Requesting JSON from PHP

Question

I am trying to retrieve data from a server which usually returns it in XML, however I trying to request it in a JSON format (if requested correctly it will return the data in JSON).

$header = array(
           'http' => array(
             'header'=>"Content-type: application/json"
           ),
        );

$response = file_get_contents($query, false, $header);
print_r($response);

This approach was taken from here. Currently the program does not return anything. Does anyone spot any potential problems with this?

Whoever manages the server or application you are requesting from should be able to tell you how to properly request JSON for that particular server or application. — Sajan Parikh, Jul 02 '13 at 17:26
@SajanParikh: The HTTP standard also tells you how. http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec14.html#sec14.1 — SLaks, Jul 02 '13 at 17:28
@SLaks of course, but the application or server you're requesting from has to honor that. — Sajan Parikh, Jul 02 '13 at 17:30

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 02 '13 at 17:25

You need to set the HTTP Accept header to tell the server that you want it to give you JSON:

Accept: application/json

(assuming that the remote server is correctly implemented to read the header)

The Content-Type request header indicates the type of the payload that you are POSTing.
In your case, it does not apply, since you're sending a GET request.

Requesting JSON from PHP

1 Answers1