> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.projectreal.gg/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# JSON

> Parse, encode, inspect, and transform JSON.

Parse, encode, inspect, and transform JSON.

| Function navigation                        | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| ------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [`json.array`](./json-array)               | Creates a new table marked as a JSON array for json.encode, copying the 1.#source sequence when a source table is provided.                                                                                                      |
| [`json.clone`](./json-clone)               | Clones a value by encoding it with json.encode semantics and decoding the generated JSON back into Lua values.                                                                                                                   |
| [`json.decode`](./json-decode)             | Parses a JSON string with Real's JSON parser and returns the decoded Lua value, marking decoded arrays and objects for the JSON helpers.                                                                                         |
| [`json.decodeSafe`](./json-decodesafe)     | Parses JSON with the same parsing behavior as json.decode and returns a success flag instead of throwing for parse errors.                                                                                                       |
| [`json.encode`](./json-encode)             | Serializes a Lua value to a JSON string as JSON. json.stringify is registered to the same function.                                                                                                                              |
| [`json.encodePretty`](./json-encodepretty) | Serializes a Lua value to a readable formatted JSON string as JSON. json.pretty is registered to the same function.                                                                                                              |
| [`json.escape`](./json-escape)             | Escapes a string using Real's JSON string escaping rules and returns the escaped content without surrounding quotes.                                                                                                             |
| [`json.format`](./json-format)             | Parses a JSON string and re-encodes it as readable formatted JSON using Real's JSON parser and encoder.                                                                                                                          |
| [`json.getPath`](./json-getpath)           | Reads a nested value from a table using a dotted string path or an array table of keys.                                                                                                                                          |
| [`json.isArray`](./json-isarray)           | Returns whether a value is treated as a JSON array by Real's JSON table detection.                                                                                                                                               |
| [`json.isNull`](./json-isnull)             | Returns whether a value is Real's JSON null sentinel, json.null.                                                                                                                                                                 |
| [`json.isObject`](./json-isobject)         | Returns whether a value is treated as a JSON object by Real's JSON table detection.                                                                                                                                              |
| [`json.keys`](./json-keys)                 | Returns the visible keys of a table in a new table marked as a JSON array.                                                                                                                                                       |
| [`json.minify`](./json-minify)             | Parses a JSON string and re-encodes it with Real's default non-pretty JSON encoder output.                                                                                                                                       |
| [`json.object`](./json-object)             | Creates a new table marked as a JSON object so Real's JSON encoder treats it as an object.                                                                                                                                       |
| [`json.parse`](./json-parse)               | Parses a JSON string like json.decode.                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| [`json.pretty`](./json-pretty)             | Serializes a Lua value to a readable formatted JSON string like json.encodePretty.                                                                                                                                               |
| [`json.quote`](./json-quote)               | Escapes a string using Real's JSON string escaping rules and returns a complete quoted JSON string literal.                                                                                                                      |
| [`json.stringify`](./json-stringify)       | Serializes a Lua value to a JSON string like json.encode.                                                                                                                                                                        |
| [`json.tryDecode`](./json-trydecode)       | Attempts to parse a JSON string like json.decodeSafe and returns status values for parse errors.                                                                                                                                 |
| [`json.type`](./json-type)                 | Returns a string type name for a value. json.null returns "null". Tables return "array" or "object" using the same table classification as json.isArray and json.isObject. Other values return the runtime Lua type name result. |
| [`json.unescape`](./json-unescape)         | Decodes JSON string escape sequences from escaped string content or from a complete quoted JSON string literal. The input is parsed with the JSON string parser, not as a full JSON document.                                    |
| [`json.validate`](./json-validate)         | Validates a JSON string by parsing one complete JSON value. On success it returns only true. On parse failure it returns false plus parser error details.                                                                        |
| [`json.values`](./json-values)             | Returns the direct values from a table in a new JSON array table. JSON metadata entries are not included.                                                                                                                        |