jsex

What is jsex?

jsex is a strict subset of javascript for data serialization/deserialization, which supports most of the native javascript data types.

How many data types are supported?

As many as possible, including:

• All types supported by JSON
• function
• bigint
• symbol
• Date
• Error
• RegExp
• Set
• Map
• Typed Arrays
• Infinity, NaN and undefined

How many browsers are supported?

It's hard to make a full list. But jsex requires some bleeding edge ES features. In order to make sure it works, you probably need to install some polyfill for your production environment. And I suggest polyfill.io

How to serialize data?

By calling toJsex(data, options).

• options defaults to {sorting: false, implicitConversion: false, jsonCompatible: false, debug: false}.
  • sorting: Whether sorting the content of Map, Set and Object.
  • implicitConversion: Whether trying to resolve unrecognized type by calling its valueOf method.
  • jsonCompatible: Whether generating JSON compatible string.
  • debug: Whether throw error when meet unexpected data or just skip them silently.

serializing example:

require('jsex');
let data = {
  someRegex: RegExp('\r\u2028\n\ud800', 'ig'),
  someSet: new Set([a => a, 1, 0n]),
  [Symbol.for('symbolKey')]: 'valueForSymbolKey',
  normalKey: 'valueForNormalKey'
};
console.log('normal:', toJsex(data), '\nsorted:', toJsex(data, {sorting: true}));
//normal: {"someRegex":/\r\u2028\n\ud800/gi,"someSet":new Set([Function("a","return a"),1,0n]),"normalKey":"valueForNormalKey",[Symbol.for("symbolKey")]:"valueForSymbolKey","__proto__":null}
//sorted: {"normalKey":"valueForNormalKey","someRegex":/\r\u2028\n\ud800/gi,"someSet":new Set([0n,1,Function("a","return a")]),[Symbol.for("symbolKey")]:"valueForSymbolKey","__proto__":null}
try {
  JSON.parse(toJsex(data, {jsonCompatible: true}));
} catch(e) {
  console.log('error: jsonCompatible makes sense only if data does not contain extended types');
}

another serializing example:

let obj = {
    ["__proto__"]: '\v',
    "tab": "\t"
  },
  jsonstr = JSON.stringify(obj),
  jsexstr = toJsex(obj);
console.log('jsexstr:', jsexstr, '\njsonstr:', jsonstr);
//jsexstr: {["__proto__"]:"","tab":"	","__proto__":null}
//jsonstr: {"__proto__":"\u000b","tab":"\t"}
console.log('is compatible:', toJsex(obj, {jsonCompatible: true}) === jsonstr);
//is compatible: true

How to deserialize?

Basically you can just eval the string if you trust the source. However if you don't, use String.prototype.parseJsex(forbiddenMethods) instead. This method returns undefined if parsing failed, or an Object with a length key (to store the count of characters parsed in this string) and a value key (to store the real result).

• forbiddenMethods defaults to ['toString', 'toJSON', 'valueOf', Symbol.asyncIterator, Symbol.hasInstance, Symbol.iterator, Symbol.matchAll, Symbol.replace, Symbol.search, Symbol.split, Symbol.toPrimitive]. You probably don't want these methods cause they might be called implicitly. Or you may change this param to null or another Array.

deserializing example:

//following the above code
let evalJsex = Function('return ' + jsexstr)(),
  parseJsex = jsexstr.parseJsex().value,
  evalJson = Function('return ' + jsonstr)(),
  parseJson = JSON.parse(jsonstr),
  parseJsonByJsex = jsonstr.parseJsex().value;
console.log('evalJsex:', evalJsex, '\nparseJsex:', parseJsex, '\nevalJson:', evalJson, '\nparseJson:', parseJson, '\nparseJsonByJsex:', parseJsonByJsex);
console.log('json is a subset of javascript?', JSON.stringify(evalJson) === JSON.stringify(parseJson));
//json is a subset of javascript? false
console.log('jsex is a subset of javascript?', JSON.stringify(evalJsex) === JSON.stringify(parseJsex) && JSON.stringify(evalJson) === JSON.stringify(parseJsonByJsex));
//jsex is a subset of javascript? true

Does parseJsex support JSON string?

Yes, but any __proto__ key of Object in JSON string will be ignored. As the above example shown.

How to serialize a class?

For security reason, class is not supported by default. But you can still serialize it as string by calling toJsex with implicitConversion option set to true.

class example:

class customType {
  constructor () {
    this.args = [...arguments];
  }
  valueOf() {
    return this.args;
  }
}
let source = toJsex(customType, {implicitConversion: true});
let deserializedClass = Function('return ' + source.parseJsex().value)();
console.log(deserializedClass.toString() === customType.toString());
//true

How to serialize a custom type?

You can't define custom types in jsex. But you can resolve it to a supported type by implanting a valueOf method. And then call toJsex with implicitConversion option set to true.

custom type example:

//following the above code
let instance1 = new customType(1, 2n, {});
let jsex = toJsex(instance1, {implicitConversion: true});
console.log(jsex);
//[1,2n,{"__proto__":null}]
let instance2 = Reflect.construct(deserializedClass, jsex.parseJsex().value);

Can I use comments in jsex?

Yes, comments are allowed. But not on everywhere. Such as -/*123*/4 is invalid in jsex.

Is there any other difference between JSON and jsex?

Yes, there are a few more differences.

• 0 and -0 are different in jsex.
• Object has no prototype, which means it is safe to use any key name.
• toJsex does not escape ASCII control characters (besides \r and \n) by detault.
• toJsex does not skip unenumerable keys and symbol keys in Object.

When should I use jsex?

When you are using javascript, and JSON can not fit your needs.