json_encode() doesn't display arabic characters in good way

Question

i have problem with Arabic characters when i do json_encode() it always return ????, in the database all the fields and database is utf8

my code:

$query   = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM `Names`");

if (!$query) {
$message  = 'Invalid query: ' . mysql_error() . "\n";
die($message);
}else
{
    while ($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($query)) 
    {
     $result[] = array(
        'Mid' => $row['Mid'], 
        'Uid' => $row['Uid'], 
        'Cid' => $row['Cid'], 
        'Name' => $row['Name'],
        'city' => $row['city'],
        'status' => $row['status'],
        'Mobile' => $row['Mobile'],
        'Phone' => $row['Phone'],
        'Email' => $row['Email']);
    }
      header('Content-Type: application/json; charset=utf-8');
      echo json_encode($result);
}

the result look like:

[{"Mid":"17","Uid":"1","Cid":"8","Name":"???? ?? ??????? ?? ???","city":"?????",

please help me

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/11706846/unable-to-store-arabic-in-mysql-database-using-php — MH2K9, Jul 20 '14 at 15:12
Do you set the connection encoding when you connect to MySQL? — Álvaro González, Jul 20 '14 at 15:12
@ÁlvaroG.Vicario No i dont set it, but now i set it and it's work fine Thanks, mysql_query('SET CHARACTER SET utf8'); — Sideeq Youssef, Jul 20 '14 at 15:18
And just in case, check if your data are stored as hex values — hex494D49, Jul 20 '14 at 15:22
Please do not the deprecated mysql_ functions, use [MySQLi](http://php.net/manual/en/book.mysqli.php) or [PDO](http://php.net/manual/en/ref.pdo-mysql.php) instead! — Ota, Jul 20 '14 at 15:32
Oh i missed the word "use" in my comment. :( For clarity: Please **do not use** the deprecated mysql_ functions, use [MySQLi](http://php.net/manual/en/book.mysqli.php) or [PDO](http://php.net/manual/en/ref.pdo-mysql.php) instead! — Ota, Jul 20 '14 at 15:43
Thanks @Otanaught, i know that but this project it just prototype :) — Sideeq Youssef, Jul 21 '14 at 20:18

score 40 · Accepted Answer · edited Mar 19 '19 at 10:34

40

Try this before sending your query

mysql_query("SET NAMES 'utf8'");

or this (if your PHP version is 5.4.0 or above)

json_encode($result, JSON_UNESCAPED_UNICODE);

Note: In case that your data are stored in hex format, enclose json_encode with mysql_escape_string().

edited Mar 19 '19 at 10:34

Riyaz

139
11

answered Jul 20 '14 at 15:18

hex494D49

9,109
3
38
47

json_encode() doesn't display arabic characters in good way

1 Answers1