How to Resolve \"SYNTAX ERROR\" in JSON_DECODE() Despit Valid JSON Format?

JSON_ERROR_SYNTAX Despite Valid JSON on Online Formatters

Encountering a "SYNTAX ERROR" response from json_decode() while the JSON appears valid on external formatters can be puzzling. Here's a comprehensive solution:

Hidden Characters Removal:

Invisible characters can cause syntax errors. Remove these characters using the following code:

<code class="php">$json = file_get_contents('http://www.mywebservice');

// Remove unwanted characters
for ($i = 0; $i <= 31; ++$i) { $json = str_replace(chr($i), "", $json); }
$json = str_replace(chr(127), "", $json);

// Handle BOM (Byte Order Mark)
if (0 === strpos(bin2hex($json), 'efbbbf')) { $json = substr($json, 3); }</code>

Decoding the Cleaned JSON:

Now that the hidden characters are removed, decode the JSON:

<code class="php">$obj = json_decode($json);</code>

Error Handling:

If decoding still fails, check the specific error code using json_last_error():

<code class="php">switch (json_last_error()) {
    case JSON_ERROR_NONE:
        echo 'JSON_ERROR_NONE';
        break;
    case JSON_ERROR_DEPTH:
        echo 'JSON_ERROR_DEPTH';
        break;
    // ... Other error codes
    default:
        echo 'Unknown Error';
        break;
}</code>

By following these steps, you can rectify JSON syntax errors and successfully decode JSON data. PHP 5.5's json_last_error_msg() function provides additional error details, but may not be necessary after resolving hidden characters and decoding issues.

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