json.encode_sparse_array

json.stringify classifies a Lua table into one of three kinds when encoding a JSON array. This is determined by the number of values missing from the Lua array as follows:

Normal: All values are available. Sparse: At least 1 value is missing. Excessively sparse: The number of values missing exceeds the configured ratio.

It encodes sparse Lua arrays as JSON arrays using JSON null for the missing entries. An array is excessively sparse when all the following conditions are met: ratio > 0, maximum_index > safe, maximum_index > item_count * ratio

JSON will never consider an array to be excessively sparse when ratio = 0. The safe limit ensures that small Lua arrays are always encoded as sparse arrays. By default, attempting to encode an excessively sparse array will generate an error. If convert is set to true, excessively sparse arrays will be converted to a JSON object.

The current settings are always returned. A particular setting is only changed when the argument is provided (non-nil).

json.encode_sparse_array()