JSON to PHP Converter for Arrays and Typed Classes

Backend code that consumes an API often starts with a JSON sample and a hand-typed PHP array. Keys get missed, strings need escaping, and the choice between int and float is guessed from the first payload. This converter parses the JSON in your browser and emits a PHP associative array, a typed class, or a ready-to-paste json_decode snippet. Nothing is uploaded, so internal IDs and customer names stay on your machine.

Convert JSON to PHP in the Browser

How It Works

The input is parsed with the browser's own JSON parser, so the accepted syntax matches what any modern JavaScript runtime accepts. In array mode the parsed value is walked recursively and printed as PHP literal syntax: strings become double-quoted literals, true and false become the PHP keywords, null becomes null, and numbers print without quotes.

Double-quoted PHP strings expand variables that start with a dollar sign, so the emitter escapes the backslash, the double quote, the dollar sign, and control characters such as newline, carriage return, and tab. Other low control characters print as brace-notation unicode escapes. Whole numbers stay ints and decimal numbers keep their fractional part as floats.

PHP has a single array type that covers both lists and maps, so an empty JSON object prints as an empty array literal in array mode. Class mode turns each top-level key into a public property, replaces characters that PHP identifiers reject with the _ character, and prefixes the name with a dollar sign. Typed properties such as int, float, string, bool, and array require PHP 8.0 or newer.

Decode mode wraps the trimmed input in one json_decode call with a depth of 512 and the JSON_THROW_ON_ERROR flag, so malformed data raises an exception instead of returning null. The whole JSON text is escaped into a single double-quoted string, which keeps the snippet self-contained.

Before and After

{ "total": 49.99, "paid": true,
  "buyer": { "id": 7 } }

[
  "total" => 49.99,
  "paid" => true,
  "buyer" => [
    "id" => 7,
  ],
];

class name: Invoice
mode: PHP class
keys: total, paid, buyer

class Invoice {
  public float $total = 49.99;
  public bool $paid = true;
  public array $buyer = [
    "id" => 7,
  ];
}

Use Cases

Common Mistakes

• Expecting empty objects to stay objects. PHP prints both an empty JSON object and an empty JSON array as an empty array literal. If you must tell them apart at runtime, use the decode snippet with the second argument set to false.
• Running class mode on a non-object root. Class mode needs a JSON object at the top level. A root array or a bare number produces no output, and the issues box explains what the mode expects.
• Deleting the dollar sign from property names. PHP variables require it, so the emitter prefixes every property automatically. A pasted class without the dollar signs fails to parse.
• Ignoring typed properties on older PHP. A declaration such as a public int property fails before PHP 8.0. Remove the type words or move the project to a supported release before pasting.
• Hand-editing string escapes after copying. The escaped dollar sign protects against variable interpolation inside double-quoted strings. Removing it changes the string whenever the value contains a dollar sign.

Best Practices

• 1.Start in array mode to check the structure, then switch to class mode once the keys and number types look right.
• 2.Set the class name before copying so the pasted code already matches your naming convention and namespace.
• 3.Paste decode snippets where a thrown JsonException is acceptable, and catch it at the request boundary instead of deep in a helper.
• 4.Regenerate after an upstream API change rather than editing the array by hand, so new keys are not missed and string escaping stays consistent.

Frequently Asked Questions