JSON diff/rearrange/patch/pointer library for PHP

A PHP implementation for finding unordered diff between two JSON documents.

Purpose

• To simplify changes review between two JSON files you can use a standard diff tool on rearranged pretty-printed JSON.
• To detect breaking changes by analyzing removals and changes from original JSON.
• To keep original order of object sets (for example swagger.json parameters list).
• To make and apply JSON Patches, specified in RFC 6902 from the IETF.
• To retrieve and modify data by JSON Pointer.
• To recursively replace by JSON value.

Installation

Library

git clone https://github.com/swaggest/json-diff.git

Composer

Install PHP Composer

composer require swaggest/json-diff

Library usage

JsonDiff

Create JsonDiff object from two values (original and new).

$r = new JsonDiff(json_decode($originalJson), json_decode($newJson));

On construction JsonDiff will build rearranged value of new recursively keeping original keys order where possible. Keys that are missing in original will be appended to the end of rearranged value in same order they had in new value.

If two values are arrays of objects, JsonDiff will try to find a common unique field in those objects and use it as criteria for rearranging. You can enable this behaviour with JsonDiff::REARRANGE_ARRAYS option:

$r = new JsonDiff(
    json_decode($originalJson), 
    json_decode($newJson),
    JsonDiff::REARRANGE_ARRAYS
);

On created object you have several handy methods.

getPatch

Returns JsonPatch of difference

getRearranged

Returns new value, rearranged with original order.

getRemoved

Returns removals as partial value of original.

getRemovedPaths

Returns list of JSON paths that were removed from original.

getRemovedCnt

Returns number of removals.

getAdded

Returns additions as partial value of new.

getAddedPaths

Returns list of JSON paths that were added to new.

getAddedCnt

Returns number of additions.

getModifiedOriginal

Returns modifications as partial value of original.

getModifiedNew

Returns modifications as partial value of new.

getModifiedPaths

Returns list of JSON paths that were modified from original to new.

getModifiedCnt

Returns number of modifications.

JsonPatch

import

Creates JsonPatch instance from JSON-decoded data.

export

Creates patch data from JsonPatch object.

op

Adds operation to JsonPatch.

apply

Applies patch to JSON-decoded data.

setFlags

Alters default behavior.

Available flag:

• JsonPatch::STRICT_MODE Disallow converting empty array to object for key creation.

JsonPointer

escapeSegment

Escapes path segment.

splitPath

Creates array of unescaped segments from JSON Pointer string.

buildPath

Creates JSON Pointer string from array of unescaped segments.

add

Adds value to data at path specified by segments.

get

Gets value from data at path specified by segments.

getByPointer

Gets value from data at path specified JSON Pointer string.

remove

Removes value from data at path specified by segments.

JsonValueReplace

process

Recursively replaces all nodes equal to search value with replace value.

Example

$originalJson = <<<'JSON'
{
    "key1": [4, 1, 2, 3],
    "key2": 2,
    "key3": {
        "sub0": 0,
        "sub1": "a",
        "sub2": "b"
    },
    "key4": [
        {"a":1, "b":true, "subs": [{"s":1}, {"s":2}, {"s":3}]}, {"a":2, "b":false}, {"a":3}
    ]
}
JSON;

$newJson = <<<'JSON'
{
    "key5": "wat",
    "key1": [5, 1, 2, 3],
    "key4": [
        {"c":false, "a":2}, {"a":1, "b":true, "subs": [{"s":3, "add": true}, {"s":2}, {"s":1}]}, {"c":1, "a":3}
    ],
    "key3": {
        "sub3": 0,
        "sub2": false,
        "sub1": "c"
    }
}
JSON;

$patchJson = <<<'JSON'
[
    {"value":4,"op":"test","path":"/key1/0"},
    {"value":5,"op":"replace","path":"/key1/0"},
    
    {"op":"remove","path":"/key2"},
    
    {"op":"remove","path":"/key3/sub0"},
    
    {"value":"a","op":"test","path":"/key3/sub1"},
    {"value":"c","op":"replace","path":"/key3/sub1"},
    
    {"value":"b","op":"test","path":"/key3/sub2"},
    {"value":false,"op":"replace","path":"/key3/sub2"},
    
    {"value":0,"op":"add","path":"/key3/sub3"},

    {"value":true,"op":"add","path":"/key4/0/subs/2/add"},
    
    {"op":"remove","path":"/key4/1/b"},
    
    {"value":false,"op":"add","path":"/key4/1/c"},
    
    {"value":1,"op":"add","path":"/key4/2/c"},
    
    {"value":"wat","op":"add","path":"/key5"}
]
JSON;

$diff = new JsonDiff(json_decode($originalJson), json_decode($newJson), JsonDiff::REARRANGE_ARRAYS);
$this->assertEquals(json_decode($patchJson), $diff->getPatch()->jsonSerialize());

$original = json_decode($originalJson);
$patch = JsonPatch::import(json_decode($patchJson));
$patch->apply($original);
$this->assertEquals($diff->getRearranged(), $original);

CLI tool

Moved to swaggest/json-cli