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json/docs/mkdocs/docs/api/basic_json/contains.md
T
Niels Lohmann 6ae17630a4 Reject integral keys for contains(), find(), and count() at compile time (#5705)
j.contains(0), j.find(0), and j.count(0) used to compile: the literal 0 is
a null pointer constant, so it converts to a null const char*, and the
overloads taking const typename object_t::key_type& accepted it by
constructing a std::string from that null pointer, which is undefined
behavior (a crash with both libc++ and libstdc++). value(0, default_value)
had the same problem in C++11, where the object comparator is not
transparent.

Add deleted overloads for integral arguments to contains(), find()
(const and non-const), count(), and value() so that these calls are
compile errors in every supported language mode instead of crashing.
Calls with string, string_view, json_pointer, and size-typed element
access (at(), operator[](), erase()) are unaffected.

Fixes #5657.

Signed-off-by: Niels Lohmann <mail@nlohmann.me>
2026-09-30 20:07:45 +02:00

3.6 KiB

nlohmann::basic_json::contains

// (1)
bool contains(const typename object_t::key_type& key) const;

// (2)
template<typename KeyType>
bool contains(KeyType&& key) const;

// (3)
bool contains(const json_pointer& ptr) const;
  1. Check whether an element exists in a JSON object with a key equivalent to key. If the element is not found or the JSON value is not an object, #!cpp false is returned.
  2. See 1. This overload is only available if KeyType is comparable with #!cpp typename object_t::key_type and #!cpp typename object_comparator_t::is_transparent denotes a type.
  3. Check whether the given JSON pointer ptr can be resolved in the current JSON value.

Template parameters

KeyType
A type for an object key other than json_pointer that is comparable with string_t using object_comparator_t. This can also be a string view (C++17).

Parameters

key (in)
key value to check its existence.
ptr (in)
JSON pointer to check its existence.

Return value

  1. #!cpp true if an element with specified key exists. If no such element with such a key is found or the JSON value is not an object, #!cpp false is returned.
  2. See 1.
  3. #!cpp true if the JSON pointer can be resolved to a stored value, #!cpp false otherwise.

Exception safety

Strong exception safety: if an exception occurs, the original value stays intact.

Exceptions

  1. The function does not throw exceptions.
  2. The function does not throw exceptions.
  3. The function does not throw exceptions.

Complexity

Logarithmic in the size of the JSON object.

Notes

  • This method always returns #!cpp false when executed on a JSON type that is not an object.
  • This method can be executed on any JSON value type.
  • Calling this function with an integer argument (for example, #!cpp contains(0)) does not compile: such an argument would otherwise implicitly convert to a null #!cpp const char* and, from there, cause undefined behavior when constructing a #!cpp std::string for the object key. To check for an array element instead, use at, operator[], or compare against size.

!!! info "Postconditions"

If `#!cpp j.contains(x)` returns `#!c true` for a key or JSON pointer `x`, then it is safe to call `j[x]`.

Examples

??? example "Example: (1) check with key"

The example shows how `contains()` is used.

```cpp
--8<-- "examples/contains__object_t_key_type.cpp"
```

Output:

```json
--8<-- "examples/contains__object_t_key_type.output"
```

??? example "Example: (2) check with key using string_view"

The example shows how `contains()` is used.

```cpp
--8<-- "examples/contains__keytype.c++17.cpp"
```

Output:

```json
--8<-- "examples/contains__keytype.c++17.output"
```

??? example "Example: (3) check with JSON pointer"

The example shows how `contains()` is used.

```cpp
--8<-- "examples/contains__json_pointer.cpp"
```

Output:

```json
--8<-- "examples/contains__json_pointer.output"
```

See also

  • find find a value in an object
  • count returns the number of occurrences of a key

Version history

  1. Added in version 3.11.0.
  2. Added in version 3.6.0. Extended template KeyType to support comparable types in version 3.11.0.
  3. Added in version 3.7.0.
  4. Deleted overloads for integral key types added in version 3.13.0 to reject such calls at compile time instead of causing undefined behavior at runtime.