Add basic_json::get_to function.

Takes an lvalue reference, and returns the same reference.

This allows non-default constructible types to be converted without
specializing adl_serializer.
This overload does not require CopyConstructible either.

Implements #1227

README.md

@@ -227,12 +227,15 @@ json j_string = "this is a string";
 std::string cpp_string = j_string;
 // retrieve the string value (explicit JSON to std::string conversion)
 auto cpp_string2 = j_string.get<std::string>();
+// retrieve the string value (alternative explicit JSON to std::string conversion)
+std::string cpp_string3;
+j_string.get_to(cpp_string3);
 
 // retrieve the serialized value (explicit JSON serialization)
 std::string serialized_string = j_string.dump();
 
 // output of original string
-std::cout << cpp_string << " == " << cpp_string2 << " == " << j_string.get<std::string>() << '\n';
+std::cout << cpp_string << " == " << cpp_string2 << " == " << cpp_string3 << " == " << j_string.get<std::string>() << '\n';
 // output of serialized value
 std::cout << j_string << " == " << serialized_string << std::endl;
 ```
@@ -643,15 +646,15 @@ namespace ns {
     }
 
     void from_json(const json& j, person& p) {
-        p.name = j.at("name").get<std::string>();
+        j.at("name").get_to(p.name);
-        p.address = j.at("address").get<std::string>();
+        j.at("address").get_to(p.address);
-        p.age = j.at("age").get<int>();
+        j.at("age").get_to(p.age);
     }
 } // namespace ns
 ```
 
 That's all! When calling the `json` constructor with your type, your custom `to_json` method will be automatically called.
-Likewise, when calling `get<your_type>()`, the `from_json` method will be called.
+Likewise, when calling `get<your_type>()` or `get_to(your_type&)`, the `from_json` method will be called.
 
 Some important things:
 
@@ -659,9 +662,8 @@ Some important things:
 * Those methods **MUST** be available (e.g., properly headers must be included) everywhere you use the implicit conversions. Look at [issue 1108](https://github.com/nlohmann/json/issues/1108) for errors that may occur otherwise.
 * When using `get<your_type>()`, `your_type` **MUST** be [DefaultConstructible](https://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/named_req/DefaultConstructible). (There is a way to bypass this requirement described later.)
 * In function `from_json`, use function [`at()`](https://nlohmann.github.io/json/classnlohmann_1_1basic__json_a93403e803947b86f4da2d1fb3345cf2c.html#a93403e803947b86f4da2d1fb3345cf2c) to access the object values rather than `operator[]`. In case a key does not exist, `at` throws an exception that you can handle, whereas `operator[]` exhibits undefined behavior.
-* In case your type contains several `operator=` definitions, code like `your_variable = your_json;` [may not compile](https://github.com/nlohmann/json/issues/667). You need to write `your_variable = your_json.get<decltype your_variable>();` instead.
+* In case your type contains several `operator=` definitions, code like `your_variable = your_json;` [may not compile](https://github.com/nlohmann/json/issues/667). You need to write `your_variable = your_json.get<decltype(your_variable)>();` or `your_json.get_to(your_variable);` instead.
 * You do not need to add serializers or deserializers for STL types like `std::vector`: the library already implements these.
-* Be careful with the definition order of the `from_json`/`to_json` functions: If a type `B` has a member of type `A`, you **MUST** define `to_json(A)` before `to_json(B)`. Look at [issue 561](https://github.com/nlohmann/json/issues/561) for more details.
 
 
 #### How do I convert third-party types?

doc/examples/get_to.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+#include <iostream>
+#include <unordered_map>
+#include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
+
+using json = nlohmann::json;
+
+int main()
+{
+    // create a JSON value with different types
+    json json_types =
+    {
+        {"boolean", true},
+        {
+            "number", {
+                {"integer", 42},
+                {"floating-point", 17.23}
+            }
+        },
+        {"string", "Hello, world!"},
+        {"array", {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}},
+        {"null", nullptr}
+    };
+
+    bool v1;
+    int v2;
+    short v3;
+    float v4;
+    int v5;
+    std::string v6;
+    std::vector<short> v7;
+    std::unordered_map<std::string, json> v8;
+
+
+    // use explicit conversions
+    json_types["boolean"].get_to(v1);
+    json_types["number"]["integer"].get_to(v2);
+    json_types["number"]["integer"].get_to(v3);
+    json_types["number"]["floating-point"].get_to(v4);
+    json_types["number"]["floating-point"].get_to(v5);
+    json_types["string"].get_to(v6);
+    json_types["array"].get_to(v7);
+    json_types.get_to(v8);
+
+    // print the conversion results
+    std::cout << v1 << '\n';
+    std::cout << v2 << ' ' << v3 << '\n';
+    std::cout << v4 << ' ' << v5 << '\n';
+    std::cout << v6 << '\n';
+
+    for (auto i : v7)
+    {
+        std::cout << i << ' ';
+    }
+    std::cout << "\n\n";
+
+    for (auto i : v8)
+    {
+        std::cout << i.first << ": " << i.second << '\n';
+    }
+}

include/nlohmann/json.hpp

@@ -2623,6 +2623,52 @@ class basic_json
         return JSONSerializer<ValueTypeCV>::from_json(*this);
     }
 
+    /*!
+    @brief get a value (explicit)
+
+    Explicit type conversion between the JSON value and a compatible value.
+    The value is filled into the input parameter by calling the @ref json_serializer<ValueType>
+    `from_json()` method.
+
+    The function is equivalent to executing
+    @code {.cpp}
+    ValueType v;
+    JSONSerializer<ValueType>::from_json(*this, v);
+    @endcode
+
+    This overloads is chosen if:
+    - @a ValueType is not @ref basic_json,
+    - @ref json_serializer<ValueType> has a `from_json()` method of the form
+      `void from_json(const basic_json&, ValueType&)`, and
+
+    @tparam ValueType the input parameter type.
+
+    @return the input parameter, allowing chaining calls.
+
+    @throw what @ref json_serializer<ValueType> `from_json()` method throws
+
+    @liveexample{The example below shows several conversions from JSON values
+    to other types. There a few things to note: (1) Floating-point numbers can
+    be converted to integers\, (2) A JSON array can be converted to a standard
+    `std::vector<short>`\, (3) A JSON object can be converted to C++
+    associative containers such as `std::unordered_map<std::string\,
+    json>`.,get_to}
+
+    @since version 3.3.0
+    */
+    template<typename ValueType,
+             detail::enable_if_t <
+                 not detail::is_basic_json<ValueType>::value and
+                 detail::has_from_json<basic_json_t, ValueType>::value,
+                 int> = 0>
+    ValueType & get_to(ValueType& v) const noexcept(noexcept(
+                JSONSerializer<ValueType>::from_json(std::declval<const basic_json_t&>(), v)))
+    {
+        JSONSerializer<ValueType>::from_json(*this, v);
+        return v;
+    }
+
+
     /*!
     @brief get a pointer value (explicit)
 

single_include/nlohmann/json.hpp

@@ -13696,6 +13696,52 @@ class basic_json
         return JSONSerializer<ValueTypeCV>::from_json(*this);
     }
 
+    /*!
+    @brief get a value (explicit)
+
+    Explicit type conversion between the JSON value and a compatible value.
+    The value is filled into the input parameter by calling the @ref json_serializer<ValueType>
+    `from_json()` method.
+
+    The function is equivalent to executing
+    @code {.cpp}
+    ValueType v;
+    JSONSerializer<ValueType>::from_json(*this, v);
+    @endcode
+
+    This overloads is chosen if:
+    - @a ValueType is not @ref basic_json,
+    - @ref json_serializer<ValueType> has a `from_json()` method of the form
+      `void from_json(const basic_json&, ValueType&)`, and
+
+    @tparam ValueType the input parameter type.
+
+    @return the input parameter, allowing chaining calls.
+
+    @throw what @ref json_serializer<ValueType> `from_json()` method throws
+
+    @liveexample{The example below shows several conversions from JSON values
+    to other types. There a few things to note: (1) Floating-point numbers can
+    be converted to integers\, (2) A JSON array can be converted to a standard
+    `std::vector<short>`\, (3) A JSON object can be converted to C++
+    associative containers such as `std::unordered_map<std::string\,
+    json>`.,get_to}
+
+    @since version 3.3.0
+    */
+    template<typename ValueType,
+             detail::enable_if_t <
+                 not detail::is_basic_json<ValueType>::value and
+                 detail::has_from_json<basic_json_t, ValueType>::value,
+                 int> = 0>
+    ValueType & get_to(ValueType& v) const noexcept(noexcept(
+                JSONSerializer<ValueType>::from_json(std::declval<const basic_json_t&>(), v)))
+    {
+        JSONSerializer<ValueType>::from_json(*this, v);
+        return v;
+    }
+
+
     /*!
     @brief get a pointer value (explicit)
 

test/src/unit-udt.cpp

@@ -298,6 +298,19 @@ TEST_CASE("basic usage", "[udt]")
             CHECK(book == parsed_book);
         }
 
+        SECTION("via explicit calls to get_to")
+        {
+            udt::person person;
+            udt::name name;
+
+            json person_json = big_json["contacts"][0]["person"];
+            CHECK(person_json.get_to(person) == sfinae_addict);
+
+            // correct reference gets returned
+            person_json["name"].get_to(name).m_val = "new name";
+            CHECK(name.m_val == "new name");
+        }
+
         SECTION("implicit conversions")
         {
             const udt::contact_book parsed_book = big_json;