Why Does `json_encode()` Return an Empty String in PHP, and How Can I Fix It?

Understanding the Enigma of Empty JSON_ENCODE Strings

When faced with the perplexing issue of an empty string being returned by json_encode() despite using a seemingly valid PHP array, it's crucial to delve deeper into the underlying cause.

In the case presented, it was discovered that the culprit was an encoding problem. The mb_detect_encoding() function may have returned an erroneous response, indicating that some strings were non-UTF-8. As a result, json_encode() failed to serialize the data properly.

Fortunately, this enigma has a solution. By employing utf8_encode() on the affected strings, the issue was resolved. However, it's important to note that utf8_encode() specifically encodes ISO-8859-1 strings to UTF-8.

If the input encoding is not certain, consider using iconv() or mb_convert_encoding() instead for greater flexibility in handling various encodings.

To ensure comprehensive UTF-8 conversion, a recursive function like utf8ize() can be invaluable. By applying this function to the input array, all strings will be forcefully converted to UTF-8, paving the way for successful JSON serialization.

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