to scan strings, instead of vector instructions (SSE2 on x86-64,
+NEON on AArch64). The same input is accepted or rejected either way; only the speed differs. It is not defined by
+default.
+
+See [full documentation of `JSON_VIEW_NO_SIMD`](../api/macros/json_view_no_simd.md).
+
+## `JSON_VIEW_USE_SSSE3`
+
+When defined on x86-64, the parser of [`basic_json_document`](../api/basic_json_document/index.md)
+(`<nlohmann/json_view.hpp>`) validates non-ASCII text in strings with SSSE3 without asking the CPU first. It is not
+defined by default.
+
+See [full documentation of `JSON_VIEW_USE_SSSE3`](../api/macros/json_view_use_ssse3.md).
+
 ## `NLOHMANN_DEFINE_TYPE_*(...)`, `NLOHMANN_DEFINE_DERIVED_TYPE_*(...)`
 
 The library defines 12 macros to simplify the serialization/deserialization of types. See the page on

docs/mkdocs/docs/features/modifying_values.md

@@ -85,6 +85,16 @@ json a = {1, 2, 3, 4};
 a.erase(1);             // [1,3,4]  (erase by index)
 ```
 
+## Editing a document
+
+The operations above work on a `basic_json` value. A JSON text that was parsed into a
+[document](json_view.md#editing-a-document) can also be changed in place, without building a `basic_json` tree for the
+parts that are not touched: [`set`](../api/basic_json_document/set.md) replaces a value or an object member,
+[`push_back`](../api/basic_json_document/push_back.md) appends to an array,
+[`insert`](../api/basic_json_document/insert.md) inserts into an array, and
+[`erase`](../api/basic_json_document/erase.md) removes a member or an element. These functions are available on the
+editable document types, such as [`json_editable_document`](../api/json_editable_document.md).
+
 ## See also
 
 - [`push_back`](../api/basic_json/push_back.md) / [`emplace_back`](../api/basic_json/emplace_back.md) - append to an array
@@ -93,3 +103,4 @@ a.erase(1);             // [1,3,4]  (erase by index)
 - [`merge_patch`](../api/basic_json/merge_patch.md) - apply an RFC 7396 merge patch
 - [`erase`](../api/basic_json/erase.md) / [`clear`](../api/basic_json/clear.md) - remove elements
 - [JSON Patch and Diff](json_patch.md) and [JSON Merge Patch](merge_patch.md) - structured modifications
+- [Editing a document](json_view.md#editing-a-document) - change a parsed document in place

docs/mkdocs/docs/features/parsing/index.md

@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ flowchart LR
 The [`parse`](../../api/basic_json/parse.md) function reads a JSON value from an input. The input can be
 
 - a string (`#!cpp std::string`, C string, or string literal),
+- a wide string (`#!cpp std::u16string`, `#!cpp std::u32string`, or `#!cpp std::wstring`, or a wide string literal),
 - a `#!cpp std::istream` (e.g., an `#!cpp std::ifstream` reading from a file),
 - a `#!cpp FILE*` pointer,
 - a pair of iterators over a contiguous range (e.g., a `#!cpp std::vector<std::uint8_t>`), or
@@ -32,12 +33,18 @@ std::ifstream f("example.json");
 json data = json::parse(f);
 ```
 
-The input must be encoded in UTF-8; other encodings are not supported. A single input may contain only one JSON value.
+The input must be encoded in UTF-8; other encodings are not supported. The exception is wide-character input, which
+is read as UTF-16 or UTF-32 -- depending on the character type -- and converted to UTF-8; see the
+[`parse`](../../api/basic_json/parse.md) page for an example. A single input may contain only one JSON value.
 Inputs consisting of multiple values separated by newlines are handled by the [JSON Lines](json_lines.md) format.
 
 By default, the library rejects comments and trailing commas. Both can be enabled with parameters of the `parse`
 function — see [comments](../comments.md) and [trailing commas](../trailing_commas.md).
 
+[`basic_json_document::parse`](../../api/basic_json_document/parse.md) accepts the same inputs with the same options,
+but keeps the result in a document rather than in a `basic_json` value; see
+[Documents and views](#documents-and-views) below.
+
 ## Strictness and trailing data
 
 [`parse`](../../api/basic_json/parse.md) reads a single JSON value and requires the whole input to be consumed: any
@@ -98,6 +105,24 @@ The library offers two parsing models:
 You can influence a DOM parse without switching to the SAX interface by passing a
 [parser callback](parser_callbacks.md), which is called during parsing and can, for example, discard parts of the input.
 
+## Documents and views
+
+A third model sits between DOM and SAX: [`basic_json_document::parse`](../../api/basic_json_document/parse.md) parses
+the input into a document that keeps the text and a flat index of the values in it, and
+[`basic_json_view`](../../api/basic_json_view/index.md) gives read-only access to the values through that index.
+Strings and numbers stay in the source text and are only decoded when they are read, which is faster and uses less
+memory than building a tree of `basic_json` values when only parts of the document are needed. A document can also be
+modified in place, and it can be saved and loaded again without parsing it.
+
+```cpp
+#include <nlohmann/json_view.hpp>
+
+json_document doc = json_document::parse(R"({"happy": true, "pi": 3.141})");
+std::cout << doc.root()["happy"].get<bool>() << '\n';
+```
+
+See [Zero-copy JSON views](../json_view.md) for the concept and the trade-offs.
+
 ## Exceptions
 
 When the input is not valid JSON, the `parse` function throws an exception by default. If exceptions are undesired or
@@ -108,6 +133,7 @@ options.
 ## See also
 
 - [`parse`](../../api/basic_json/parse.md) - deserialize from a compatible input
+- [`basic_json_document::parse`](../../api/basic_json_document/parse.md) - deserialize into a document instead of a value
 - [`accept`](../../api/basic_json/accept.md) - check if the input is valid JSON
 - [`sax_parse`](../../api/basic_json/sax_parse.md) - generate SAX events
 - [JSON Lines](json_lines.md) - parse newline-delimited JSON
@@ -115,3 +141,4 @@ options.
 - [SAX interface](sax_interface.md) - implement a custom SAX handler
 - [parsing and exceptions](parse_exceptions.md) - control error handling
 - [parsing untrusted input](untrusted_input.md) - what to consider when parsing input from untrusted sources
+- [Zero-copy JSON views](../json_view.md) - parse into a document and read it through a view

docs/mkdocs/docs/features/parsing/untrusted_input.md

@@ -81,6 +81,9 @@ Invalid UTF-8 is rejected while parsing, not just while serializing:
 
 - In JSON text, an ill-formed UTF-8 byte in a string is a
   [`parse_error.101`](../../home/exceptions.md#jsonexceptionparse_error101) ("invalid string: ill-formed UTF-8 byte").
+- In UTF-16 or UTF-32 input, an ill-formed sequence is a
+  [`parse_error.101`](../../home/exceptions.md#jsonexceptionparse_error101) as well: a lone surrogate, a high surrogate
+  that is not followed by its low surrogate, and a code point above `U+10FFFF` are all rejected.
 - In a binary format, a string that is not valid UTF-8 is a
   [`parse_error.113`](../../home/exceptions.md#jsonexceptionparse_error113).
 

docs/mkdocs/docs/home/debugging.md

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # Debugging
 
-This page collects the library's built-in debugger integrations and other debugging-related features. They are
+This page collects the library's built-in debugger integrations and other debugging-related features. They are not
-not linked from a single place elsewhere in the docs, so are collected here.
+covered by any single page elsewhere in the docs, so they are collected here.
 
 ## Visual Studio (natvis)
 

docs/mkdocs/docs/home/exceptions.md

@@ -99,7 +99,8 @@ As this global context comes at the price of storing one additional pointer per
 
     Now the exception message contains a JSON Pointer `/address/housenumber` that indicates which value has the wrong type.
 
-See [documentation of `JSON_DIAGNOSTICS`](../api/macros/json_diagnostics.md) for more information.
+See [documentation of `JSON_DIAGNOSTICS`](../api/macros/json_diagnostics.md) for more information, and
+[Debugging](debugging.md) for the debugger integrations of the library.
 
 ## Parse errors
 

docs/mkdocs/docs/home/faq.md

@@ -81,8 +81,9 @@ rejected by default, and the library never adds them when serializing.
 
 The library supports **Unicode input** as follows:
 
-- Only **UTF-8** encoded input is supported, which is the default encoding for JSON, according to [RFC 8259](https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc8259.html#section-8.1).
+- **UTF-8** encoded input is supported, which is the default encoding for JSON, according to [RFC 8259](https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc8259.html#section-8.1).
-- `std::u16string` and `std::u32string` can be parsed, assuming UTF-16 and UTF-32 encoding, respectively. These encodings are not supported when reading from files or other input containers.
+- `std::u16string` and `std::u32string` can be parsed, assuming UTF-16 and UTF-32 encoding, respectively; `std::wstring` works as well and is interpreted as UTF-16 or UTF-32, depending on the width of the platform's `wchar_t`. These encodings cannot be read from a `FILE*` or an `std::istream`, which carry bytes only.
+- Ill-formed UTF-16 or UTF-32 input is rejected: a lone surrogate, a high surrogate that is not followed by its low surrogate, and a code point above `U+10FFFF` all yield a parse error. The same holds for iterators over 2- or 4-byte characters.
 - Other encodings such as Latin-1 or ISO 8859-1 are **not** supported and will yield parse or serialization errors.
 - The library will not replace [Unicode noncharacters](http://www.unicode.org/faq/private_use.html#nonchar1).
 - Invalid surrogates (e.g., incomplete pairs such as `\uDEAD`) will yield parse errors.
@@ -146,7 +147,7 @@ json::parse(std::string("\"") + '\0' + "\""); // throws parse_error.101: control
 
     Why are wide strings (e.g., `std::wstring`) dumped as arrays of numbers?
 
-As described [above](#parse-errors-reading-non-ascii-characters), the library assumes UTF-8 as encoding.  To store a wide string, you need to change the encoding.
+As described [above](#parse-errors-reading-non-ascii-characters), the library stores its strings as UTF-8. To store a wide string, you need to change the encoding.
 
 !!! example
 

docs/mkdocs/docs/index.md

@@ -6,7 +6,9 @@ JSON for Modern C++ is a header-only C++11 library that turns JSON into a first-
 magic of modern C++ so that creating, reading, and modifying JSON values feels as natural as it does in languages like
 Python. The whole library is available as a single header, `json.hpp`, with no dependencies, no subproject, and no
 complex build system to set up; a companion header, `json_fwd.hpp`, provides forward declarations to keep compile times
-down. See [header-only integration](integration/index.md) for details. It is heavily unit-tested with 100% code
+down, `<nlohmann/json_literals.hpp>` holds the user-defined string literals on their own, and
+`<nlohmann/json_view.hpp>` adds zero-copy views and editable documents. See
+[header-only integration](integration/index.md) for details. It is heavily unit-tested with 100% code
 coverage, checked with Valgrind and the Clang Sanitizers for memory leaks, and continuously fuzz-tested by Google
 OSS-Fuzz.
 
@@ -58,7 +60,8 @@ Conda, and more), and pkg-config.
 
     ---
 
-    Creating, parsing, accessing, and serializing JSON values, JSON Pointer/Patch, binary formats, and more.
+    Creating, parsing, accessing, and serializing JSON values, JSON Pointer/Patch, binary formats, zero-copy views,
+    and more.
 
     [:octicons-arrow-right-24: Features](features/index.md)
 
@@ -74,7 +77,8 @@ Conda, and more), and pkg-config.
 
     ---
 
-    The complete reference for `basic_json` and its member functions, types, and related classes.
+    The complete reference for `basic_json` and its member functions, types, and related classes, as well as for
+    `json_document` and `json_view`.
 
     [:octicons-arrow-right-24: API documentation](api/basic_json/index.md)
 

include/nlohmann/detail/json_pointer.hpp

@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 #include <cstddef> // size_t
 #include <cstdint> // uint64_t
 #include <cstdlib> // strtoull
-#include <cstring> // memchr, memcmp, memcpy
+#include <cstring> // memcmp, memcpy
 #ifndef JSON_NO_IO
     #include <iosfwd> // ostream
 #endif  // JSON_NO_IO
@@ -303,12 +303,6 @@ class json_pointer
         exceeds_size_type  ///< @a s converts to an integer that exceeds size_type
     };
 
-    /// whether a reference token is "-" (a plain comparison with a string literal is not always inlined)
-    static bool is_dash(const string_t& s) noexcept
-    {
-        return s.size() == 1 && s[0] == '-';
-    }
-
     /*!
     @param[in] s    reference token to be converted into an array index
     @param[out] idx the integer representation of @a s if @ref array_index_status::ok
@@ -334,7 +328,7 @@ class json_pointer
         // error condition (cf. RFC 6901, Sect. 4); this also covers single-
         // character tokens, so "/x" and "/xy" fail alike; "-" and the empty
         // token are left to the conversion below and are reported as unresolved
-        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!s.empty() && !is_dash(s) && !(s[0] >= '0' && s[0] <= '9')))
+        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!s.empty() && s != "-" && !(s[0] >= '0' && s[0] <= '9')))
         {
             return array_index_status::not_a_number;
         }
@@ -481,40 +475,9 @@ class json_pointer
         return pos == size;
     }
 
-    /// reserve room for @a n elements of an array type that has reserve()
-    template<typename ArrayType>
-    static auto reserve_elements(ArrayType& array, const std::size_t n, detail::priority_tag<1> /*unused*/)
-    -> decltype(array.reserve(n), void())
-    {
-        array.reserve(n);
-    }
-
-    template<typename ArrayType>
-    static void reserve_elements(ArrayType& /*array*/, const std::size_t /*n*/, detail::priority_tag<0> /*unused*/)
-    {}
-
     /// @brief object member access with a key that is only copied if it is inserted
-    ///
-    /// Objects that can find the position of a key and insert there
-    /// (std::map) search once, others look the key up and add it if it is missing.
     template<typename BasicJsonType>
-    static auto object_member_impl(BasicJsonType& object, const string_t& key, detail::priority_tag<1> /*unused*/)
+    static BasicJsonType& object_member(BasicJsonType& object, const string_t& key)
-    -> decltype(object.m_data.m_value.object->emplace_hint(object.m_data.m_value.object->lower_bound(key), key, nullptr), std::declval<BasicJsonType&>())
-    {
-        auto& members = *object.m_data.m_value.object;
-        auto it = members.lower_bound(key);
-        if (it != members.end() && !members.key_comp()(key, it->first))
-        {
-            return it->second;
-        }
-
-        const auto old_capacity = object.container_capacity();
-        it = members.emplace_hint(it, key, nullptr);
-        return object.set_parent_after_insert(it->second, old_capacity);
-    }
-
-    template<typename BasicJsonType>
-    static BasicJsonType& object_member_impl(BasicJsonType& object, const string_t& key, detail::priority_tag<0> /*unused*/)
     {
         auto& members = *object.m_data.m_value.object;
         const auto it = members.find(key);
@@ -525,12 +488,6 @@ class json_pointer
         return object.operator[](key);
     }
 
-    template<typename BasicJsonType>
-    static BasicJsonType& object_member(BasicJsonType& object, const string_t& key)
-    {
-        return object_member_impl(object, key, detail::priority_tag<1> {});
-    }
-
   JSON_PRIVATE_UNLESS_TESTED:
     json_pointer top() const
     {
@@ -763,103 +720,48 @@ class json_pointer
         }
     }
 
-    /*!
-    @brief the values along the pointer last resolved by @ref resolve_plain
-
-    A patch from @ref basic_json::diff lists its operations in document order,
-    so consecutive pointers share most of their reference tokens; the values
-    along the previous pointer are kept to resume from the common prefix.
-    `steps[k]` is the value after the first `k` reference tokens together with
-    the length of the prefix of `*path` that holds them. A value stays valid as
-    long as no operation changes its container: callers keep only values up to
-    the parent of the pointer they modify, or call `reset()`.
-    */
-    template<typename BasicJsonType>
-    struct plain_steps
-    {
-        const string_t* path = nullptr;
-        std::vector<std::pair<std::size_t, BasicJsonType*>> steps{};
-
-        void reset() noexcept
-        {
-            path = nullptr;
-            steps.clear();
-        }
-    };
-
     /*!
     @brief resolve a plain JSON pointer without building its reference tokens
 
-    @param[in] root    the value the pointer starts at
+    @param[in] ptr     the value the pointer starts at
     @param[in] path    a JSON pointer string
     @param[in] length  the number of leading bytes of @a path to resolve; 0 or
                        the position of a slash
     @param[in,out] token  a string to hold the reference tokens, to reuse its storage
-    @param[in,out] cache  the values along the previously resolved pointer;
-                          @a path must outlive the next call
 
     @return the pointed to value, or `nullptr` if the pointer does not denote
-            an existing value, or does so in a way that is not plain: an array
+            an existing value, or does so in a way that is not plain: a
-            index that is malformed or out of range, or a "-", or a reference
+            reference token with an escape, an array index that is malformed or
-            token with an escape. No exception is
+            out of range, or a "-". No exception is thrown for these; callers
-            thrown for these; callers use @ref json_pointer instead, which
+            use @ref json_pointer instead, which handles them.
-            handles them.
     */
     template<typename BasicJsonType>
-    static BasicJsonType* resolve_plain(BasicJsonType* root, const string_t& path, const std::size_t length, string_t& token, plain_steps<BasicJsonType>& cache)
+    static BasicJsonType* resolve_plain(BasicJsonType* ptr, const string_t& path, const std::size_t length, string_t& token)
     {
-        auto& steps = cache.steps;
+        for (std::size_t pos = 0; pos < length;)
-
-        // resume from the deepest step that is also a prefix of this path
-        std::size_t depth = 1;
-        if (cache.path != nullptr && !steps.empty() && steps[0].second == root)
-        {
-            const string_t& previous = *cache.path;
-            for (depth = steps.size(); depth > 1; --depth)
-            {
-                // a step ends at a token boundary of the previous path
-                const std::size_t prefix = steps[depth - 1].first;
-                if (prefix <= length && (prefix == length || path[prefix] == '/') && std::memcmp(path.data(), previous.data(), prefix) == 0)
-                {
-                    break;
-                }
-            }
-            steps.resize(depth);
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            steps.assign(1, std::make_pair(std::size_t{0}, root));
-        }
-        cache.path = &path;
-
-        BasicJsonType* ptr = steps[depth - 1].second;
-        for (std::size_t pos = steps[depth - 1].first; pos < length;)
         {
             if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(path[pos] != '/'))
             {
                 return nullptr;
             }
 
-            // the reference token between the slash at pos and the next one,
+            // the reference token between the slash at pos and the next one
-            // which must not have an escape
+            std::size_t end = path.find_first_of('/', pos + 1);
-            const char* const begin = path.data() + pos + 1;
+            if (end == string_t::npos || end > length)
-            const char* const limit = path.data() + length;
-            const char* end = begin;
-            while (end < limit && *end != '/')
             {
-                if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(*end == '~'))
+                end = length;
-                {
+            }
-                    return nullptr;
+            token.clear();
-                }
+            token.append(path.data() + pos + 1, end - pos - 1);
-                ++end;
+            if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(token.find_first_of('~') != string_t::npos))
+            {
+                return nullptr;
             }
 
             switch (ptr->type())
             {
                 case detail::value_t::object:
                 {
-                    token.clear();
-                    token.append(begin, static_cast<std::size_t>(end - begin));
                     const auto it = ptr->m_data.m_value.object->find(token);
                     if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(it == ptr->m_data.m_value.object->end()))
                     {
@@ -871,24 +773,8 @@ class json_pointer
 
                 case detail::value_t::array:
                 {
-                    // an index of up to 18 digits without a leading zero fits into size_type
+                    typename BasicJsonType::size_type idx{};
-                    // (9 digits for a 32-bit size_type); everything else is left to json_pointer
+                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(parse_array_index<BasicJsonType>(token, idx) != array_index_status::ok || idx >= ptr->m_data.m_value.array->size()))
-                    constexpr std::size_t max_digits = sizeof(typename BasicJsonType::size_type) >= 8 ? 18 : 9;
-                    const std::size_t digits = static_cast<std::size_t>(end - begin);
-                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(digits == 0 || digits > max_digits || (digits > 1 && *begin == '0')))
-                    {
-                        return nullptr;
-                    }
-                    typename BasicJsonType::size_type idx = 0;
-                    for (const char* c = begin; c != end; ++c)
-                    {
-                        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(*c < '0' || *c > '9'))
-                        {
-                            return nullptr;
-                        }
-                        idx = static_cast<typename BasicJsonType::size_type>((idx * 10) + static_cast<typename BasicJsonType::size_type>(*c - '0'));
-                    }
-                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(idx >= ptr->m_data.m_value.array->size()))
                     {
                         return nullptr;
                     }
@@ -907,8 +793,7 @@ class json_pointer
                 default:
                     return nullptr;
             }
-            pos = static_cast<std::size_t>(end - path.data());
+            pos = end;
-            steps.emplace_back(pos, ptr);
         }
 
         return ptr;
@@ -1022,7 +907,7 @@ class json_pointer
 
                 case detail::value_t::array:
                 {
-                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(is_dash(reference_token)))
+                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(reference_token == "-"))
                     {
                         // "-" always fails the range check
                         JSON_THROW(detail::out_of_range::create(detail::exception_id::pointer_past_the_end_index, detail::concat(
@@ -1093,7 +978,7 @@ class json_pointer
 
                 case detail::value_t::array:
                 {
-                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(is_dash(reference_token)))
+                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(reference_token == "-"))
                     {
                         // "-" cannot be used for const access
                         JSON_THROW(detail::out_of_range::create(detail::exception_id::pointer_past_the_end_index, detail::concat("array index '-' (", std::to_string(ptr->m_data.m_value.array->size()), ") is out of range"), ptr));
@@ -1155,7 +1040,7 @@ class json_pointer
 
                 case detail::value_t::array:
                 {
-                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(is_dash(reference_token)))
+                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(reference_token == "-"))
                     {
                         // "-" always fails the range check
                         return nullptr;
@@ -1232,7 +1117,7 @@ class json_pointer
 
                 case detail::value_t::array:
                 {
-                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(is_dash(reference_token)))
+                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(reference_token == "-"))
                     {
                         // "-" always fails the range check
                         return false;
@@ -1391,52 +1276,6 @@ class json_pointer
         obj[key] = std::forward<ValueType>(v);
     }
 
-    /// the number of entries that flattening @a value adds: its primitive
-    /// values and empty containers
-    template<typename BasicJsonType>
-    static std::size_t count_flattened(const BasicJsonType& value)
-    {
-        std::size_t count = 0;
-        std::vector<const BasicJsonType*> pending(1, &value);
-        while (!pending.empty())
-        {
-            const BasicJsonType* const v = pending.back();
-            pending.pop_back();
-            if (v->is_array() && !v->m_data.m_value.array->empty())
-            {
-                for (const auto& element : *v->m_data.m_value.array)
-                {
-                    pending.push_back(&element);
-                }
-            }
-            else if (v->is_object() && !v->m_data.m_value.object->empty())
-            {
-                for (const auto& member : *v->m_data.m_value.object)
-                {
-                    pending.push_back(&member.second);
-                }
-            }
-            else
-            {
-                ++count;
-            }
-        }
-        return count;
-    }
-
-    // Reserve the storage for @a value of objects that have a reserve(), so
-    // that it does not have to be moved while it grows
-    template<typename ObjectType, typename BasicJsonType>
-    static auto reserve_flattened(ObjectType& obj, const BasicJsonType& value, detail::priority_tag<1> /*unused*/)
-    -> decltype(obj.reserve(std::size_t {}), void())
-    {
-        obj.reserve(count_flattened(value));
-    }
-
-    template<typename ObjectType, typename BasicJsonType>
-    static void reserve_flattened(ObjectType& /*obj*/, const BasicJsonType& /*value*/, detail::priority_tag<0> /*unused*/)
-    {}
-
     /// append the decimal representation of @a i to @a out
     static void append_index(string_t& out, std::size_t i)
     {
@@ -1546,7 +1385,6 @@ class json_pointer
             }
         };
 
-        reserve_flattened(object, value, detail::priority_tag<1> {});
         enter(value);
         while (!stack.empty())
         {
@@ -1554,9 +1392,8 @@ class json_pointer
             // frame, which would invalidate a reference to it
             const BasicJsonType* const container = stack.back().container;
 
-            // the path of the previous child is replaced by the path of the
+            // drop the path of the previous child
-            // next one; for an array element in one resize
+            path.resize(stack.back().path_length);
-            const std::size_t path_length = stack.back().path_length;
 
             if (container->is_array())
             {
@@ -1570,20 +1407,8 @@ class json_pointer
 
                 // iterate array and use index as a reference string
                 ++stack.back().index;
-                std::array<char, 24> digits{};
+                path.push_back('/');
-                std::size_t pos = digits.size();
+                append_index(path, i);
-                std::size_t rest = i;
-                do
-                {
-                    digits[--pos] = static_cast<char>('0' + rest % 10);
-                    rest /= 10;
-                }
-                while (rest != 0);
-                const std::size_t count = digits.size() - pos;
-                path.resize(path_length + 1 + count);
-                char* const out = &path[path_length];
-                out[0] = '/';
-                std::memcpy(out + 1, digits.data() + pos, count);
                 enter(array[i]);
             }
             else
@@ -1597,7 +1422,6 @@ class json_pointer
 
                 // iterate object and use keys as reference string
                 ++stack.back().member;
-                path.resize(path_length);
                 path.push_back('/');
                 detail::escape_into(path, it->first);
                 enter(it->second);
@@ -1693,28 +1517,8 @@ class json_pointer
                 {
                     end = key.size();
                 }
-                const std::size_t token_size = end - pos - 1;
-
-                // a token that is a plain index of up to 9 digits, which is
-                // the case for almost all array elements, is not copied
-                std::size_t index = 0;
-                bool plain_index = current->type() == detail::value_t::array && token_size != 0 && token_size <= 9 && (token_size == 1 || data[pos + 1] != '0');
-                for (std::size_t k = pos + 1; plain_index && k < end; ++k)
-                {
-                    plain_index = data[k] >= '0' && data[k] <= '9';
-                    index = (index * 10) + static_cast<std::size_t>(data[k] - '0');
-                }
-                if (plain_index)
-                {
-                    current = &current->operator[](static_cast<typename BasicJsonType::size_type>(index));
-                    values.push_back(current);
-                    ends.push_back(end);
-                    pos = end;
-                    continue;
-                }
-
                 token.clear();
-                token.append(data + pos + 1, token_size);
+                token.append(data + pos + 1, end - pos - 1);
                 if (token.find_first_of('~') != string_t::npos)
                 {
                     detail::unescape(token);
@@ -1724,13 +1528,10 @@ class json_pointer
                 {
                     case detail::value_t::null:
                     {
-                        // a first child 0 makes the value an array without a look-up
+                        if (arrays.contains(data, pos))
-                        if ((token_size == 1 && data[pos + 1] == '0') || arrays.contains(data, pos))
                         {
                             // some reference token below this position is 0, so the
                             // value is an array
-                            *current = BasicJsonType(detail::value_t::array);
-                            reserve_elements(*current->m_data.m_value.array, 2, detail::priority_tag<1> {});
                             current = &current->operator[](array_index<BasicJsonType>(token));
                         }
                         else

include/nlohmann/json.hpp

@@ -6878,72 +6878,6 @@ public:
     /// @name JSON Patch functions
     /// @{
 
-  private:
-    /// the members of an operation of a JSON patch that are of interest
-    struct patch_members
-    {
-        basic_json* op = nullptr;
-        basic_json* path = nullptr;
-        basic_json* value = nullptr;
-        basic_json* from = nullptr;
-    };
-
-    /// @brief find the members "op", "path", "value", and "from" of the object @a val in one pass
-    static patch_members find_patch_members(const basic_json& val, std::true_type /*key_type is string_t*/)
-    {
-        patch_members members;
-        for (auto& member : *val.m_data.m_value.object)
-        {
-            const string_t& key = member.first;
-            switch (key.size())
-            {
-                case 2:
-                    if (key == "op")
-                    {
-                        members.op = &member.second;
-                    }
-                    break;
-                case 4:
-                    if (key == "path")
-                    {
-                        members.path = &member.second;
-                    }
-                    else if (key == "from")
-                    {
-                        members.from = &member.second;
-                    }
-                    break;
-                case 5:
-                    if (key == "value")
-                    {
-                        members.value = &member.second;
-                    }
-                    break;
-                default:
-                    break;
-            }
-        }
-        return members;
-    }
-
-    /// @brief find the members by lookup for key types other than string_t
-    static patch_members find_patch_members(const basic_json& val, std::false_type /*key_type is not string_t*/)
-    {
-        const auto find_member = [&val](const char* name) -> basic_json *
-        {
-            const auto it = val.m_data.m_value.object->find(string_t(name));
-            return it != val.m_data.m_value.object->end() ? &it->second : nullptr;
-        };
-
-        patch_members members;
-        members.op = find_member("op");
-        members.path = find_member("path");
-        members.value = find_member("value");
-        members.from = find_member("from");
-        return members;
-    }
-
-  public:
     /// @brief applies a JSON patch in-place without copying the object
     /// @sa https://json.nlohmann.me/api/basic_json/patch/
     void patch_inplace(const basic_json& json_patch)
@@ -7117,18 +7051,18 @@ public:
         // a diff creates them: apply the operation and return true; return
         // false, with nothing changed, for all others
         string_t token;
-        typename json_pointer::template plain_steps<basic_json> steps;
+        const string_t value_key = "value";
-        const auto try_plain = [&result, &token, &steps](patch_operations operation, const string_t& path, const patch_members & members, const basic_json & val)
+        const auto try_plain = [&result, &token, &value_key](patch_operations operation, const string_t& path, const basic_json & val)
         {
-            if (path.empty())
+            if (path.empty() || path.find_first_of('~') != string_t::npos)
             {
                 return false;
             }
 
             // a missing "value" is reported below
-            const basic_json* const value_ptr = members.value;
+            const auto value_it = val.m_data.m_value.object->find(value_key);
-            const basic_json& value = value_ptr != nullptr ? *value_ptr : val;
+            const basic_json& value = value_it != val.m_data.m_value.object->end() ? value_it->second : val;
-            if (operation != patch_operations::remove && value_ptr == nullptr)
+            if (operation != patch_operations::remove && value_it == val.m_data.m_value.object->end())
             {
                 return false;
             }
@@ -7137,7 +7071,7 @@ public:
             {
                 case patch_operations::replace:
                 {
-                    basic_json* const target = json_pointer::resolve_plain(&result, path, path.size(), token, steps);
+                    basic_json* const target = json_pointer::resolve_plain(&result, path, path.size(), token);
                     if (target == nullptr)
                     {
                         return false;
@@ -7148,7 +7082,7 @@ public:
 
                 case patch_operations::test:
                 {
-                    const basic_json* const target = json_pointer::resolve_plain(&result, path, path.size(), token, steps);
+                    const basic_json* const target = json_pointer::resolve_plain(&result, path, path.size(), token);
                     // a failing test is reported below
                     return target != nullptr && *target == value;
                 }
@@ -7168,17 +7102,13 @@ public:
                     }
                     --slash;
 
-                    basic_json* const parent = json_pointer::resolve_plain(&result, path, slash, token, steps);
+                    basic_json* const parent = json_pointer::resolve_plain(&result, path, slash, token);
                     if (parent == nullptr)
                     {
                         return false;
                     }
                     token.clear();
                     token.append(path.data() + slash + 1, path.size() - slash - 1);
-                    if (token.find_first_of('~') != string_t::npos)
-                    {
-                        return false;
-                    }
 
                     if (operation == patch_operations::add)
                     {
@@ -7234,32 +7164,31 @@ public:
             }
         };
 
-        // the name of the first member to check
-        const string_t op_member = "op";
-
         // iterate and apply the operations
         for (const auto& val : json_patch)
         {
             // wrapper to get a value for an operation
-            const auto get_value = [&val](basic_json * found,
+            const auto get_value = [&val](const string_t& op,
-                                          const string_t& op,
+                                          const string_t& member,
-                                          const char* member,
                                           bool string_type) -> basic_json &
             {
+                // find value
+                auto it = val.m_data.m_value.object->find(member);
+
                 // check if the desired value is present
-                if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(found == nullptr))
+                if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(it == val.m_data.m_value.object->end()))
                 {
-                    detail::throw_patch_missing_member(op, string_t(member), false, val);
+                    detail::throw_patch_missing_member(op, member, false, val);
                 }
 
                 // check if the result is of type string
-                if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(string_type && !found->is_string()))
+                if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(string_type && !it->second.is_string()))
                 {
-                    detail::throw_patch_missing_member(op, string_t(member), true, val);
+                    detail::throw_patch_missing_member(op, member, true, val);
                 }
 
                 // no error: return value
-                return *found;
+                return it->second;
             };
 
             // type check: every element of the array must be an object
@@ -7268,30 +7197,26 @@ public:
                 detail::throw_patch_not_an_array(val);
             }
 
-            const patch_members members = find_patch_members(val, std::is_same<typename object_t::key_type, string_t> {});
-
             // collect mandatory members
-            const string_t& op = *get_value(members.op, op_member, "op", true).m_data.m_value.string;
+            const string_t& op = *get_value("op", "op", true).m_data.m_value.string;
-            const string_t& path = *get_value(members.path, op, "path", true).m_data.m_value.string;
+            const string_t& path = *get_value(op, "path", true).m_data.m_value.string;
             const patch_operations operation = get_op(op);
 
             // the usual operations on a plain pointer are applied without
             // building the pointer's reference tokens; anything else (and
             // every error) is handled below
-            if (try_plain(operation, path, members, val))
+            if (try_plain(operation, path, val))
             {
                 continue;
             }
 
-            // the general operations may change any container
-            steps.reset();
             json_pointer ptr(path);
 
             switch (operation)
             {
                 case patch_operations::add:
                 {
-                    operation_add(ptr, get_value(members.value, "add", "value", false));
+                    operation_add(ptr, get_value("add", "value", false));
                     break;
                 }
 
@@ -7304,13 +7229,13 @@ public:
                 case patch_operations::replace:
                 {
                     // the "path" location must exist - use at()
-                    result.at(ptr) = get_value(members.value, "replace", "value", false);
+                    result.at(ptr) = get_value("replace", "value", false);
                     break;
                 }
 
                 case patch_operations::move:
                 {
-                    const string_t& from_path = *get_value(members.from, "move", "from", true).m_data.m_value.string;
+                    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)))
@@ -7333,7 +7258,7 @@ public:
 
                 case patch_operations::copy:
                 {
-                    const string_t& from_path = *get_value(members.from, "copy", "from", true).m_data.m_value.string;
+                    const string_t& from_path = *get_value("copy", "from", true).m_data.m_value.string;
                     const json_pointer from_ptr(from_path);
 
                     // The copy is functionally identical to an "add"
@@ -7351,7 +7276,7 @@ public:
                     {
                         // check if "value" matches the one at "path"
                         // the "path" location must exist - use at()
-                        success = (result.at(ptr) == get_value(members.value, "test", "value", false));
+                        success = (result.at(ptr) == get_value("test", "value", false));
                     }
                     JSON_INTERNAL_CATCH (out_of_range&)
                     {
@@ -7443,18 +7368,13 @@ public:
     /// @brief append an operation @a op for @a path to @a result, with @a value if it is not null
     static void diff_operation(basic_json& result, const char* op, const string_t& path, const basic_json* value)
     {
-        // the keys are distinct and in the order of std::map; the members are
-        // added without looking them up
         basic_json entry(value_t::object);
-        auto& members = *entry.m_data.m_value.object;
+        entry["op"] = op;
-        typename object_t::iterator hint = members.end();
+        entry["path"] = path;
-        json_pointer::add_flattened(members, hint, string_t("op"), string_t(op), detail::priority_tag<2> {});
-        json_pointer::add_flattened(members, hint, string_t("path"), path, detail::priority_tag<2> {});
         if (value != nullptr)
         {
-            json_pointer::add_flattened(members, hint, string_t("value"), *value, detail::priority_tag<2> {});
+            entry["value"] = *value;
         }
-        entry.set_parents();
         result.push_back(std::move(entry));
     }
 
@@ -7476,50 +7396,6 @@ public:
         diff_operation(result, "add", path, &value);
     }
 
-    /// @brief the values in the target of the members of a source object, for the
-    ///        objects of up to 16 members without allocating
-    ///
-    /// reserve() must be called with the number of values that are added.
-    class diff_target_values
-    {
-      public:
-        diff_target_values() = default;
-        diff_target_values(const diff_target_values&) = delete;
-        diff_target_values& operator=(const diff_target_values&) = delete;
-        ~diff_target_values() = default;
-
-        void reserve(const std::size_t n)
-        {
-            if (n > inline_size)
-            {
-                large.resize(n);
-                items = large.data();
-            }
-        }
-
-        void push_back(const basic_json* value)
-        {
-            items[count++] = value;
-        }
-
-        std::size_t size() const noexcept
-        {
-            return count;
-        }
-
-        const basic_json* operator[](const std::size_t i) const noexcept
-        {
-            return items[i];
-        }
-
-      private:
-        static constexpr std::size_t inline_size = 16;
-        std::size_t count = 0;
-        const basic_json** items = inline_items;
-        std::vector<const basic_json*> large{}; // NOLINT(readability-redundant-member-init)
-        const basic_json* inline_items[inline_size]; // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-pro-type-member-init,hicpp-member-init)
-    };
-
     /// @brief append "/" and the decimal representation of @a index to @a path
     static void diff_append_index(string_t& path, std::size_t index)
     {
@@ -7600,9 +7476,8 @@ public:
     operations that remove every member of @a source and add every member of
     @a target to @a result, and returns false.
     */
-    template<typename TargetValues>
     static bool diff_object_keys(basic_json& result, const basic_json& source, const basic_json& target,
-                                 const string_t& path, TargetValues& target_values,
+                                 const string_t& path, std::vector<const basic_json*>& target_values,
                                  std::vector<const_iterator>& added)
     {
         // first pass: one lookup per source key
@@ -7816,7 +7691,7 @@ public:
 
             case value_t::object:
             {
-                diff_target_values target_values;
+                std::vector<const basic_json*> target_values;
                 std::vector<const_iterator> added;
                 if (diff_object_keys(result, source, target, path, target_values, added))
                 {

single_include/nlohmann/json.hpp

@@ -22357,7 +22357,7 @@ NLOHMANN_JSON_NAMESPACE_END
 #include <cstddef> // size_t
 #include <cstdint> // uint64_t
 #include <cstdlib> // strtoull
-#include <cstring> // memchr, memcmp, memcpy
+#include <cstring> // memcmp, memcpy
 #ifndef JSON_NO_IO
     #include <iosfwd> // ostream
 #endif  // JSON_NO_IO
@@ -22653,12 +22653,6 @@ class json_pointer
         exceeds_size_type  ///< @a s converts to an integer that exceeds size_type
     };
 
-    /// whether a reference token is "-" (a plain comparison with a string literal is not always inlined)
-    static bool is_dash(const string_t& s) noexcept
-    {
-        return s.size() == 1 && s[0] == '-';
-    }
-
     /*!
     @param[in] s    reference token to be converted into an array index
     @param[out] idx the integer representation of @a s if @ref array_index_status::ok
@@ -22684,7 +22678,7 @@ class json_pointer
         // error condition (cf. RFC 6901, Sect. 4); this also covers single-
         // character tokens, so "/x" and "/xy" fail alike; "-" and the empty
         // token are left to the conversion below and are reported as unresolved
-        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!s.empty() && !is_dash(s) && !(s[0] >= '0' && s[0] <= '9')))
+        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!s.empty() && s != "-" && !(s[0] >= '0' && s[0] <= '9')))
         {
             return array_index_status::not_a_number;
         }
@@ -22831,40 +22825,9 @@ class json_pointer
         return pos == size;
     }
 
-    /// reserve room for @a n elements of an array type that has reserve()
-    template<typename ArrayType>
-    static auto reserve_elements(ArrayType& array, const std::size_t n, detail::priority_tag<1> /*unused*/)
-    -> decltype(array.reserve(n), void())
-    {
-        array.reserve(n);
-    }
-
-    template<typename ArrayType>
-    static void reserve_elements(ArrayType& /*array*/, const std::size_t /*n*/, detail::priority_tag<0> /*unused*/)
-    {}
-
     /// @brief object member access with a key that is only copied if it is inserted
-    ///
-    /// Objects that can find the position of a key and insert there
-    /// (std::map) search once, others look the key up and add it if it is missing.
     template<typename BasicJsonType>
-    static auto object_member_impl(BasicJsonType& object, const string_t& key, detail::priority_tag<1> /*unused*/)
+    static BasicJsonType& object_member(BasicJsonType& object, const string_t& key)
-    -> decltype(object.m_data.m_value.object->emplace_hint(object.m_data.m_value.object->lower_bound(key), key, nullptr), std::declval<BasicJsonType&>())
-    {
-        auto& members = *object.m_data.m_value.object;
-        auto it = members.lower_bound(key);
-        if (it != members.end() && !members.key_comp()(key, it->first))
-        {
-            return it->second;
-        }
-
-        const auto old_capacity = object.container_capacity();
-        it = members.emplace_hint(it, key, nullptr);
-        return object.set_parent_after_insert(it->second, old_capacity);
-    }
-
-    template<typename BasicJsonType>
-    static BasicJsonType& object_member_impl(BasicJsonType& object, const string_t& key, detail::priority_tag<0> /*unused*/)
     {
         auto& members = *object.m_data.m_value.object;
         const auto it = members.find(key);
@@ -22875,12 +22838,6 @@ class json_pointer
         return object.operator[](key);
     }
 
-    template<typename BasicJsonType>
-    static BasicJsonType& object_member(BasicJsonType& object, const string_t& key)
-    {
-        return object_member_impl(object, key, detail::priority_tag<1> {});
-    }
-
   JSON_PRIVATE_UNLESS_TESTED:
     json_pointer top() const
     {
@@ -23113,103 +23070,48 @@ class json_pointer
         }
     }
 
-    /*!
-    @brief the values along the pointer last resolved by @ref resolve_plain
-
-    A patch from @ref basic_json::diff lists its operations in document order,
-    so consecutive pointers share most of their reference tokens; the values
-    along the previous pointer are kept to resume from the common prefix.
-    `steps[k]` is the value after the first `k` reference tokens together with
-    the length of the prefix of `*path` that holds them. A value stays valid as
-    long as no operation changes its container: callers keep only values up to
-    the parent of the pointer they modify, or call `reset()`.
-    */
-    template<typename BasicJsonType>
-    struct plain_steps
-    {
-        const string_t* path = nullptr;
-        std::vector<std::pair<std::size_t, BasicJsonType*>> steps{};
-
-        void reset() noexcept
-        {
-            path = nullptr;
-            steps.clear();
-        }
-    };
-
     /*!
     @brief resolve a plain JSON pointer without building its reference tokens
 
-    @param[in] root    the value the pointer starts at
+    @param[in] ptr     the value the pointer starts at
     @param[in] path    a JSON pointer string
     @param[in] length  the number of leading bytes of @a path to resolve; 0 or
                        the position of a slash
     @param[in,out] token  a string to hold the reference tokens, to reuse its storage
-    @param[in,out] cache  the values along the previously resolved pointer;
-                          @a path must outlive the next call
 
     @return the pointed to value, or `nullptr` if the pointer does not denote
-            an existing value, or does so in a way that is not plain: an array
+            an existing value, or does so in a way that is not plain: a
-            index that is malformed or out of range, or a "-", or a reference
+            reference token with an escape, an array index that is malformed or
-            token with an escape. No exception is
+            out of range, or a "-". No exception is thrown for these; callers
-            thrown for these; callers use @ref json_pointer instead, which
+            use @ref json_pointer instead, which handles them.
-            handles them.
     */
     template<typename BasicJsonType>
-    static BasicJsonType* resolve_plain(BasicJsonType* root, const string_t& path, const std::size_t length, string_t& token, plain_steps<BasicJsonType>& cache)
+    static BasicJsonType* resolve_plain(BasicJsonType* ptr, const string_t& path, const std::size_t length, string_t& token)
     {
-        auto& steps = cache.steps;
+        for (std::size_t pos = 0; pos < length;)
-
-        // resume from the deepest step that is also a prefix of this path
-        std::size_t depth = 1;
-        if (cache.path != nullptr && !steps.empty() && steps[0].second == root)
-        {
-            const string_t& previous = *cache.path;
-            for (depth = steps.size(); depth > 1; --depth)
-            {
-                // a step ends at a token boundary of the previous path
-                const std::size_t prefix = steps[depth - 1].first;
-                if (prefix <= length && (prefix == length || path[prefix] == '/') && std::memcmp(path.data(), previous.data(), prefix) == 0)
-                {
-                    break;
-                }
-            }
-            steps.resize(depth);
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            steps.assign(1, std::make_pair(std::size_t{0}, root));
-        }
-        cache.path = &path;
-
-        BasicJsonType* ptr = steps[depth - 1].second;
-        for (std::size_t pos = steps[depth - 1].first; pos < length;)
         {
             if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(path[pos] != '/'))
             {
                 return nullptr;
             }
 
-            // the reference token between the slash at pos and the next one,
+            // the reference token between the slash at pos and the next one
-            // which must not have an escape
+            std::size_t end = path.find_first_of('/', pos + 1);
-            const char* const begin = path.data() + pos + 1;
+            if (end == string_t::npos || end > length)
-            const char* const limit = path.data() + length;
-            const char* end = begin;
-            while (end < limit && *end != '/')
             {
-                if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(*end == '~'))
+                end = length;
-                {
+            }
-                    return nullptr;
+            token.clear();
-                }
+            token.append(path.data() + pos + 1, end - pos - 1);
-                ++end;
+            if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(token.find_first_of('~') != string_t::npos))
+            {
+                return nullptr;
             }
 
             switch (ptr->type())
             {
                 case detail::value_t::object:
                 {
-                    token.clear();
-                    token.append(begin, static_cast<std::size_t>(end - begin));
                     const auto it = ptr->m_data.m_value.object->find(token);
                     if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(it == ptr->m_data.m_value.object->end()))
                     {
@@ -23221,24 +23123,8 @@ class json_pointer
 
                 case detail::value_t::array:
                 {
-                    // an index of up to 18 digits without a leading zero fits into size_type
+                    typename BasicJsonType::size_type idx{};
-                    // (9 digits for a 32-bit size_type); everything else is left to json_pointer
+                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(parse_array_index<BasicJsonType>(token, idx) != array_index_status::ok || idx >= ptr->m_data.m_value.array->size()))
-                    constexpr std::size_t max_digits = sizeof(typename BasicJsonType::size_type) >= 8 ? 18 : 9;
-                    const std::size_t digits = static_cast<std::size_t>(end - begin);
-                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(digits == 0 || digits > max_digits || (digits > 1 && *begin == '0')))
-                    {
-                        return nullptr;
-                    }
-                    typename BasicJsonType::size_type idx = 0;
-                    for (const char* c = begin; c != end; ++c)
-                    {
-                        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(*c < '0' || *c > '9'))
-                        {
-                            return nullptr;
-                        }
-                        idx = static_cast<typename BasicJsonType::size_type>((idx * 10) + static_cast<typename BasicJsonType::size_type>(*c - '0'));
-                    }
-                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(idx >= ptr->m_data.m_value.array->size()))
                     {
                         return nullptr;
                     }
@@ -23257,8 +23143,7 @@ class json_pointer
                 default:
                     return nullptr;
             }
-            pos = static_cast<std::size_t>(end - path.data());
+            pos = end;
-            steps.emplace_back(pos, ptr);
         }
 
         return ptr;
@@ -23372,7 +23257,7 @@ class json_pointer
 
                 case detail::value_t::array:
                 {
-                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(is_dash(reference_token)))
+                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(reference_token == "-"))
                     {
                         // "-" always fails the range check
                         JSON_THROW(detail::out_of_range::create(detail::exception_id::pointer_past_the_end_index, detail::concat(
@@ -23443,7 +23328,7 @@ class json_pointer
 
                 case detail::value_t::array:
                 {
-                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(is_dash(reference_token)))
+                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(reference_token == "-"))
                     {
                         // "-" cannot be used for const access
                         JSON_THROW(detail::out_of_range::create(detail::exception_id::pointer_past_the_end_index, detail::concat("array index '-' (", std::to_string(ptr->m_data.m_value.array->size()), ") is out of range"), ptr));
@@ -23505,7 +23390,7 @@ class json_pointer
 
                 case detail::value_t::array:
                 {
-                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(is_dash(reference_token)))
+                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(reference_token == "-"))
                     {
                         // "-" always fails the range check
                         return nullptr;
@@ -23582,7 +23467,7 @@ class json_pointer
 
                 case detail::value_t::array:
                 {
-                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(is_dash(reference_token)))
+                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(reference_token == "-"))
                     {
                         // "-" always fails the range check
                         return false;
@@ -23741,52 +23626,6 @@ class json_pointer
         obj[key] = std::forward<ValueType>(v);
     }
 
-    /// the number of entries that flattening @a value adds: its primitive
-    /// values and empty containers
-    template<typename BasicJsonType>
-    static std::size_t count_flattened(const BasicJsonType& value)
-    {
-        std::size_t count = 0;
-        std::vector<const BasicJsonType*> pending(1, &value);
-        while (!pending.empty())
-        {
-            const BasicJsonType* const v = pending.back();
-            pending.pop_back();
-            if (v->is_array() && !v->m_data.m_value.array->empty())
-            {
-                for (const auto& element : *v->m_data.m_value.array)
-                {
-                    pending.push_back(&element);
-                }
-            }
-            else if (v->is_object() && !v->m_data.m_value.object->empty())
-            {
-                for (const auto& member : *v->m_data.m_value.object)
-                {
-                    pending.push_back(&member.second);
-                }
-            }
-            else
-            {
-                ++count;
-            }
-        }
-        return count;
-    }
-
-    // Reserve the storage for @a value of objects that have a reserve(), so
-    // that it does not have to be moved while it grows
-    template<typename ObjectType, typename BasicJsonType>
-    static auto reserve_flattened(ObjectType& obj, const BasicJsonType& value, detail::priority_tag<1> /*unused*/)
-    -> decltype(obj.reserve(std::size_t {}), void())
-    {
-        obj.reserve(count_flattened(value));
-    }
-
-    template<typename ObjectType, typename BasicJsonType>
-    static void reserve_flattened(ObjectType& /*obj*/, const BasicJsonType& /*value*/, detail::priority_tag<0> /*unused*/)
-    {}
-
     /// append the decimal representation of @a i to @a out
     static void append_index(string_t& out, std::size_t i)
     {
@@ -23896,7 +23735,6 @@ class json_pointer
             }
         };
 
-        reserve_flattened(object, value, detail::priority_tag<1> {});
         enter(value);
         while (!stack.empty())
         {
@@ -23904,9 +23742,8 @@ class json_pointer
             // frame, which would invalidate a reference to it
             const BasicJsonType* const container = stack.back().container;
 
-            // the path of the previous child is replaced by the path of the
+            // drop the path of the previous child
-            // next one; for an array element in one resize
+            path.resize(stack.back().path_length);
-            const std::size_t path_length = stack.back().path_length;
 
             if (container->is_array())
             {
@@ -23920,20 +23757,8 @@ class json_pointer
 
                 // iterate array and use index as a reference string
                 ++stack.back().index;
-                std::array<char, 24> digits{};
+                path.push_back('/');
-                std::size_t pos = digits.size();
+                append_index(path, i);
-                std::size_t rest = i;
-                do
-                {
-                    digits[--pos] = static_cast<char>('0' + rest % 10);
-                    rest /= 10;
-                }
-                while (rest != 0);
-                const std::size_t count = digits.size() - pos;
-                path.resize(path_length + 1 + count);
-                char* const out = &path[path_length];
-                out[0] = '/';
-                std::memcpy(out + 1, digits.data() + pos, count);
                 enter(array[i]);
             }
             else
@@ -23947,7 +23772,6 @@ class json_pointer
 
                 // iterate object and use keys as reference string
                 ++stack.back().member;
-                path.resize(path_length);
                 path.push_back('/');
                 detail::escape_into(path, it->first);
                 enter(it->second);
@@ -24043,28 +23867,8 @@ class json_pointer
                 {
                     end = key.size();
                 }
-                const std::size_t token_size = end - pos - 1;
-
-                // a token that is a plain index of up to 9 digits, which is
-                // the case for almost all array elements, is not copied
-                std::size_t index = 0;
-                bool plain_index = current->type() == detail::value_t::array && token_size != 0 && token_size <= 9 && (token_size == 1 || data[pos + 1] != '0');
-                for (std::size_t k = pos + 1; plain_index && k < end; ++k)
-                {
-                    plain_index = data[k] >= '0' && data[k] <= '9';
-                    index = (index * 10) + static_cast<std::size_t>(data[k] - '0');
-                }
-                if (plain_index)
-                {
-                    current = &current->operator[](static_cast<typename BasicJsonType::size_type>(index));
-                    values.push_back(current);
-                    ends.push_back(end);
-                    pos = end;
-                    continue;
-                }
-
                 token.clear();
-                token.append(data + pos + 1, token_size);
+                token.append(data + pos + 1, end - pos - 1);
                 if (token.find_first_of('~') != string_t::npos)
                 {
                     detail::unescape(token);
@@ -24074,13 +23878,10 @@ class json_pointer
                 {
                     case detail::value_t::null:
                     {
-                        // a first child 0 makes the value an array without a look-up
+                        if (arrays.contains(data, pos))
-                        if ((token_size == 1 && data[pos + 1] == '0') || arrays.contains(data, pos))
                         {
                             // some reference token below this position is 0, so the
                             // value is an array
-                            *current = BasicJsonType(detail::value_t::array);
-                            reserve_elements(*current->m_data.m_value.array, 2, detail::priority_tag<1> {});
                             current = &current->operator[](array_index<BasicJsonType>(token));
                         }
                         else
@@ -39387,72 +39188,6 @@ public:
     /// @name JSON Patch functions
     /// @{
 
-  private:
-    /// the members of an operation of a JSON patch that are of interest
-    struct patch_members
-    {
-        basic_json* op = nullptr;
-        basic_json* path = nullptr;
-        basic_json* value = nullptr;
-        basic_json* from = nullptr;
-    };
-
-    /// @brief find the members "op", "path", "value", and "from" of the object @a val in one pass
-    static patch_members find_patch_members(const basic_json& val, std::true_type /*key_type is string_t*/)
-    {
-        patch_members members;
-        for (auto& member : *val.m_data.m_value.object)
-        {
-            const string_t& key = member.first;
-            switch (key.size())
-            {
-                case 2:
-                    if (key == "op")
-                    {
-                        members.op = &member.second;
-                    }
-                    break;
-                case 4:
-                    if (key == "path")
-                    {
-                        members.path = &member.second;
-                    }
-                    else if (key == "from")
-                    {
-                        members.from = &member.second;
-                    }
-                    break;
-                case 5:
-                    if (key == "value")
-                    {
-                        members.value = &member.second;
-                    }
-                    break;
-                default:
-                    break;
-            }
-        }
-        return members;
-    }
-
-    /// @brief find the members by lookup for key types other than string_t
-    static patch_members find_patch_members(const basic_json& val, std::false_type /*key_type is not string_t*/)
-    {
-        const auto find_member = [&val](const char* name) -> basic_json *
-        {
-            const auto it = val.m_data.m_value.object->find(string_t(name));
-            return it != val.m_data.m_value.object->end() ? &it->second : nullptr;
-        };
-
-        patch_members members;
-        members.op = find_member("op");
-        members.path = find_member("path");
-        members.value = find_member("value");
-        members.from = find_member("from");
-        return members;
-    }
-
-  public:
     /// @brief applies a JSON patch in-place without copying the object
     /// @sa https://json.nlohmann.me/api/basic_json/patch/
     void patch_inplace(const basic_json& json_patch)
@@ -39626,18 +39361,18 @@ public:
         // a diff creates them: apply the operation and return true; return
         // false, with nothing changed, for all others
         string_t token;
-        typename json_pointer::template plain_steps<basic_json> steps;
+        const string_t value_key = "value";
-        const auto try_plain = [&result, &token, &steps](patch_operations operation, const string_t& path, const patch_members & members, const basic_json & val)
+        const auto try_plain = [&result, &token, &value_key](patch_operations operation, const string_t& path, const basic_json & val)
         {
-            if (path.empty())
+            if (path.empty() || path.find_first_of('~') != string_t::npos)
             {
                 return false;
             }
 
             // a missing "value" is reported below
-            const basic_json* const value_ptr = members.value;
+            const auto value_it = val.m_data.m_value.object->find(value_key);
-            const basic_json& value = value_ptr != nullptr ? *value_ptr : val;
+            const basic_json& value = value_it != val.m_data.m_value.object->end() ? value_it->second : val;
-            if (operation != patch_operations::remove && value_ptr == nullptr)
+            if (operation != patch_operations::remove && value_it == val.m_data.m_value.object->end())
             {
                 return false;
             }
@@ -39646,7 +39381,7 @@ public:
             {
                 case patch_operations::replace:
                 {
-                    basic_json* const target = json_pointer::resolve_plain(&result, path, path.size(), token, steps);
+                    basic_json* const target = json_pointer::resolve_plain(&result, path, path.size(), token);
                     if (target == nullptr)
                     {
                         return false;
@@ -39657,7 +39392,7 @@ public:
 
                 case patch_operations::test:
                 {
-                    const basic_json* const target = json_pointer::resolve_plain(&result, path, path.size(), token, steps);
+                    const basic_json* const target = json_pointer::resolve_plain(&result, path, path.size(), token);
                     // a failing test is reported below
                     return target != nullptr && *target == value;
                 }
@@ -39677,17 +39412,13 @@ public:
                     }
                     --slash;
 
-                    basic_json* const parent = json_pointer::resolve_plain(&result, path, slash, token, steps);
+                    basic_json* const parent = json_pointer::resolve_plain(&result, path, slash, token);
                     if (parent == nullptr)
                     {
                         return false;
                     }
                     token.clear();
                     token.append(path.data() + slash + 1, path.size() - slash - 1);
-                    if (token.find_first_of('~') != string_t::npos)
-                    {
-                        return false;
-                    }
 
                     if (operation == patch_operations::add)
                     {
@@ -39743,32 +39474,31 @@ public:
             }
         };
 
-        // the name of the first member to check
-        const string_t op_member = "op";
-
         // iterate and apply the operations
         for (const auto& val : json_patch)
         {
             // wrapper to get a value for an operation
-            const auto get_value = [&val](basic_json * found,
+            const auto get_value = [&val](const string_t& op,
-                                          const string_t& op,
+                                          const string_t& member,
-                                          const char* member,
                                           bool string_type) -> basic_json &
             {
+                // find value
+                auto it = val.m_data.m_value.object->find(member);
+
                 // check if the desired value is present
-                if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(found == nullptr))
+                if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(it == val.m_data.m_value.object->end()))
                 {
-                    detail::throw_patch_missing_member(op, string_t(member), false, val);
+                    detail::throw_patch_missing_member(op, member, false, val);
                 }
 
                 // check if the result is of type string
-                if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(string_type && !found->is_string()))
+                if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(string_type && !it->second.is_string()))
                 {
-                    detail::throw_patch_missing_member(op, string_t(member), true, val);
+                    detail::throw_patch_missing_member(op, member, true, val);
                 }
 
                 // no error: return value
-                return *found;
+                return it->second;
             };
 
             // type check: every element of the array must be an object
@@ -39777,30 +39507,26 @@ public:
                 detail::throw_patch_not_an_array(val);
             }
 
-            const patch_members members = find_patch_members(val, std::is_same<typename object_t::key_type, string_t> {});
-
             // collect mandatory members
-            const string_t& op = *get_value(members.op, op_member, "op", true).m_data.m_value.string;
+            const string_t& op = *get_value("op", "op", true).m_data.m_value.string;
-            const string_t& path = *get_value(members.path, op, "path", true).m_data.m_value.string;
+            const string_t& path = *get_value(op, "path", true).m_data.m_value.string;
             const patch_operations operation = get_op(op);
 
             // the usual operations on a plain pointer are applied without
             // building the pointer's reference tokens; anything else (and
             // every error) is handled below
-            if (try_plain(operation, path, members, val))
+            if (try_plain(operation, path, val))
             {
                 continue;
             }
 
-            // the general operations may change any container
-            steps.reset();
             json_pointer ptr(path);
 
             switch (operation)
             {
                 case patch_operations::add:
                 {
-                    operation_add(ptr, get_value(members.value, "add", "value", false));
+                    operation_add(ptr, get_value("add", "value", false));
                     break;
                 }
 
@@ -39813,13 +39539,13 @@ public:
                 case patch_operations::replace:
                 {
                     // the "path" location must exist - use at()
-                    result.at(ptr) = get_value(members.value, "replace", "value", false);
+                    result.at(ptr) = get_value("replace", "value", false);
                     break;
                 }
 
                 case patch_operations::move:
                 {
-                    const string_t& from_path = *get_value(members.from, "move", "from", true).m_data.m_value.string;
+                    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)))
@@ -39842,7 +39568,7 @@ public:
 
                 case patch_operations::copy:
                 {
-                    const string_t& from_path = *get_value(members.from, "copy", "from", true).m_data.m_value.string;
+                    const string_t& from_path = *get_value("copy", "from", true).m_data.m_value.string;
                     const json_pointer from_ptr(from_path);
 
                     // The copy is functionally identical to an "add"
@@ -39860,7 +39586,7 @@ public:
                     {
                         // check if "value" matches the one at "path"
                         // the "path" location must exist - use at()
-                        success = (result.at(ptr) == get_value(members.value, "test", "value", false));
+                        success = (result.at(ptr) == get_value("test", "value", false));
                     }
                     JSON_INTERNAL_CATCH (out_of_range&)
                     {
@@ -39952,18 +39678,13 @@ public:
     /// @brief append an operation @a op for @a path to @a result, with @a value if it is not null
     static void diff_operation(basic_json& result, const char* op, const string_t& path, const basic_json* value)
     {
-        // the keys are distinct and in the order of std::map; the members are
-        // added without looking them up
         basic_json entry(value_t::object);
-        auto& members = *entry.m_data.m_value.object;
+        entry["op"] = op;
-        typename object_t::iterator hint = members.end();
+        entry["path"] = path;
-        json_pointer::add_flattened(members, hint, string_t("op"), string_t(op), detail::priority_tag<2> {});
-        json_pointer::add_flattened(members, hint, string_t("path"), path, detail::priority_tag<2> {});
         if (value != nullptr)
         {
-            json_pointer::add_flattened(members, hint, string_t("value"), *value, detail::priority_tag<2> {});
+            entry["value"] = *value;
         }
-        entry.set_parents();
         result.push_back(std::move(entry));
     }
 
@@ -39985,50 +39706,6 @@ public:
         diff_operation(result, "add", path, &value);
     }
 
-    /// @brief the values in the target of the members of a source object, for the
-    ///        objects of up to 16 members without allocating
-    ///
-    /// reserve() must be called with the number of values that are added.
-    class diff_target_values
-    {
-      public:
-        diff_target_values() = default;
-        diff_target_values(const diff_target_values&) = delete;
-        diff_target_values& operator=(const diff_target_values&) = delete;
-        ~diff_target_values() = default;
-
-        void reserve(const std::size_t n)
-        {
-            if (n > inline_size)
-            {
-                large.resize(n);
-                items = large.data();
-            }
-        }
-
-        void push_back(const basic_json* value)
-        {
-            items[count++] = value;
-        }
-
-        std::size_t size() const noexcept
-        {
-            return count;
-        }
-
-        const basic_json* operator[](const std::size_t i) const noexcept
-        {
-            return items[i];
-        }
-
-      private:
-        static constexpr std::size_t inline_size = 16;
-        std::size_t count = 0;
-        const basic_json** items = inline_items;
-        std::vector<const basic_json*> large{}; // NOLINT(readability-redundant-member-init)
-        const basic_json* inline_items[inline_size]; // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-pro-type-member-init,hicpp-member-init)
-    };
-
     /// @brief append "/" and the decimal representation of @a index to @a path
     static void diff_append_index(string_t& path, std::size_t index)
     {
@@ -40109,9 +39786,8 @@ public:
     operations that remove every member of @a source and add every member of
     @a target to @a result, and returns false.
     */
-    template<typename TargetValues>
     static bool diff_object_keys(basic_json& result, const basic_json& source, const basic_json& target,
-                                 const string_t& path, TargetValues& target_values,
+                                 const string_t& path, std::vector<const basic_json*>& target_values,
                                  std::vector<const_iterator>& added)
     {
         // first pass: one lookup per source key
@@ -40325,7 +40001,7 @@ public:
 
             case value_t::object:
             {
-                diff_target_values target_values;
+                std::vector<const basic_json*> target_values;
                 std::vector<const_iterator> added;
                 if (diff_object_keys(result, source, target, path, target_values, added))
                 {