json/docs/mkdocs/docs/features/element_access/index.md

Element Access

There are many ways elements in a JSON value can be accessed:

• unchecked access via operator[]
• checked access via at
• access with default value via value
• iterators
• JSON pointers

Testing whether a key or index exists before accessing it is also possible, with contains or find (which returns an iterator to the value, or end() if it is not found).

How do I get a value out? Start at the top and follow the first question that applies:

flowchart TD
    A["getting a value out"] --> P{{"nested path such as /server/port?"}}
    P -->|"yes"| JP["JSON Pointer: at(ptr), value(ptr, default), contains(ptr)"]
    P -->|"no, one key or index"| T{{"only testing whether it exists?"}}
    T -->|"yes"| CF["contains() / find()"]
    T -->|"no"| M{{"may it be missing?"}}
    M -->|"yes, a fallback is fine"| V["value(key, default)"]
    M -->|"yes, and missing is an error"| AT["at(): throws out_of_range"]
    M -->|"no, it exists and its type is known"| OP["operator[] and get#lt;T#gt;()"]
    OP -.- W["non-const operator[] inserts null for a missing key"]

Decision tree for reading a value: the labels on the arrows are the answers to the questions, and the boxes name the functions to use. The dashed line marks a side effect of the non-const `operator[]`.

Does this key exist?

Use contains to test for a key; it does not modify the value and does not throw:

json j = {{"name", "Mary"}, {"address", {{"city", "Berlin"}}}};

j.contains("name");                   // true
j.contains("age");                    // false
j.contains("city");                   // false: contains() only looks at the top level
j["address"].contains("city");        // true
j.contains(json::json_pointer("/address/city"));  // true: a JSON pointer tests a nested path in one call

If the value is needed afterwards, find tests and accesses with a single lookup:

if (auto it = j.find("name"); it != j.end())
{
    std::cout << *it << '\n';
}

contains also returns true for a key whose value is null; use j.contains("k") && !j["k"].is_null() if a null should count as missing. To read a value with a fallback instead, see value.

!!! warning "operator[] inserts missing keys"

Like `#!cpp std::map::operator[]`, the non-const [`operator[]`](unchecked_access.md) adds a `null` value if the key
is missing. Testing a key with it therefore *changes the object*:

```cpp
json j = {{"foo", 1}};
bool absent = j["bar"].is_null();   // true, but j is now {"bar": null, "foo": 1}
```

Use `contains`/`find` to test, and [`at`](checked_access.md) to access a value that must exist (it throws an
[`out_of_range`](../../home/exceptions.md#out-of-range) exception otherwise).

See also

• operator[] - unchecked access
• at - checked access
• value - access with default value
• contains - and find - test for existence
• front - and back - first and last element
• items - iterate over keys and values
• Checked access: at - access with range checking
• Unchecked access: operator[] - access without range checking
• Access with default value: value - fall back to a default instead of throwing
• Iterators - visit all elements of arrays and objects
• JSON Pointer - address nested values with a single string
• Modifying values - add, merge and remove elements
• basic_json - all member functions