JSON encode an array with file_get_contents

Question

I'm trying to figure out how to encode the following:

$data[] = '';
//check if real player
if($steam_name != null){
    $data['valid'] = true;
    $data['url'] = "http://api.steampowered.com/ISteamUser/ResolveVanityURL/v0001/?key=key&vanityurl=$steam_name";
    echo json_encode($data, file_get_contents($data->url));
}else{
    $data['valid'] = false;
    echo json_encode($data);
}

I understand how to get the data, but it seems to not be sending through.

Thanks!

My attempt as per answer below. This does not work:

$data[] = '';
//check if real player
if($steam_name != null){
    $data['valid'] = true;
    $url = 'http://api.steampowered.com/ISteamUser/ResolveVanityURL/v0001/?';
    $params = [
       'key' => 'key',
       'vanityurl' => $steam_name,
    ];

    $data['url'] = $url . http_build_query($params); 
    echo json_encode($data);

}else{
    $data['valid'] = false;
    echo json_encode($data);
}

George, this is JS, I need to know how it passes through as well, considering it's more than what expected.. thx bud. — christopher.web
– christopher.web, Commented Nov 8, 2016 at 19:22

Jeremy Harris · Accepted Answer · 2016-11-08 19:39:06Z

1

You should be using http_build_query() to accomplish that.

$url = 'http://api.steampowered.com/ISteamUser/ResolveVanityURL/v0001/?';
$params = [
   'key' => 'abc123',
   'vanityurl' => $steam_name,
];

$data['url'] = $url . http_build_query($params);

That will handle the proper encoding for the parameters.

Additionally, $data is an array here, you can't call it like an object in your file_get_contents call. I'm surprised you aren't getting an exception. Also, json_encode doesn't accept parameters like that. Try this:

// Store the API response in your data array
$data['response'] = file_get_contents($data['url']);

// Return it so you can use it
return json_encode($data);

If the response is JSON, you can decode it:

$data['response'] = json_decode(file_get_contents($data['url']));

edited Nov 8, 2016 at 19:39

answered Nov 8, 2016 at 19:09

Jeremy Harris

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5 Comments

christopher.web Over a year ago

Thanks! So would my encode look like just 'json_encode($data);'?

christopher.web Over a year ago

and what is baseurl?

Jeremy Harris Over a year ago

Sorry, baseUrl was something I had started to type then changed it to just url.

christopher.web Over a year ago

You're the man. Thank you for this. Sorry if I sounded rude, I get frustrated with people when they answer something but don't explain it exactly. Thanks again!

Jeremy Harris Over a year ago

No offense taken. I have a day job ;)

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