JSON to PHP Array Converter

Why convert JSON to a PHP array?

PHP applications often need data baked into source — default configuration, seed data, test fixtures, or lookup tables — where an inline array is clearer than reading a file at runtime. Transcribing JSON into PHP array syntax by hand is slow and easy to get wrong; generating it is instant and correct.

How JSON maps to PHP

Objects become associative arrays with 'key' => value pairs, and JSON arrays become sequential arrays. Strings are single-quoted and escaped, numbers pass through, and JSON true, false, and null become PHP true, false, and null. The output uses short array syntax ([ ]), the standard since PHP 5.4.

• Objects to associative arrays ('key' => value)
• Arrays to sequential arrays
• true / false / null mapped to PHP equivalents
• Short array syntax with clean indentation

Array literal vs json_decode

Both get JSON into PHP, but they serve different needs. json_decode($json, true) is right when the data arrives at runtime from a request or file. A pasted array literal is right when you want the data written directly into source — config files, defaults, and fixtures — where an inline structure is easier to read and version. This tool is optimized for that second case.