Files
json/api/operator_ltlt.md
T
2026-07-08 18:19:46 +00:00

94 lines
3.0 KiB
Markdown

# <small>nlohmann::</small>operator<<(basic_json), <small>nlohmann::</small>operator<<(json_pointer)
```cpp
std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& o, const basic_json& j); // (1)
std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& o, const json_pointer& ptr); // (2)
```
1. Serialize the given JSON value `j` to the output stream `o`. The JSON value will be serialized using the
[`dump`](basic_json/dump.md) member function.
- The indentation of the output can be controlled with the member variable `width` of the output stream `o`. For
instance, using the manipulator `std::setw(4)` on `o` sets the indentation level to `4` and the serialization
result is the same as calling `dump(4)`.
- The indentation character can be controlled with the member variable `fill` of the output stream `o`.
For instance, the manipulator `std::setfill('\\t')` sets indentation to use a tab character rather than the
default space character.
2. Write a string representation of the given JSON pointer `ptr` to the output stream `o`. The string representation is
obtained using the [`to_string`](json_pointer/to_string.md) member function.
## Parameters
`o` (in, out)
: stream to write to
`j` (in)
: JSON value to serialize
`ptr` (in)
: JSON pointer to write
## Return value
the stream `o`
## Exceptions
1. Throws [`type_error.316`](../home/exceptions.md#jsonexceptiontype_error316) if a string stored inside the JSON
value is not UTF-8 encoded. Note that unlike the [`dump`](basic_json/dump.md) member functions, no `error_handler`
can be set.
2. None.
## Complexity
Linear.
## Notes
!!! warning "Deprecation"
Function `#!cpp std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& o, const basic_json& j)` replaces function
`#!cpp std::ostream& operator>>(const basic_json& j, std::ostream& o)` which has been deprecated in version 3.0.0.
It will be removed in version 4.0.0. Please replace calls like `#!cpp j >> o;` with `#!cpp o << j;`.
## Examples
??? example "Example: (1) serialize JSON value to stream"
The example below shows the serialization with different parameters to `width` to adjust the indentation level.
```cpp
--8<-- "examples/operator_ltlt__basic_json.cpp"
```
Output:
```json
--8<-- "examples/operator_ltlt__basic_json.output"
```
??? example "Example: (2) write JSON pointer to stream"
The example below shows how to write a JSON pointer to a stream.
```cpp
--8<-- "examples/operator_ltlt__json_pointer.cpp"
```
Output:
```json
--8<-- "examples/operator_ltlt__json_pointer.output"
```
## See also
- [dump](basic_json/dump.md) - serialize to a JSON-formatted string
- [Serialization](../features/serialization.md) - the serialization article
## Version history
1. Added in version 1.0.0. Added support for indentation character and deprecated
`#!cpp std::ostream& operator>>(const basic_json& j, std::ostream& o)` in version 3.0.0.
2. Added in version 3.11.0.