JSON API

This example shows how to build a small JSON API with Vix.

It covers the most common JSON patterns:

txt

return JSON directly with res.json(...)
build JSON with vix::json::o(...) and vix::json::a(...)
parse JSON automatically with middleware::app::json_strict_dev(...)
read parsed JSON from JsonBody
validate required fields with get_opt(...)
use defaults with get_or(...)
parse manually with try_loads(...) when you do not want middleware

Vix gives you more than one way to work with JSON because different routes need different levels of control.

What this example builds

The API exposes:

txt

GET  /api/health
GET  /api/users
GET  /api/users/{id}
POST /api/users
POST /api/echo-manual

The example demonstrates two JSON request-body styles:

txt

middleware parsing
  app.use("/api/users", middleware::app::json_strict_dev(...))

manual parsing
  vix::json::try_loads(req.body())

Use middleware parsing for normal API routes.

Use manual parsing when a route needs full control over parsing behavior.

Source

Create a file:

txt

json_api.cpp

Add this code:

cpp

#include <string>
#include <vector>

#include <vix.hpp>
#include <vix/middleware.hpp>
#include <vix/json.hpp>

using namespace vix;

struct User
{
  int id;
  std::string name;
  std::string email;
  bool active;
};

static std::vector<User> users{
  {1, "Ada", "ada@example.com", true},
  {2, "Linus", "linus@example.com", true}
};

static vix::json::Json user_to_json(const User &user)
{
  using namespace vix::json;

  return o(
    "id", user.id,
    "name", user.name,
    "email", user.email,
    "active", user.active
  );
}

static vix::json::Json users_to_json()
{
  using namespace vix::json;

  Json items = arr();

  for (const auto &user : users)
  {
    items.push_back(user_to_json(user));
  }

  return items;
}

static const User *find_user(int id)
{
  for (const auto &user : users)
  {
    if (user.id == id)
      return &user;
  }

  return nullptr;
}

static void register_routes(App &app)
{
  app.get("/api/health", [](Request &, Response &res)
  {
    res.json({
      "ok", true,
      "service", "json-api"
    });
  });

  app.get("/api/users", [](Request &, Response &res)
  {
    using namespace vix::json;

    Json payload = o(
      "ok", true,
      "users", users_to_json()
    );

    res.json(payload);
  });

  app.get("/api/users/{id}", [](Request &req, Response &res)
  {
    using namespace vix::json;

    const int id = std::stoi(req.param("id"));

    const User *user = find_user(id);

    if (!user)
    {
      res.status(404).json({
        "ok", false,
        "error", "User not found"
      });
      return;
    }

    res.json(o(
      "ok", true,
      "user", user_to_json(*user)
    ));
  });

  app.post("/api/users", [](Request &req, Response &res)
  {
    using namespace vix::json;

    auto &body = req.state<middleware::parsers::JsonBody>();

    auto name = get_opt<std::string>(body.value, "name");
    auto email = get_opt<std::string>(body.value, "email");
    const bool active = get_or<bool>(body.value, "active", true);

    if (!name || name->empty())
    {
      res.status(422).json({
        "ok", false,
        "error", "Missing required field",
        "field", "name"
      });
      return;
    }

    if (!email || email->empty())
    {
      res.status(422).json({
        "ok", false,
        "error", "Missing required field",
        "field", "email"
      });
      return;
    }

    const int next_id = users.empty() ? 1 : users.back().id + 1;

    users.push_back(User{
      next_id,
      *name,
      *email,
      active
    });

    res.status(201).json(o(
      "ok", true,
      "user", user_to_json(users.back())
    ));
  });

  app.post("/api/echo-manual", [](Request &req, Response &res)
  {
    using namespace vix::json;

    auto body = try_loads(req.body());

    if (!body)
    {
      res.status(400).json({
        "ok", false,
        "error", "Invalid JSON"
      });
      return;
    }

    res.json(o(
      "ok", true,
      "body", *body
    ));
  });
}

int main()
{
  App app;

  app.use("/api", middleware::app::security_headers_dev());
  app.use("/api", middleware::app::body_limit_write_dev(1024 * 1024));

  app.use("/api/users", middleware::app::json_strict_dev(
    4096,
    false,
    true
  ));

  register_routes(app);

  app.run(8080);
  return 0;
}

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Run it

bash

vix run json_api.cpp

The server listens on:

txt

http://127.0.0.1:8080

Test the health route

bash

curl -i http://127.0.0.1:8080/api/health

Expected body shape:

json

{
  "ok": true,
  "service": "json-api"
}

This route uses the simplest JSON response style:

cpp

res.json({
  "ok", true,
  "service", "json-api"
});

Use this style for small responses.

Test the users list

bash

curl -i http://127.0.0.1:8080/api/users

Expected body shape:

json

{
  "ok": true,
  "users": [
    {
      "id": 1,
      "name": "Ada",
      "email": "ada@example.com",
      "active": true
    },
    {
      "id": 2,
      "name": "Linus",
      "email": "linus@example.com",
      "active": true
    }
  ]
}

This route builds a payload first:

cpp

using namespace vix::json;

Json payload = o(
  "ok", true,
  "users", users_to_json()
);

res.json(payload);

Use this style when the JSON response is larger or reused by helper functions.

Test one user

bash

curl -i http://127.0.0.1:8080/api/users/1

Expected body shape:

json

{
  "ok": true,
  "user": {
    "id": 1,
    "name": "Ada",
    "email": "ada@example.com",
    "active": true
  }
}

Request a missing user:

bash

curl -i http://127.0.0.1:8080/api/users/999

Expected status:

txt

404 Not Found

Expected body shape:

json

{
  "ok": false,
  "error": "User not found"
}

Create a user

bash

curl -i \
  -X POST http://127.0.0.1:8080/api/users \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"name":"Grace","email":"grace@example.com","active":true}'

Expected status:

txt

201 Created

Expected body shape:

json

{
  "ok": true,
  "user": {
    "id": 3,
    "name": "Grace",
    "email": "grace@example.com",
    "active": true
  }
}

The route reads parsed JSON from request state:

cpp

auto &body = req.state<middleware::parsers::JsonBody>();

That state exists because the route prefix installed the JSON parser middleware:

cpp

app.use("/api/users", middleware::app::json_strict_dev(
  4096,
  false,
  true
));

The route then validates required fields:

cpp

auto name = get_opt<std::string>(body.value, "name");
auto email = get_opt<std::string>(body.value, "email");

And reads an optional field with a default:

cpp

const bool active = get_or<bool>(body.value, "active", true);

Test validation

Missing name:

bash

curl -i \
  -X POST http://127.0.0.1:8080/api/users \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"email":"missing-name@example.com"}'

Expected status:

txt

422 Unprocessable Entity

Expected body shape:

json

{
  "ok": false,
  "error": "Missing required field",
  "field": "name"
}

Missing email:

bash

curl -i \
  -X POST http://127.0.0.1:8080/api/users \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"name":"Grace"}'

Expected status:

txt

422 Unprocessable Entity

Expected body shape:

json

{
  "ok": false,
  "error": "Missing required field",
  "field": "email"
}

Invalid JSON:

bash

curl -i \
  -X POST http://127.0.0.1:8080/api/users \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"name":}'

Expected status:

txt

400 Bad Request

Wrong content type:

bash

curl -i \
  -X POST http://127.0.0.1:8080/api/users \
  -H "Content-Type: text/plain" \
  -d '{"name":"Grace","email":"grace@example.com"}'

Expected status:

txt

415 Unsupported Media Type

The JSON parser middleware stops invalid requests before the handler runs.

Manual JSON parsing route

The route below does not use JsonBody.

It parses the body manually:

cpp

auto body = try_loads(req.body());

if (!body)
{
  res.status(400).json({
    "ok", false,
    "error", "Invalid JSON"
  });
  return;
}

Test it:

bash

curl -i \
  -X POST http://127.0.0.1:8080/api/echo-manual \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"message":"Hello"}'

Expected body shape:

json

{
  "ok": true,
  "body": {
    "message": "Hello"
  }
}

Invalid JSON:

bash

curl -i \
  -X POST http://127.0.0.1:8080/api/echo-manual \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d 'not-json'

Expected status:

txt

400 Bad Request

Use manual parsing when:

txt

the route needs special parsing behavior
you want custom error messages
you do not want middleware on that route
you parse optional or mixed body formats

For normal JSON APIs, prefer parser middleware.

The different JSON styles

Vix gives you several JSON styles.

They are not competitors.

They are for different cases.

1. Direct `res.json({...})`

Use this for small responses.

cpp

res.json({
  "ok", true,
  "service", "api"
});

Good for:

txt

health checks
simple errors
small success payloads
quick examples

2. Build JSON with `o()` and `a()`

Use vix::json::o() and vix::json::a() when the response is bigger or nested.

cpp

using namespace vix::json;

Json payload = o(
  "ok", true,
  "user", o(
    "id", 1,
    "name", "Ada"
  ),
  "roles", a("admin", "editor")
);

res.json(payload);

Good for:

txt

nested responses
response helper functions
test fixtures
generated metadata
configuration JSON
readable C++ JSON construction

3. Build progressively with `obj()` and `arr()`

Use obj() and arr() when fields are added in steps.

cpp

using namespace vix::json;

Json payload = obj();

payload["ok"] = true;
payload["count"] = users.size();

Json items = arr();

for (const auto &user : users)
{
  items.push_back(user_to_json(user));
}

payload["users"] = items;

res.json(payload);

Good for:

txt

loops
conditional fields
computed fields
response building across multiple steps

4. Parse with middleware

Use parser middleware for normal request bodies.

cpp

app.use("/api/users", middleware::app::json_strict_dev(4096));

Then read:

cpp

auto &body = req.state<middleware::parsers::JsonBody>();

Good for:

txt

public API routes
POST routes
PUT routes
PATCH routes
routes where invalid JSON should stop before handler logic

5. Parse manually with `try_loads()`

Use manual parsing when you need full control.

cpp

using namespace vix::json;

auto body = try_loads(req.body());

if (!body)
{
  res.status(400).json({
    "ok", false,
    "error", "Invalid JSON"
  });
  return;
}

Good for:

txt

custom parse errors
optional JSON body
mixed content routes
small isolated examples
manual validation flows

6. Read fields safely

Use get_opt<T>() when a required field must be validated.

cpp

auto name = get_opt<std::string>(body, "name");

if (!name || name->empty())
{
  res.status(422).json({
    "ok", false,
    "error", "Missing required field",
    "field", "name"
  });
  return;
}

Use get_or<T>() when an optional field has a default value.

cpp

const int page = get_or<int>(body, "page", 1);
const int limit = get_or<int>(body, "limit", 20);

Good for:

txt

validation
pagination defaults
optional filters
safe field access from external input

7. Request JSON cache

Some Vix request APIs can expose JSON-oriented helpers such as:

cpp

const vix::json::Json &data = req.json();

and:

cpp

auto value = req.json_as<MyType>();

Use this only when the route or middleware design already guarantees that the body is valid JSON, or when exception-based behavior is intentional.

For public endpoints, prefer one of these two patterns:

cpp

middleware::app::json_strict_dev(...)

or:

cpp

vix::json::try_loads(req.body())

They make bad client input easier to handle cleanly.

Which JSON style should I use?

Use this rule:

Need	Best style
Small response	`res.json({...})`
Nested response	`vix::json::o()` and `vix::json::a()`
Conditional response	`vix::json::obj()` and `vix::json::arr()`
Normal JSON request body	`middleware::app::json_strict_dev(...)`
Custom parsing behavior	`vix::json::try_loads(req.body())`
Required field validation	`get_opt<T>()`
Optional field defaults	`get_or<T>()`
Internal already-validated request body	`req.json()` or `req.json_as<T>()`

Middleware parsing vs manual parsing

Use middleware parsing for clean APIs:

cpp

app.use("/api/users", middleware::app::json_strict_dev(4096));

app.post("/api/users", [](Request &req, Response &res)
{
  auto &body = req.state<middleware::parsers::JsonBody>();

  // business validation here
});

Use manual parsing for route-level control:

cpp

app.post("/api/echo", [](Request &req, Response &res)
{
  auto body = vix::json::try_loads(req.body());

  if (!body)
  {
    res.status(400).json({
      "ok", false,
      "error", "Invalid JSON"
    });
    return;
  }

  res.json({
    "ok", true
  });
});

The recommended default for backend APIs is middleware parsing.

Complete test flow

Run the server:

bash

vix run json_api.cpp

Health:

bash

curl -i http://127.0.0.1:8080/api/health

List users:

bash

curl -i http://127.0.0.1:8080/api/users

Get one user:

bash

curl -i http://127.0.0.1:8080/api/users/1

Create user:

bash

curl -i \
  -X POST http://127.0.0.1:8080/api/users \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"name":"Grace","email":"grace@example.com"}'

Invalid body:

bash

curl -i \
  -X POST http://127.0.0.1:8080/api/users \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"name":}'

Manual echo:

bash

curl -i \
  -X POST http://127.0.0.1:8080/api/echo-manual \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"message":"Hello"}'

Summary

A Vix JSON API usually follows this shape:

txt

middleware validates and parses the request body
handler reads JsonBody
handler validates business fields
handler builds response JSON
handler sends res.json(...)

Use direct JSON for small responses:

cpp

res.json({
  "ok", true
});

Use builders for structured responses:

cpp

using namespace vix::json;

res.json(o(
  "ok", true,
  "items", a("one", "two")
));

Use parser middleware for normal request bodies:

cpp

app.use("/api/users", middleware::app::json_strict_dev(4096));

Use manual parsing when the route needs custom control:

cpp

auto body = vix::json::try_loads(req.body());

The recommended default is:

txt

json_strict_dev for request bodies
get_opt for required fields
get_or for optional fields
o/a for structured responses
res.json for sending

JSON API ​

What this example builds ​

Source ​

Run it ​

Test the health route ​

Test the users list ​

Test one user ​

Create a user ​

Test validation ​

Manual JSON parsing route ​

The different JSON styles ​

1. Direct res.json({...}) ​

2. Build JSON with o() and a() ​

3. Build progressively with obj() and arr() ​

4. Parse with middleware ​

5. Parse manually with try_loads() ​

6. Read fields safely ​

7. Request JSON cache ​

Which JSON style should I use? ​

Middleware parsing vs manual parsing ​

Complete test flow ​

Summary ​

JSON API

What this example builds

Source

Run it

Test the health route

Test the users list

Test one user

Create a user

Test validation

Manual JSON parsing route

The different JSON styles

1. Direct `res.json({...})`

2. Build JSON with `o()` and `a()`

3. Build progressively with `obj()` and `arr()`

4. Parse with middleware

5. Parse manually with `try_loads()`

6. Read fields safely

7. Request JSON cache

Which JSON style should I use?

Middleware parsing vs manual parsing

Complete test flow

Summary