[SOLVED] PHP json_decode() returns NULL with seemingly valid JSON?

PHP json_decode() returns NULL with seemingly valid JSON?

I have this JSON object stored on a plain text file:

{
    "MySQL": {
        "Server": "(server)",
        "Username": "(user)",
        "Password": "(pwd)",
        "DatabaseName": "(dbname)"
    },
    "Ftp": {
        "Server": "(server)",
        "Username": "(user)",
        "Password": "(pwd)",
        "RootFolder": "(rf)"
    },
    "BasePath": "../../bin/",
    "NotesAppPath": "notas",
    "SearchAppPath": "buscar",
    "BaseUrl": "http:\/\/montemaiztusitio.com.ar",
    "InitialExtensions": [
        "nem.mysqlhandler",
        "nem.string",
        "nem.colour",
        "nem.filesystem",
        "nem.rss",
        "nem.date",
        "nem.template",
        "nem.media",
        "nem.measuring",
        "nem.weather",
        "nem.currency"
    ],
    "MediaPath": "media",
    "MediaGalleriesTable": "journal_media_galleries",
    "MediaTable": "journal_media",
    "Journal": {
        "AllowedAdFileFormats": [
            "flv:1",
            "jpg:2",
            "gif:3",
            "png:4",
            "swf:5"
        ],
        "AdColumnId": "3",
        "RSSLinkFormat": "%DOMAIN%\/notas\/%YEAR%-%MONTH%-%DAY%\/%TITLE%/",
        "FrontendLayout": "Flat",
        "AdPath": "ad",
        "SiteTitle": "Monte Maíz: Tu Sitio",
        "GlobalSiteDescription": "Periódico local de Monte Maíz.",
        "MoreInfoAt": "Más información aquí, en el Periódico local de Monte Maíz.",
        "TemplatePath": "templates",
        "WeatherSource": "accuweather:SAM|AR|AR005|MONTE MAIZ",
        "WeatherMeasureType": "1",
        "CurrencySource": "cotizacion-monedas:Dolar|Euro|Real",
        "TimesSingular": "vez",
        "TimesPlural": "veces"
    }
}

When I try to decode it with json_decode(), it returns NULL. Why? The file is readable (I tried echoing file_get_contents() and it worked ok).

I've tested JSON against http://jsonlint.com/ and it's perfectly valid.

What's wrong here?

Solution

This error means that your JSON string is not valid JSON!

Enable throwing exceptions when an error happens and PHP will throw an exception with the reason for why it failed.

Use this:

$json = json_decode($string, null, 512, JSON_THROW_ON_ERROR);