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nlohmann::basic_json::items

iteration_proxy<iterator> items() noexcept;
iteration_proxy<const_iterator> items() const noexcept;

This function allows accessing iterator::key() and iterator::value() during range-based for loops. In these loops, a reference to the JSON values is returned, so there is no access to the underlying iterator.

For loop without items() function:

for (auto it = j_object.begin(); it != j_object.end(); ++it)
{
    std::cout << "key: " << it.key() << ", value:" << it.value() << '\n';
}

Range-based for loop without items() function:

for (auto it : j_object)
{
    // "it" is of type json::reference and has no key() member
    std::cout << "value: " << it << '\n';
}

Range-based for loop with items() function:

for (auto& el : j_object.items())
{
    std::cout << "key: " << el.key() << ", value:" << el.value() << '\n';
}

The items() function also allows using structured bindings (C++17):

for (auto& [key, val] : j_object.items())
{
    std::cout << "key: " << key << ", value:" << val << '\n';
}

Return value

iteration proxy object wrapping the current value with an interface to use in range-based for loops

Exception safety

Strong guarantee: if an exception is thrown, there are no changes in the JSON value.

Complexity

Constant.

Notes

When iterating over an array, key() will return the index of the element as string (see example). For primitive types (e.g., numbers), key() returns an empty string.

Lifetime issues

Using items() on temporary objects is dangerous. Make sure the object's lifetime exceeds the iteration. See https://github.com/nlohmann/json/issues/2040 for more information.

Examples

Example

The following code shows an example for items().

#include <iostream>
#include <nlohmann/json.hpp>

using json = nlohmann::json;

int main()
{
    // create JSON values
    json j_object = {{"one", 1}, {"two", 2}};
    json j_array = {1, 2, 4, 8, 16};

    // example for an object
    for (auto& x : j_object.items())
    {
        std::cout << "key: " << x.key() << ", value: " << x.value() << '\n';
    }

    // example for an array
    for (auto& x : j_array.items())
    {
        std::cout << "key: " << x.key() << ", value: " << x.value() << '\n';
    }
}

Output:

key: one, value: 1
key: two, value: 2
key: 0, value: 1
key: 1, value: 2
key: 2, value: 4
key: 3, value: 8
key: 4, value: 16

Version history

  • Added iterator_wrapper in version 3.0.0.
  • Added items and deprecated iterator_wrapper in version 3.1.0.
  • Added structured binding support in version 3.5.0.

Deprecation

This function replaces the static function iterator_wrapper which was introduced in version 1.0.0, but has been deprecated in version 3.1.0. Function iterator_wrapper will be removed in version 4.0.0. Please replace all occurrences of iterator_wrapper(j) with j.items().

You should be warned by your compiler with a -Wdeprecated-declarations warning if you are using a deprecated function.


Last update: May 1, 2022