Null and empty value handling in json.Serializer and util.JSON

This topic compares how json.Serializer and util.JSON handle null and empty values during JSON serialization and deserialization.

For detailed comparisons and examples, refer to the tables below dedicated to null handling for both APIs.

For more information about managing null with the json_null attribute, go to NULLs and empty structures.

Table 1. Serialization BDL to JSON

Type	BDL value	JSON output	json.Serializer	util.json
BOOLEAN	NULL	null	ERROR 1	OK
FGL-Integer/Number	NULL	null	ERROR 1	OK
FGL-STRING	NULL	null	ERROR 1	OK
DATE	NULL	null	ERROR 1	OK
DATETIME	NULL	null	ERROR 1	OK
FGL-Object util.JSONObject	NULL	{}	OK	OK
FGL-Array util.JSONArray	NULL	[]	OK	OK

1. Requires json_null attribute or serializeNullAsDefault

Table 2. Deserialization JSON to BDL

Type	JSON input	Result	json.Serializer	util.json
BOOLEAN	null	NULL	ERROR 2	OK
FGL-Integer	null	NULL	ERROR 2	OK
FGL-STRING	null	NULL	ERROR 2	OK
DATE	null	NULL	ERROR 2	OK
DATETIME	null	NULL	ERROR 2	OK
FGL-Object util.JSONObject	null	-	ERROR 2	OK
FGL-Array util.JSONArray	null	-	ERROR 2	OK

2. Requires json_null attribute or allowNullAsDefault.