Convert invalid json into valid json

All keys (preOpen, preClose, ...) have to be strings, so they need double-quotes around.

{
    "preOpen": "900",
    "preClose": "908",
    ...
}

=== UPDATE ===

If you have an invalid Json-String you can convert it with following script:

$sInvalidJson = '{
    preOpen: "900",
    preClose: "908"
}';
$sValidJson = preg_replace("/(\n[\t ]*)([^\t ]+):/", "$1\"$2\":", $sInvalidJson);

Also see this example.

(This script only works with the invalid JSON described above, otherwise the pattern has to be changed.)

=== UPDATE ===

$sInvalidJson = '{preOpen:"900",preClose:"908",mktOpen:"915",mktClose:"1530",corrOpen:"1540",corrClose:"1600",mktStatusCode:"3",status:"MARKET OPEN",time:"Jan 11, 2012 14:25:15",data:[{name:"S&P CNX NIFTY Pre Open",lastPrice:"4,863.15",change:"13.60",pChange:"0.28",imgFileName:"S&P_CNX_NIFTY_Pre_Open_open.png"},{name:"S&P CNX NIFTY",lastPrice:"4,847.85",change:"-1.70",pChange:"-0.04",imgFileName:"S&P_CNX_NIFTY_open.png"},{name:"CNX NIFTY JUNIOR",lastPrice:"8,917.00",change:"68.85",pChange:"0.78",imgFileName:"CNX_NIFTY_JUNIOR_open.png"},{name:"BANK NIFTY",lastPrice:"8,768.75",change:"33.70",pChange:"0.39",imgFileName:"BANK_NIFTY_open.png"},{name:"INDIA VIX",lastPrice:"24.61",change:"0.61",pChange:"2.54",imgFileName:"INDIA_VIX_open.png"},{name:"CNX 100",lastPrice:"4,707.85",change:"3.65",pChange:"0.08",imgFileName:"CNX_100_open.png"},{name:"S&P CNX DEFTY",lastPrice:"3,253.50",change:"30.20",pChange:"0.94",imgFileName:"S&P_CNX_DEFTY_open.png"},{name:"S&P CNX 500",lastPrice:"3,795.40",change:"10.05",pChange:"0.27",imgFileName:"S&P_CNX_500_open.png"},{name:"CNX MIDCAP",lastPrice:"6,524.90",change:"57.35",pChange:"0.89",imgFileName:"CNX_MIDCAP_open.png"},{name:"NIFTY MIDCAP 50",lastPrice:"1,926.55",change:"10.65",pChange:"0.56",imgFileName:"NIFTY_MIDCAP_50_open.png"},{name:"CNX INFRA",lastPrice:"2,262.05",change:"-3.05",pChange:"-0.13",imgFileName:"CNX_INFRA_open.png"},{name:"CNX REALTY",lastPrice:"207.70",change:"7.95",pChange:"3.98",imgFileName:"CNX_REALTY_open.png"},{name:"CNX ENERGY",lastPrice:"7,301.05",change:"37.60",pChange:"0.52",imgFileName:"CNX_ENERGY_open.png"},{name:"CNX FMCG",lastPrice:"10,235.35",change:"-62.65",pChange:"-0.61",imgFileName:"CNX_FMCG_open.png"},{name:"CNX MNC",lastPrice:"4,631.55",change:"1.60",pChange:"0.03",imgFileName:"CNX_MNC_open.png"},{name:"CNX PHARMA",lastPrice:"4,749.95",change:"2.65",pChange:"0.06",imgFileName:"CNX_PHARMA_open.png"},{name:"CNX PSE",lastPrice:"2,744.85",change:"5.55",pChange:"0.20",imgFileName:"CNX_PSE_open.png"},{name:"CNX PSU BANK",lastPrice:"2,841.10",change:"15.95",pChange:"0.56",imgFileName:"CNX_PSU_BANK_open.png"},{name:"CNX SERVICE",lastPrice:"5,900.60",change:"-11.40",pChange:"-0.19",imgFileName:"CNX_SERVICE_open.png"},{name:"CNX IT",lastPrice:"6,262.10",change:"-69.65",pChange:"-1.10",imgFileName:"CNX_IT_open.png"},{name:"CNX SMALLCAP",lastPrice:"2,963.90",change:"31.95",pChange:"1.09",imgFileName:"CNX_SMALLCAP_open.png"},{name:"CNX 200",lastPrice:"2,421.50",change:"3.80",pChange:"0.16",imgFileName:"CNX_200_open.png"},{name:"CNX AUTO",lastPrice:"3,484.30",change:"-9.25",pChange:"-0.26",imgFileName:"CNX_AUTO_open.png"},{name:"CNX MEDIA",lastPrice:"1,139.60",change:"15.65",pChange:"1.39",imgFileName:"CNX_MEDIA_open.png"},{name:"CNX METAL",lastPrice:"2,726.75",change:"40.40",pChange:"1.50",imgFileName:"CNX_METAL_open.png"}]}';
$sValidJson = preg_replace("/([{,])([a-zA-Z][^: ]+):/", "$1\"$2\":", $sInvalidJson);

Also this updated example.


Most solutions offered have a number of problems, mainly with colons.

I wrote a json to array function that overcomes this problem.

It also checks for round braces around the json string and removes it pre json_decode.

Here is the function:

function jsonDecode($string, $assoc=true, $fixNames=true){
  if(strpos($string, '(') === 0){
    $string = substr($string, 1, strlen($string) - 2); // remove outer ( and )
  }
  if($fixNames){
    $string = preg_replace("/(?<!\"|'|\w)([a-zA-Z0-9_]+?)(?!\"|'|\w)\s?:/", "\"$1\":", $string);
  }
  return json_decode($string, $assoc);
}

it also checks for blank spaces before colons and excludes them from the variable names.

Here is an example string I tested:

({style:"border: 5px solid pink;", class:"test", "correct":"value", test:true, var5:"some escaped\" string"})

After conversion:

Array
(
    [style] => border: 5px solid pink;
    [class] => test
    [correct] => value
    [test] => 1
    [var5] => some escaped" string
)

So far it looks bullet proof.

Let me know if you find a hole.


I believe that proper JSON strings need double quotes around all the key names as well. What you show is a valid JavaScript object, but when stringified into JSON should have double quotes around all the keys.