Why does json_decode return null for empty array?

Question

Why would this echo \"NULL\"? In my would it would be decoded to an empty array.

Is it something obvious I\'m missing?

Answer 1

print_r the $json_decoded value it gives the empty array back. :)

$json = json_encode(array());
$json_decoded = json_decode($json, true);


if ($json_decoded == null){
    print_r($json_decoded);
} else
{
    echo "NOT NULL";
}

outputs : Array ( ) This is because with == operator the empty array gets type juggled to null