SYNOPSIS

use CGI::Application::Plugin::JSON ':all';
# add_json_header() is cumulative
$self->add_json_header( foo => 'Lorem ipsum...');
$self->add_json_header( bar => [ 0, 2, 3, 4 ] );
$self->add_json_header( baz => { stuff => 1, more_stuff => 2 } );
# json_header() is not cumulative
$self->json_header( foo => 'Lorem ipsum...');
# in case we're printing our own headers
print "X-JSON: " . $self->json_header_string();
# clear out everything in the outgoing JSON headers
$self->clear_json_header();
# or send the JSON in the document body
$self->json_body( { foo => 'Lorem ipsum', bar => [ 0, 2, 3 ] } );
# send the JSON back in the document body, but execute it using a Javascript callback
$self->json_callback('alert', { foo => 'Lorem ipsum', bar => [ 0, 2, 3 ] } );

DESCRIPTION

When communicating with client-side JavaScript, it is common to send data in "X-JSON" HTTP headers or through the document body as content-type "application/json".

This plugin adds a couple of convenience methods to make that just a little bit easier.

HEADER METHODS

json_header

This method takes name-value pairs and sets them to be used in the outgoing JSON. It is not cummulative and works similarly to "header_props". Use it only if you have all of the values up front. In most cases add_json_header is probably what you want.

    # only the 2nd call will actually set data that will be sent
    $self->json_header( foo => 'Lorem ipsum...');
    $self->json_header( bar => [ 0, 2, 3, 4 ] );

add_json_header

This method takes name-value pairs and sets them to be used in the outgoing JSON. It is cummulative and works similarly to "header_add"; meaning multiple calls will add to the hash of outgoing values.

    # both 'foo' and 'bar' will exist in the hash sent out 
    $self->json_header( foo => 'Lorem ipsum...');
    $self->json_header( bar => [ 0, 2, 3, 4 ] );

clear_json_header

This method will remove anything that was previously set by both json_header and add_json_header. This means that no "X-JSON" header will be sent.

json_header_string

This method will create the actual HTTP header string that will be sent to the browser. This plugin uses it internally to send the header, but it might be useful to use directly if you are printing your own HTTP headers (using a "header_type" of "none").

    $self->header_type('none');
    print $self->json_header_string();

json_header_value

This method will return the values being sent in the JSON header. If you pass in the key of the value you want, you will get just that value. Else all name-value pairs will be returned.

    my $value = $self->json_header_value('foo');
    my %values = $self->json_header_value();

BODY METHODS

json_body

This method will take the given Perl structure, turn it into JSON, set the appropriate content-type, and then return the JSON.

    return $self->json_body({ foo => 'stuff', bar => [0,1,2,3]} );

json_callback

This method will take the given Perl structure, turn it into JSON, set the appropriate content-type, and then return a Javascript snippet where the given callback is called with the resulting JSON.

    return $self->json_callback('alert', { foo => 'stuff', bar => [0,1,2,3]} );
    # would result in something like the following being sent to the client
    alert({ foo => 'stuff', bar => [0,1,2,3]});

MISC METHODS

to_json

This method is just a convenient wrapper around JSON::Any's "encode".

from_json

This method is just a convenient wrapper around JSON::Any's "decode".

AUTHOR

Michael Peters, "<[email protected]>"

COPYRIGHT & LICENSE

Copyright 2006 Michael Peters, All Rights Reserved.

This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl itself.