Resolve PHP json decode error

Syntax error, malformed JSON

Possible causes

• the input is empty or multiple white spaces
• the input contains Byte order mark (BOM)

Solution:

• Not allowed empty input
• Remove Byte order mark (BOM)
• Use JSONLint - The JSON Validator to validate the JSON format

Unexpected control character found

Possible causes

• the input string contains control characters

Solution:

• Remove control character. Using PHP:

$replacement = '';
preg_replace('/[\x00-\x1F]/', $replacement, $input);

Relates articles

• PHP: json_last_error - Manual