JSON to PHP Array

Why Convert JSON to PHP Arrays?

While PHP has built-in functions like json_decode(), there are many scenarios where a hardcoded or static PHP array is superior for performance and development workflow:

• Configuration Files: Convert JSON-based settings into config.php files for faster server-side execution without parsing overhead.
• Unit Testing: Quickly generate mock data for your PHPUnit test cases by converting real API responses into PHP arrays.
• Data Transformation: Prepare data for Laravel seeders, WordPress metadata, or custom CMS plugins where native arrays are required.
• Static Data Storage: Reduce CPU cycles by storing frequently accessed data as native PHP arrays instead of parsing JSON on every request.

Technical Comparison: JSON vs. PHP Array

How to Implement the Output in PHP

After converting your data, you can simply paste the output into your PHP script. For example, if you are defining a data set for a Laravel controller:

$data = [
    "status" => "success",
    "users" => [
        ["id" => 1, "name" => "Admin"],
        ["id" => 2, "name" => "Developer"]
    ]
];