🎓 fix warning

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

docs/mkdocs/docs/features/conversions.md

@@ -66,6 +66,24 @@ which forces the explicit `get` form and can catch unintended conversions at com
     floating-point value as an integer truncates it, and narrowing conversions may overflow. See
     [number conversion](types/number_handling.md#number-conversion) for details and how to guard against it.
 
+!!! warning "std::optional direct construction from JSON null throws"
+
+    Constructing or assigning `std::optional<T>` directly from a JSON value does not correctly produce
+    `std::nullopt` for a JSON `null`:
+
+    ```cpp
+    json j_null;
+    std::optional<std::string> opt = j_null;  // ❌ throws type_error 302
+    ```
+
+    This is due to C++ language rules: `std::optional<T>` has its own converting constructor that is chosen over
+    `basic_json::operator T()` when both are viable. Use `get<std::optional<T>>()` or `get_to()` instead:
+
+    ```cpp
+    auto opt = j_null.get<std::optional<std::string>>();  // ✅ std::nullopt
+    j_null.get_to(opt);                                     // ✅ std::nullopt
+    ```
+
 ## Putting values in
 
 The reverse direction works the same way: assigning or constructing a `json` from a C++ value converts it to JSON.

tests/src/unit-conversions.cpp

@@ -1761,16 +1761,27 @@ TEST_CASE("std::filesystem::path")
 }
 #endif
 
-#if !JSON_USE_IMPLICIT_CONVERSIONS
 TEST_CASE("std::optional")
 {
     SECTION("null")
     {
-        json j_null;
-        std::optional<std::string> opt_null;
+        const json j_null;
+        const std::optional<std::string> opt_null;
 
         CHECK(json(opt_null) == j_null);
         CHECK(j_null.get<std::optional<std::string>>() == std::nullopt);
+
+        // Constructing std::optional<T> directly from JSON null throws because
+        // std::optional's own converting constructor is chosen over basic_json's
+        // operator T(). This is a language-level limitation (std::optional<T> is
+        // constructible from T, and T is constructible from basic_json via the
+        // operator); there is no SFINAE path that distinguishes "call from inside
+        // std::optional's constructor" from "direct call". Use get<std::optional<T>>()
+        // or get_to() instead for correct null handling. See #4864 and #5246.
+        CHECK_THROWS_WITH_AS(std::optional<std::string>(j_null),
+                             "[json.exception.type_error.302] type must be string, but is null", json::type_error&);
+        CHECK_THROWS_WITH_AS(std::optional<int>(j_null),
+                             "[json.exception.type_error.302] type must be number, but is null", json::type_error&);
     }
 
     SECTION("string")
@@ -1819,7 +1830,6 @@ TEST_CASE("std::optional")
     }
 }
 #endif
-#endif
 
 #ifdef JSON_HAS_CPP_17
     #undef JSON_HAS_CPP_17