Short or long array syntax?

Short `[]` syntax by default (PHP 5.4+). Toggle to `array()` form if you target PHP < 5.4 — rare today but supported for legacy code.

How are nested objects handled?

Associative arrays all the way down. PHP has no object literal distinct from an array for data — both are arrays.

Direct PHP equivalents: `true`, `false`, `null`. Case matters in PHP; the tool emits lowercase forms.

Yes — single quotes and backslashes inside string values are escaped. Output is ready to paste into PHP source.

Convert JSON to a PHP 5.4+ short-syntax associative array. Part of the DevTools Surf developer suite. Browse more tools in the Converters collection.

PHP's short array syntax ([]) was added in PHP 5.4 (2012), replacing the verbose array() constructor. It took the PHP community years to stop using the old syntax.
PHP arrays are actually ordered hash maps — they maintain insertion order and support both integer and string keys in the same array, unlike most other languages.
PHP was created by Rasmus Lerdorf in 1994 as a set of CGI scripts called 'Personal Home Page Tools.' It now powers over 77% of websites with a known server-side language.

Short or long array syntax?: Short `[]` syntax by default (PHP 5.4+). Toggle to `array()` form if you target PHP < 5.4 — rare today but supported for legacy code.
How are nested objects handled?: Associative arrays all the way down. PHP has no object literal distinct from an array for data — both are arrays.
What about true/false/null?: Direct PHP equivalents: `true`, `false`, `null`. Case matters in PHP; the tool emits lowercase forms.
Does it escape special characters?: Yes — single quotes and backslashes inside string values are escaped. Output is ready to paste into PHP source.

Convert JSON to a PHP 5.4+ short-syntax associative array. Part of the DevTools Surf developer suite. Browse more tools in the Converters collection.

PHP's short array syntax ([]) was added in PHP 5.4 (2012), replacing the verbose array() constructor. It took the PHP community years to stop using the old syntax.
PHP arrays are actually ordered hash maps — they maintain insertion order and support both integer and string keys in the same array, unlike most other languages.
PHP was created by Rasmus Lerdorf in 1994 as a set of CGI scripts called 'Personal Home Page Tools.' It now powers over 77% of websites with a known server-side language.

Short or long array syntax?: Short `[]` syntax by default (PHP 5.4+). Toggle to `array()` form if you target PHP < 5.4 — rare today but supported for legacy code.
How are nested objects handled?: Associative arrays all the way down. PHP has no object literal distinct from an array for data — both are arrays.
What about true/false/null?: Direct PHP equivalents: `true`, `false`, `null`. Case matters in PHP; the tool emits lowercase forms.
Does it escape special characters?: Yes — single quotes and backslashes inside string values are escaped. Output is ready to paste into PHP source.