JSON to PHP array converter

How to use it

1. Paste JSON into the box. The sample shows an object with a nested list and object.
2. Choose the syntax (short [] or long array()), the indent and whether to assign the result to $data.
3. Copy the PHP code. Invalid JSON shows the line and column of the first error.

How the conversion works

Keys are always quoted strings. Every element gets its own line with a trailing comma, the way var_export() prints arrays.

Worked example

The JSON {"name":"Ada","tags":["math","code"],"ok":true,"x":null} becomes:

$data = [
    'name' => 'Ada',
    'tags' => [
        'math',
        'code',
    ],
    'ok' => true,
    'x' => null,
];

Tips

• Empty objects become [] in PHP, just as json_decode with true returns an empty array. If you need to keep the difference between {} and [], decode to objects instead.
• Numeric string keys such as “1” are written as ‘1’; PHP itself turns them into integer keys when the array is created.
• Large integers beyond 2⁵³ lose precision when JSON is read in JavaScript; keep such IDs as strings in the JSON.