📝 add documentation of parser callbacks

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Niels Lohmann 2020-05-26 14:16:13 +02:00
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# Parser Callbacks
## Overview
With a parser callback function, the result of parsing a JSON text can be influenced. When passed to `parse`, it is called on certain events
(passed as `parse_event_t` via parameter `event`) with a set recursion depth `depth` and context JSON value `parsed`. The return value of the
callback function is a boolean indicating whether the element that emitted the callback shall be kept or not.
The type of the callback function is:
```cpp
template<typename BasicJsonType>
using parser_callback_t =
std::function<bool(int depth, parse_event_t event, BasicJsonType& parsed)>;
```
## Callback event types
We distinguish six scenarios (determined by the event type) in which the callback function can be called. The following table describes the values
of the parameters `depth`, `event`, and `parsed`.
parameter `event` | description | parameter `depth` | parameter `parsed`
------------------ | ----------- | ------------------ | -------------------
`parse_event_t::object_start` | the parser read `{` and started to process a JSON object | depth of the parent of the JSON object | a JSON value with type discarded
`parse_event_t::key` | the parser read a key of a value in an object | depth of the currently parsed JSON object | a JSON string containing the key
`parse_event_t::object_end` | the parser read `}` and finished processing a JSON object | depth of the parent of the JSON object | the parsed JSON object
`parse_event_t::array_start` | the parser read `[` and started to process a JSON array | depth of the parent of the JSON array | a JSON value with type discarded
`parse_event_t::array_end` | the parser read `]` and finished processing a JSON array | depth of the parent of the JSON array | the parsed JSON array
`parse_event_t::value` | the parser finished reading a JSON value | depth of the value | the parsed JSON value
??? example
When parsing the following JSON text,
```json
{
"name": "Berlin",
"location": [
52.519444,
13.406667
]
}
```
these calls are made to the callback function:
| event | depth | parsed |
| -------------- | ----- | ------ |
| `object_start` | 0 | *discarded* |
| `key` | 1 | `#!json "name"` |
| `value` | 1 | `#!json "Berlin"` |
| `key` | 1 | `#!json "location"` |
| `array_start` | 1 | *discarded* |
| `value` | 2 | `#!json 52.519444` |
| `value` | 2 | `#!json 13.406667` |
| `array_end` | 1 | `#!json [52.519444,13.406667]` |
| `object_end` | 0 | `#!json {"location":[52.519444,13.406667],"name":"Berlin"}` |
## Return value
Discarding a value (i.e., returning `#!c false`) has different effects depending on the context in which function was called:
- Discarded values in structured types are skipped. That is, the parser will behave as if the discarded value was never read.
- In case a value outside a structured type is skipped, it is replaced with `#!json null`. This case happens if the top-level element is skipped.
??? example
The example below demonstrates the `parse()` function with and without callback function.
```cpp
--8<-- "examples/parse__string__parser_callback_t.cpp"
```
Output:
```json
--8<-- "examples/parse__string__parser_callback_t.output"
```

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- features/json_patch.md
- features/merge_patch.md
- features/enum_conversion.md
- features/parser_callbacks.md
- features/sax_interface.md
- features/types.md
- Integration: