- What is realodix/relax used for?
- Relax decodes relaxed JSON, including JSON that contains // or /* */ comments or trailing commas, into ordinary PHP arrays and objects. It is useful for configuration files, fixtures, and Laravel projects where a more forgiving JSON format is convenient. Native json_decode rejects these formats, while Relax accepts them.
- How do I install realodix/relax in a Laravel project?
- Install it with Composer using composer require realodix/relax. Because it is standalone PHP with no framework dependency, it works in Laravel through Composer autoloading. Once installed, you can call its decode API wherever you need to parse relaxed JSON.
- Does realodix/relax support comments in JSON?
- Yes, it supports both // line comments and /* ... */ block comments. This lets you annotate configuration or fixture files without breaking parsing. The decoded result is normal PHP data, so comments do not appear in the output.
- Can realodix/relax handle trailing commas?
- Yes, it accepts trailing commas and other relaxed formatting that native json_decode rejects. That makes it easier to hand-edit config and fixture files. The output is still standard PHP arrays and objects.
- Which Laravel versions does realodix/relax support?
- The package is standalone PHP with no framework dependency, so it is not tied to a specific Laravel release. Laravel compatibility depends on the PHP version constraints in its composer.json and your application's Composer setup. Check the package metadata before installing it in older Laravel projects.
- How is realodix/relax different from json_decode?
- Native json_decode follows strict JSON and rejects comments and trailing commas. Relax is intentionally more forgiving for those cases and returns normal PHP arrays and objects. It is not a replacement for strict validation when you need to reject non-standard JSON.
- Can I use realodix/relax outside Laravel?
- Yes, it is standalone PHP with no framework dependency, so it can be used in any PHP project via Composer. Laravel integration is convenient but not required.
- How do I test relaxed JSON parsing in my Laravel app?
- Write tests that pass fixture strings or files containing comments and trailing commas to the decoder and assert the resulting arrays. Keep fixtures in your tests directory so both valid and invalid cases are covered. Since the output is normal PHP data, standard assertions work.
- Is it safe to use relaxed JSON in production?
- Relaxed JSON is best for files you control, such as configuration files and fixtures, rather than untrusted input. Relax returns normal PHP arrays and objects, so downstream code is unaffected. If you need strict validation, keep native json_decode for those code paths.
- What are alternatives to realodix/relax?
- You can preprocess files to strip comments, use a JSON5 parser, or store configuration in PHP arrays. Relax is a focused option when you mainly need comments and trailing commas with a simple PHP API. Evaluate alternatives based on whether you need full JSON5 features or just a more forgiving decoder.