# Parsing and Exceptions

When the input is not valid JSON, an exception of type [`parse_error`](../../home/exceptions.md#parse-errors) is thrown. This exception contains the position in the input where the error occurred, together with a diagnostic message and the last read input token. The exceptions page contains a [list of examples for parse error exceptions](../../home/exceptions.md#parse-errors). In case you process untrusted input, always enclose your code with a `#!cpp try`/`#!cpp catch` block, like

```cpp
json j;
try
{
    j = json::parse(my_input);
}
catch (json::parse_error& ex)
{
    std::cerr << "parse error at byte " << ex.byte << std::endl;
}
```

In case exceptions are undesired or not supported by the environment, there are different ways to proceed:


## Switch off exceptions

The `parse()` function accepts as last parameter a `#!cpp bool` variable `allow_exceptions` which controls whether an exception is thrown when a parse error occurs (`#!cpp true`, default) or whether a discarded value should be returned (`#!cpp false`).

```cpp
json j = json::parse(my_input, nullptr, false);
if (j.is_discarded())
{
    std::cerr << "parse error" << std::endl;
}
```

Note there is no diagnostic information available in this scenario.

## Use accept() function

Alternatively, function `accept()` can be used which does not return a `json` value, but a `#!cpp bool` indicating whether the input is valid JSON.

```cpp
if (!json::accept(my_input))
{
    std::cerr << "parse error" << std::endl;
}
```

Again, there is no diagnostic information available.


## User-defined SAX interface

Finally, you can implement the [SAX interface](sax_interface.md) and decide what should happen in case of a parse error.

This function has the following interface:

```cpp
bool parse_error(std::size_t position,
                 const std::string& last_token,
                 const json::exception& ex);
```

The return value indicates whether the parsing should continue, so the function should usually return `#!cpp false`.

??? example

    ```cpp
    #include <iostream>
    #include "json.hpp"
    
    using json = nlohmann::json;
    
    class sax_no_exception : public nlohmann::detail::json_sax_dom_parser<json>
    {
      public:
        sax_no_exception(json& j)
          : nlohmann::detail::json_sax_dom_parser<json>(j, false)
        {}
        
        bool parse_error(std::size_t position,
                         const std::string& last_token,
                         const json::exception& ex)
        {
            std::cerr << "parse error at input byte " << position << "\n"
                      << ex.what() << "\n"
                      << "last read: \"" << last_token << "\""
                      << std::endl;
            return false;
        }
    };
    
    int main()
    {
        std::string myinput = "[1,2,3,]";
    
        json result;
        sax_no_exception sax(result);
        
        bool parse_result = json::sax_parse(myinput, &sax);
        if (!parse_result)
        {
            std::cerr << "parsing unsuccessful!" << std::endl;
        }
        
        std::cout << "parsed value: " << result << std::endl;
    }
    ```

    Output:
    
    ```
    parse error at input byte 8
    [json.exception.parse_error.101] parse error at line 1, column 8: syntax error while parsing value - unexpected ']'; expected '[', '{', or a literal
    last read: "3,]"
    parsing unsuccessful!
    parsed value: [1,2,3]
    ```