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diff --git a/externals/json/json.hpp b/externals/json/json.hpp
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+++ b/externals/json/json.hpp
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+/*
+    __ _____ _____ _____
+ __|  |   __|     |   | |  JSON for Modern C++
+|  |  |__   |  |  | | | |  version 2.1.1
+|_____|_____|_____|_|___|  https://github.com/nlohmann/json
+
+Licensed under the MIT License <http://opensource.org/licenses/MIT>.
+Copyright (c) 2013-2017 Niels Lohmann <http://nlohmann.me>.
+
+Permission is hereby  granted, free of charge, to any  person obtaining a copy
+of this software and associated  documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
+in the Software  without restriction, including without  limitation the rights
+to  use, copy,  modify, merge,  publish, distribute,  sublicense, and/or  sell
+copies  of  the Software,  and  to  permit persons  to  whom  the Software  is
+furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+
+The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
+copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+
+THE SOFTWARE  IS PROVIDED "AS  IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY  OF ANY KIND,  EXPRESS OR
+IMPLIED,  INCLUDING BUT  NOT  LIMITED TO  THE  WARRANTIES OF  MERCHANTABILITY,
+FITNESS FOR  A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND  NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT  SHALL THE
+AUTHORS  OR COPYRIGHT  HOLDERS  BE  LIABLE FOR  ANY  CLAIM,  DAMAGES OR  OTHER
+LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF  CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
+OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE  OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
+SOFTWARE.
+*/
+
+#ifndef NLOHMANN_JSON_HPP
+#define NLOHMANN_JSON_HPP
+
+#include <algorithm> // all_of, copy, fill, find, for_each, none_of, remove, reverse, transform
+#include <array> // array
+#include <cassert> // assert
+#include <ciso646> // and, not, or
+#include <clocale> // lconv, localeconv
+#include <cmath> // isfinite, labs, ldexp, signbit
+#include <cstddef> // nullptr_t, ptrdiff_t, size_t
+#include <cstdint> // int64_t, uint64_t
+#include <cstdlib> // abort, strtod, strtof, strtold, strtoul, strtoll, strtoull
+#include <cstring> // memcpy, strlen
+#include <forward_list> // forward_list
+#include <functional> // function, hash, less
+#include <initializer_list> // initializer_list
+#include <iomanip> // hex
+#include <iosfwd>   // istream, ostream
+#include <iterator> // advance, begin, back_inserter, bidirectional_iterator_tag, distance, end, inserter, iterator, iterator_traits, next, random_access_iterator_tag, reverse_iterator
+#include <limits> // numeric_limits
+#include <locale> // locale
+#include <map> // map
+#include <memory> // addressof, allocator, allocator_traits, unique_ptr
+#include <numeric> // accumulate
+#include <sstream> // stringstream
+#include <string> // getline, stoi, string, to_string
+#include <type_traits> // add_pointer, conditional, decay, enable_if, false_type, integral_constant, is_arithmetic, is_base_of, is_const, is_constructible, is_convertible, is_default_constructible, is_enum, is_floating_point, is_integral, is_nothrow_move_assignable, is_nothrow_move_constructible, is_pointer, is_reference, is_same, is_scalar, is_signed, remove_const, remove_cv, remove_pointer, remove_reference, true_type, underlying_type
+#include <utility> // declval, forward, make_pair, move, pair, swap
+#include <vector> // vector
+
+// exclude unsupported compilers
+#if defined(__clang__)
+    #if (__clang_major__ * 10000 + __clang_minor__ * 100 + __clang_patchlevel__) < 30400
+        #error "unsupported Clang version - see https://github.com/nlohmann/json#supported-compilers"
+    #endif
+#elif defined(__GNUC__)
+    #if (__GNUC__ * 10000 + __GNUC_MINOR__ * 100 + __GNUC_PATCHLEVEL__) < 40900
+        #error "unsupported GCC version - see https://github.com/nlohmann/json#supported-compilers"
+    #endif
+#endif
+
+// disable float-equal warnings on GCC/clang
+#if defined(__clang__) || defined(__GNUC__) || defined(__GNUG__)
+    #pragma GCC diagnostic push
+    #pragma GCC diagnostic ignored "-Wfloat-equal"
+#endif
+
+// disable documentation warnings on clang
+#if defined(__clang__)
+    #pragma GCC diagnostic push
+    #pragma GCC diagnostic ignored "-Wdocumentation"
+#endif
+
+// allow for portable deprecation warnings
+#if defined(__clang__) || defined(__GNUC__) || defined(__GNUG__)
+    #define JSON_DEPRECATED __attribute__((deprecated))
+#elif defined(_MSC_VER)
+    #define JSON_DEPRECATED __declspec(deprecated)
+#else
+    #define JSON_DEPRECATED
+#endif
+
+// allow to disable exceptions
+#if (defined(__cpp_exceptions) || defined(__EXCEPTIONS) || defined(_CPPUNWIND)) && not defined(JSON_NOEXCEPTION)
+    #define JSON_THROW(exception) throw exception
+    #define JSON_TRY try
+    #define JSON_CATCH(exception) catch(exception)
+#else
+    #define JSON_THROW(exception) std::abort()
+    #define JSON_TRY if(true)
+    #define JSON_CATCH(exception) if(false)
+#endif
+
+// manual branch prediction
+#if defined(__clang__) || defined(__GNUC__) || defined(__GNUG__)
+    #define JSON_LIKELY(x)      __builtin_expect(!!(x), 1)
+    #define JSON_UNLIKELY(x)    __builtin_expect(!!(x), 0)
+#else
+    #define JSON_LIKELY(x)      x
+    #define JSON_UNLIKELY(x)    x
+#endif
+
+/*!
+@brief namespace for Niels Lohmann
+@see https://github.com/nlohmann
+@since version 1.0.0
+*/
+namespace nlohmann
+{
+
+/*!
+@brief unnamed namespace with internal helper functions
+
+This namespace collects some functions that could not be defined inside the
+@ref basic_json class.
+
+@since version 2.1.0
+*/
+namespace detail
+{
+////////////////
+// exceptions //
+////////////////
+
+/*!
+@brief general exception of the @ref basic_json class
+
+Extension of std::exception objects with a member @a id for exception ids.
+
+@note To have nothrow-copy-constructible exceptions, we internally use
+      std::runtime_error which can cope with arbitrary-length error messages.
+      Intermediate strings are built with static functions and then passed to
+      the actual constructor.
+
+@since version 3.0.0
+*/
+class exception : public std::exception
+{
+  public:
+    /// returns the explanatory string
+    virtual const char* what() const noexcept override
+    {
+        return m.what();
+    }
+
+    /// the id of the exception
+    const int id;
+
+  protected:
+    exception(int id_, const char* what_arg)
+        : id(id_), m(what_arg)
+    {}
+
+    static std::string name(const std::string& ename, int id)
+    {
+        return "[json.exception." + ename + "." + std::to_string(id) + "] ";
+    }
+
+  private:
+    /// an exception object as storage for error messages
+    std::runtime_error m;
+};
+
+/*!
+@brief exception indicating a parse error
+
+This excpetion is thrown by the library when a parse error occurs. Parse
+errors can occur during the deserialization of JSON text as well as when
+using JSON Patch.
+
+Member @a byte holds the byte index of the last read character in the input
+file.
+
+@note For an input with n bytes, 1 is the index of the first character
+      and n+1 is the index of the terminating null byte or the end of
+      file. This also holds true when reading a byte vector (CBOR or
+      MessagePack).
+
+Exceptions have ids 1xx.
+
+name / id                      | example massage | description
+------------------------------ | --------------- | -------------------------
+json.exception.parse_error.101 | parse error at 2: unexpected end of input; expected string literal | This error indicates a syntax error while deserializing a JSON text. The error message describes that an unexpected token (character) was encountered, and the member @a byte indicates the error position.
+json.exception.parse_error.102 | parse error at 14: missing or wrong low surrogate | JSON uses the `\uxxxx` format to describe Unicode characters. Code points above above 0xFFFF are split into two `\uxxxx` entries ("surrogate pairs"). This error indicates that the surrogate pair is incomplete or contains an invalid code point.
+json.exception.parse_error.103 | parse error: code points above 0x10FFFF are invalid | Unicode supports code points up to 0x10FFFF. Code points above 0x10FFFF are invalid.
+json.exception.parse_error.104 | parse error: JSON patch must be an array of objects | [RFC 6902](https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6902) requires a JSON Patch document to be a JSON document that represents an array of objects.
+json.exception.parse_error.105 | parse error: operation must have string member 'op' | An operation of a JSON Patch document must contain exactly one "op" member, whose value indicates the operation to perform. Its value must be one of "add", "remove", "replace", "move", "copy", or "test"; other values are errors.
+json.exception.parse_error.106 | parse error: array index '01' must not begin with '0' | An array index in a JSON Pointer ([RFC 6901](https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6901)) may be `0` or any number wihtout a leading `0`.
+json.exception.parse_error.107 | parse error: JSON pointer must be empty or begin with '/' - was: 'foo' | A JSON Pointer must be a Unicode string containing a sequence of zero or more reference tokens, each prefixed by a `/` character.
+json.exception.parse_error.108 | parse error: escape character '~' must be followed with '0' or '1' | In a JSON Pointer, only `~0` and `~1` are valid escape sequences.
+json.exception.parse_error.109 | parse error: array index 'one' is not a number | A JSON Pointer array index must be a number.
+json.exception.parse_error.110 | parse error at 1: cannot read 2 bytes from vector | When parsing CBOR or MessagePack, the byte vector ends before the complete value has been read.
+json.exception.parse_error.112 | parse error at 1: error reading CBOR; last byte: 0xf8 | Not all types of CBOR or MessagePack are supported. This exception occurs if an unsupported byte was read.
+json.exception.parse_error.113 | parse error at 2: expected a CBOR string; last byte: 0x98 | While parsing a map key, a value that is not a string has been read.
+
+@since version 3.0.0
+*/
+class parse_error : public exception
+{
+  public:
+    /*!
+    @brief create a parse error exception
+    @param[in] id         the id of the exception
+    @param[in] byte_      the byte index where the error occurred (or 0 if
+                          the position cannot be determined)
+    @param[in] what_arg   the explanatory string
+    @return parse_error object
+    */
+    static parse_error create(int id, size_t byte_, const std::string& what_arg)
+    {
+        std::string w = exception::name("parse_error", id) + "parse error" +
+                        (byte_ != 0 ? (" at " + std::to_string(byte_)) : "") +
+                        ": " + what_arg;
+        return parse_error(id, byte_, w.c_str());
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief byte index of the parse error
+
+    The byte index of the last read character in the input file.
+
+    @note For an input with n bytes, 1 is the index of the first character
+          and n+1 is the index of the terminating null byte or the end of
+          file. This also holds true when reading a byte vector (CBOR or
+          MessagePack).
+    */
+    const size_t byte;
+
+  private:
+    parse_error(int id_, size_t byte_, const char* what_arg)
+        : exception(id_, what_arg), byte(byte_)
+    {}
+};
+
+/*!
+@brief exception indicating errors with iterators
+
+Exceptions have ids 2xx.
+
+name / id                           | example massage | description
+----------------------------------- | --------------- | -------------------------
+json.exception.invalid_iterator.201 | iterators are not compatible | The iterators passed to constructor @ref basic_json(InputIT first, InputIT last) are not compatible, meaning they do not belong to the same container. Therefore, the range (@a first, @a last) is invalid.
+json.exception.invalid_iterator.202 | iterator does not fit current value | In an erase or insert function, the passed iterator @a pos does not belong to the JSON value for which the function was called. It hence does not define a valid position for the deletion/insertion.
+json.exception.invalid_iterator.203 | iterators do not fit current value | Either iterator passed to function @ref erase(IteratorType first, IteratorType last) does not belong to the JSON value from which values shall be erased. It hence does not define a valid range to delete values from.
+json.exception.invalid_iterator.204 | iterators out of range | When an iterator range for a primitive type (number, boolean, or string) is passed to a constructor or an erase function, this range has to be exactly (@ref begin(), @ref end()), because this is the only way the single stored value is expressed. All other ranges are invalid.
+json.exception.invalid_iterator.205 | iterator out of range | When an iterator for a primitive type (number, boolean, or string) is passed to an erase function, the iterator has to be the @ref begin() iterator, because it is the only way to address the stored value. All other iterators are invalid.
+json.exception.invalid_iterator.206 | cannot construct with iterators from null | The iterators passed to constructor @ref basic_json(InputIT first, InputIT last) belong to a JSON null value and hence to not define a valid range.
+json.exception.invalid_iterator.207 | cannot use key() for non-object iterators | The key() member function can only be used on iterators belonging to a JSON object, because other types do not have a concept of a key.
+json.exception.invalid_iterator.208 | cannot use operator[] for object iterators | The operator[] to specify a concrete offset cannot be used on iterators belonging to a JSON object, because JSON objects are unordered.
+json.exception.invalid_iterator.209 | cannot use offsets with object iterators | The offset operators (+, -, +=, -=) cannot be used on iterators belonging to a JSON object, because JSON objects are unordered.
+json.exception.invalid_iterator.210 | iterators do not fit | The iterator range passed to the insert function are not compatible, meaning they do not belong to the same container. Therefore, the range (@a first, @a last) is invalid.
+json.exception.invalid_iterator.211 | passed iterators may not belong to container | The iterator range passed to the insert function must not be a subrange of the container to insert to.
+json.exception.invalid_iterator.212 | cannot compare iterators of different containers | When two iterators are compared, they must belong to the same container.
+json.exception.invalid_iterator.213 | cannot compare order of object iterators | The order of object iterators cannot be compared, because JSON objects are unordered.
+json.exception.invalid_iterator.214 | cannot get value | Cannot get value for iterator: Either the iterator belongs to a null value or it is an iterator to a primitive type (number, boolean, or string), but the iterator is different to @ref begin().
+
+@since version 3.0.0
+*/
+class invalid_iterator : public exception
+{
+  public:
+    static invalid_iterator create(int id, const std::string& what_arg)
+    {
+        std::string w = exception::name("invalid_iterator", id) + what_arg;
+        return invalid_iterator(id, w.c_str());
+    }
+
+  private:
+    invalid_iterator(int id_, const char* what_arg)
+        : exception(id_, what_arg)
+    {}
+};
+
+/*!
+@brief exception indicating executing a member function with a wrong type
+
+Exceptions have ids 3xx.
+
+name / id                     | example message | description
+----------------------------- | --------------- | -------------------------
+json.exception.type_error.301 | cannot create object from initializer list | To create an object from an initializer list, the initializer list must consist only of a list of pairs whose first element is a string. When this constraint is violated, an array is created instead.
+json.exception.type_error.302 | type must be object, but is array | During implicit or explicit value conversion, the JSON type must be compatible to the target type. For instance, a JSON string can only be converted into string types, but not into numbers or boolean types.
+json.exception.type_error.303 | incompatible ReferenceType for get_ref, actual type is object | To retrieve a reference to a value stored in a @ref basic_json object with @ref get_ref, the type of the reference must match the value type. For instance, for a JSON array, the @a ReferenceType must be @ref array_t&.
+json.exception.type_error.304 | cannot use at() with string | The @ref at() member functions can only be executed for certain JSON types.
+json.exception.type_error.305 | cannot use operator[] with string | The @ref operator[] member functions can only be executed for certain JSON types.
+json.exception.type_error.306 | cannot use value() with string | The @ref value() member functions can only be executed for certain JSON types.
+json.exception.type_error.307 | cannot use erase() with string | The @ref erase() member functions can only be executed for certain JSON types.
+json.exception.type_error.308 | cannot use push_back() with string | The @ref push_back() and @ref operator+= member functions can only be executed for certain JSON types.
+json.exception.type_error.309 | cannot use insert() with | The @ref insert() member functions can only be executed for certain JSON types.
+json.exception.type_error.310 | cannot use swap() with number | The @ref swap() member functions can only be executed for certain JSON types.
+json.exception.type_error.311 | cannot use emplace_back() with string | The @ref emplace_back() member function can only be executed for certain JSON types.
+json.exception.type_error.313 | invalid value to unflatten | The @ref unflatten function converts an object whose keys are JSON Pointers back into an arbitrary nested JSON value. The JSON Pointers must not overlap, because then the resulting value would not be well defined.
+json.exception.type_error.314 | only objects can be unflattened | The @ref unflatten function only works for an object whose keys are JSON Pointers.
+json.exception.type_error.315 | values in object must be primitive | The @ref unflatten function only works for an object whose keys are JSON Pointers and whose values are primitive.
+
+@since version 3.0.0
+*/
+class type_error : public exception
+{
+  public:
+    static type_error create(int id, const std::string& what_arg)
+    {
+        std::string w = exception::name("type_error", id) + what_arg;
+        return type_error(id, w.c_str());
+    }
+
+  private:
+    type_error(int id_, const char* what_arg)
+        : exception(id_, what_arg)
+    {}
+};
+
+/*!
+@brief exception indicating access out of the defined range
+
+Exceptions have ids 4xx.
+
+name / id                       | example message | description
+------------------------------- | --------------- | -------------------------
+json.exception.out_of_range.401 | array index 3 is out of range | The provided array index @a i is larger than @a size-1.
+json.exception.out_of_range.402 | array index '-' (3) is out of range | The special array index `-` in a JSON Pointer never describes a valid element of the array, but the index past the end. That is, it can only be used to add elements at this position, but not to read it.
+json.exception.out_of_range.403 | key 'foo' not found | The provided key was not found in the JSON object.
+json.exception.out_of_range.404 | unresolved reference token 'foo' | A reference token in a JSON Pointer could not be resolved.
+json.exception.out_of_range.405 | JSON pointer has no parent | The JSON Patch operations 'remove' and 'add' can not be applied to the root element of the JSON value.
+json.exception.out_of_range.406 | number overflow parsing '10E1000' | A parsed number could not be stored as without changing it to NaN or INF.
+
+@since version 3.0.0
+*/
+class out_of_range : public exception
+{
+  public:
+    static out_of_range create(int id, const std::string& what_arg)
+    {
+        std::string w = exception::name("out_of_range", id) + what_arg;
+        return out_of_range(id, w.c_str());
+    }
+
+  private:
+    out_of_range(int id_, const char* what_arg)
+        : exception(id_, what_arg)
+    {}
+};
+
+/*!
+@brief exception indicating other errors
+
+Exceptions have ids 5xx.
+
+name / id                      | example message | description
+------------------------------ | --------------- | -------------------------
+json.exception.other_error.501 | unsuccessful: {"op":"test","path":"/baz", "value":"bar"} | A JSON Patch operation 'test' failed. The unsuccessful operation is also printed.
+json.exception.other_error.502 | invalid object size for conversion | Some conversions to user-defined types impose constraints on the object size (e.g. std::pair)
+
+@since version 3.0.0
+*/
+class other_error : public exception
+{
+  public:
+    static other_error create(int id, const std::string& what_arg)
+    {
+        std::string w = exception::name("other_error", id) + what_arg;
+        return other_error(id, w.c_str());
+    }
+
+  private:
+    other_error(int id_, const char* what_arg)
+        : exception(id_, what_arg)
+    {}
+};
+
+
+
+///////////////////////////
+// JSON type enumeration //
+///////////////////////////
+
+/*!
+@brief the JSON type enumeration
+
+This enumeration collects the different JSON types. It is internally used to
+distinguish the stored values, and the functions @ref basic_json::is_null(),
+@ref basic_json::is_object(), @ref basic_json::is_array(),
+@ref basic_json::is_string(), @ref basic_json::is_boolean(),
+@ref basic_json::is_number() (with @ref basic_json::is_number_integer(),
+@ref basic_json::is_number_unsigned(), and @ref basic_json::is_number_float()),
+@ref basic_json::is_discarded(), @ref basic_json::is_primitive(), and
+@ref basic_json::is_structured() rely on it.
+
+@note There are three enumeration entries (number_integer, number_unsigned, and
+number_float), because the library distinguishes these three types for numbers:
+@ref basic_json::number_unsigned_t is used for unsigned integers,
+@ref basic_json::number_integer_t is used for signed integers, and
+@ref basic_json::number_float_t is used for floating-point numbers or to
+approximate integers which do not fit in the limits of their respective type.
+
+@sa @ref basic_json::basic_json(const value_t value_type) -- create a JSON
+value with the default value for a given type
+
+@since version 1.0.0
+*/
+enum class value_t : uint8_t
+{
+    null,            ///< null value
+    object,          ///< object (unordered set of name/value pairs)
+    array,           ///< array (ordered collection of values)
+    string,          ///< string value
+    boolean,         ///< boolean value
+    number_integer,  ///< number value (signed integer)
+    number_unsigned, ///< number value (unsigned integer)
+    number_float,    ///< number value (floating-point)
+    discarded        ///< discarded by the the parser callback function
+};
+
+/*!
+@brief comparison operator for JSON types
+
+Returns an ordering that is similar to Python:
+- order: null < boolean < number < object < array < string
+- furthermore, each type is not smaller than itself
+
+@since version 1.0.0
+*/
+inline bool operator<(const value_t lhs, const value_t rhs) noexcept
+{
+    static constexpr std::array<uint8_t, 8> order = {{
+            0, // null
+            3, // object
+            4, // array
+            5, // string
+            1, // boolean
+            2, // integer
+            2, // unsigned
+            2, // float
+        }
+    };
+
+    // discarded values are not comparable
+    if (lhs == value_t::discarded or rhs == value_t::discarded)
+    {
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    return order[static_cast<std::size_t>(lhs)] <
+           order[static_cast<std::size_t>(rhs)];
+}
+
+
+/////////////
+// helpers //
+/////////////
+
+// alias templates to reduce boilerplate
+template<bool B, typename T = void>
+using enable_if_t = typename std::enable_if<B, T>::type;
+
+template<typename T>
+using uncvref_t = typename std::remove_cv<typename std::remove_reference<T>::type>::type;
+
+// implementation of C++14 index_sequence and affiliates
+// source: https://stackoverflow.com/a/32223343
+template <std::size_t... Ints>
+struct index_sequence
+{
+    using type = index_sequence;
+    using value_type = std::size_t;
+    static constexpr std::size_t size() noexcept
+    {
+        return sizeof...(Ints);
+    }
+};
+
+template <class Sequence1, class Sequence2>
+struct merge_and_renumber;
+
+template <std::size_t... I1, std::size_t... I2>
+struct merge_and_renumber<index_sequence<I1...>, index_sequence<I2...>>
+        : index_sequence < I1..., (sizeof...(I1) + I2)... >
+          { };
+
+template <std::size_t N>
+struct make_index_sequence
+    : merge_and_renumber < typename make_index_sequence < N / 2 >::type,
+      typename make_index_sequence < N - N / 2 >::type >
+{ };
+
+template<> struct make_index_sequence<0> : index_sequence<> { };
+template<> struct make_index_sequence<1> : index_sequence<0> { };
+
+template<typename... Ts>
+using index_sequence_for = make_index_sequence<sizeof...(Ts)>;
+
+/*
+Implementation of two C++17 constructs: conjunction, negation. This is needed
+to avoid evaluating all the traits in a condition
+
+For example: not std::is_same<void, T>::value and has_value_type<T>::value
+will not compile when T = void (on MSVC at least). Whereas
+conjunction<negation<std::is_same<void, T>>, has_value_type<T>>::value will
+stop evaluating if negation<...>::value == false
+
+Please note that those constructs must be used with caution, since symbols can
+become very long quickly (which can slow down compilation and cause MSVC
+internal compiler errors). Only use it when you have to (see example ahead).
+*/
+template<class...> struct conjunction : std::true_type {};
+template<class B1> struct conjunction<B1> : B1 {};
+template<class B1, class... Bn>
+struct conjunction<B1, Bn...> : std::conditional<bool(B1::value), conjunction<Bn...>, B1>::type {};
+
+template<class B> struct negation : std::integral_constant < bool, !B::value > {};
+
+// dispatch utility (taken from ranges-v3)
+template<unsigned N> struct priority_tag : priority_tag < N - 1 > {};
+template<> struct priority_tag<0> {};
+
+
+//////////////////
+// constructors //
+//////////////////
+
+template<value_t> struct external_constructor;
+
+template<>
+struct external_constructor<value_t::boolean>
+{
+    template<typename BasicJsonType>
+    static void construct(BasicJsonType& j, typename BasicJsonType::boolean_t b) noexcept
+    {
+        j.m_type = value_t::boolean;
+        j.m_value = b;
+        j.assert_invariant();
+    }
+};
+
+template<>
+struct external_constructor<value_t::string>
+{
+    template<typename BasicJsonType>
+    static void construct(BasicJsonType& j, const typename BasicJsonType::string_t& s)
+    {
+        j.m_type = value_t::string;
+        j.m_value = s;
+        j.assert_invariant();
+    }
+};
+
+template<>
+struct external_constructor<value_t::number_float>
+{
+    template<typename BasicJsonType>
+    static void construct(BasicJsonType& j, typename BasicJsonType::number_float_t val) noexcept
+    {
+        j.m_type = value_t::number_float;
+        j.m_value = val;
+        j.assert_invariant();
+    }
+};
+
+template<>
+struct external_constructor<value_t::number_unsigned>
+{
+    template<typename BasicJsonType>
+    static void construct(BasicJsonType& j, typename BasicJsonType::number_unsigned_t val) noexcept
+    {
+        j.m_type = value_t::number_unsigned;
+        j.m_value = val;
+        j.assert_invariant();
+    }
+};
+
+template<>
+struct external_constructor<value_t::number_integer>
+{
+    template<typename BasicJsonType>
+    static void construct(BasicJsonType& j, typename BasicJsonType::number_integer_t val) noexcept
+    {
+        j.m_type = value_t::number_integer;
+        j.m_value = val;
+        j.assert_invariant();
+    }
+};
+
+template<>
+struct external_constructor<value_t::array>
+{
+    template<typename BasicJsonType>
+    static void construct(BasicJsonType& j, const typename BasicJsonType::array_t& arr)
+    {
+        j.m_type = value_t::array;
+        j.m_value = arr;
+        j.assert_invariant();
+    }
+
+    template<typename BasicJsonType, typename CompatibleArrayType,
+             enable_if_t<not std::is_same<CompatibleArrayType,
+                                          typename BasicJsonType::array_t>::value,
+                         int> = 0>
+    static void construct(BasicJsonType& j, const CompatibleArrayType& arr)
+    {
+        using std::begin;
+        using std::end;
+        j.m_type = value_t::array;
+        j.m_value.array = j.template create<typename BasicJsonType::array_t>(begin(arr), end(arr));
+        j.assert_invariant();
+    }
+
+    template<typename BasicJsonType>
+    static void construct(BasicJsonType& j, const std::vector<bool>& arr)
+    {
+        j.m_type = value_t::array;
+        j.m_value = value_t::array;
+        j.m_value.array->reserve(arr.size());
+        for (bool x : arr)
+        {
+            j.m_value.array->push_back(x);
+        }
+        j.assert_invariant();
+    }
+};
+
+template<>
+struct external_constructor<value_t::object>
+{
+    template<typename BasicJsonType>
+    static void construct(BasicJsonType& j, const typename BasicJsonType::object_t& obj)
+    {
+        j.m_type = value_t::object;
+        j.m_value = obj;
+        j.assert_invariant();
+    }
+
+    template<typename BasicJsonType, typename CompatibleObjectType,
+             enable_if_t<not std::is_same<CompatibleObjectType,
+                                          typename BasicJsonType::object_t>::value,
+                         int> = 0>
+    static void construct(BasicJsonType& j, const CompatibleObjectType& obj)
+    {
+        using std::begin;
+        using std::end;
+
+        j.m_type = value_t::object;
+        j.m_value.object = j.template create<typename BasicJsonType::object_t>(begin(obj), end(obj));
+        j.assert_invariant();
+    }
+};
+
+
+////////////////////////
+// has_/is_ functions //
+////////////////////////
+
+/*!
+@brief Helper to determine whether there's a key_type for T.
+
+This helper is used to tell associative containers apart from other containers
+such as sequence containers. For instance, `std::map` passes the test as it
+contains a `mapped_type`, whereas `std::vector` fails the test.
+
+@sa http://stackoverflow.com/a/7728728/266378
+@since version 1.0.0, overworked in version 2.0.6
+*/
+#define NLOHMANN_JSON_HAS_HELPER(type)                                        \
+    template<typename T> struct has_##type {                                  \
+    private:                                                                  \
+        template<typename U, typename = typename U::type>                     \
+        static int detect(U &&);                                              \
+        static void detect(...);                                              \
+    public:                                                                   \
+        static constexpr bool value =                                         \
+                std::is_integral<decltype(detect(std::declval<T>()))>::value; \
+    }
+
+NLOHMANN_JSON_HAS_HELPER(mapped_type);
+NLOHMANN_JSON_HAS_HELPER(key_type);
+NLOHMANN_JSON_HAS_HELPER(value_type);
+NLOHMANN_JSON_HAS_HELPER(iterator);
+
+#undef NLOHMANN_JSON_HAS_HELPER
+
+
+template<bool B, class RealType, class CompatibleObjectType>
+struct is_compatible_object_type_impl : std::false_type {};
+
+template<class RealType, class CompatibleObjectType>
+struct is_compatible_object_type_impl<true, RealType, CompatibleObjectType>
+{
+    static constexpr auto value =
+        std::is_constructible<typename RealType::key_type,
+        typename CompatibleObjectType::key_type>::value and
+        std::is_constructible<typename RealType::mapped_type,
+        typename CompatibleObjectType::mapped_type>::value;
+};
+
+template<class BasicJsonType, class CompatibleObjectType>
+struct is_compatible_object_type
+{
+    static auto constexpr value = is_compatible_object_type_impl <
+                                  conjunction<negation<std::is_same<void, CompatibleObjectType>>,
+                                  has_mapped_type<CompatibleObjectType>,
+                                  has_key_type<CompatibleObjectType>>::value,
+                                  typename BasicJsonType::object_t, CompatibleObjectType >::value;
+};
+
+template<typename BasicJsonType, typename T>
+struct is_basic_json_nested_type
+{
+    static auto constexpr value = std::is_same<T, typename BasicJsonType::iterator>::value or
+                                  std::is_same<T, typename BasicJsonType::const_iterator>::value or
+                                  std::is_same<T, typename BasicJsonType::reverse_iterator>::value or
+                                  std::is_same<T, typename BasicJsonType::const_reverse_iterator>::value or
+                                  std::is_same<T, typename BasicJsonType::json_pointer>::value;
+};
+
+template<class BasicJsonType, class CompatibleArrayType>
+struct is_compatible_array_type
+{
+    static auto constexpr value =
+        conjunction<negation<std::is_same<void, CompatibleArrayType>>,
+        negation<is_compatible_object_type<
+        BasicJsonType, CompatibleArrayType>>,
+        negation<std::is_constructible<typename BasicJsonType::string_t,
+        CompatibleArrayType>>,
+        negation<is_basic_json_nested_type<BasicJsonType, CompatibleArrayType>>,
+        has_value_type<CompatibleArrayType>,
+        has_iterator<CompatibleArrayType>>::value;
+};
+
+template<bool, typename, typename>
+struct is_compatible_integer_type_impl : std::false_type {};
+
+template<typename RealIntegerType, typename CompatibleNumberIntegerType>
+struct is_compatible_integer_type_impl<true, RealIntegerType, CompatibleNumberIntegerType>
+{
+    // is there an assert somewhere on overflows?
+    using RealLimits = std::numeric_limits<RealIntegerType>;
+    using CompatibleLimits = std::numeric_limits<CompatibleNumberIntegerType>;
+
+    static constexpr auto value =
+        std::is_constructible<RealIntegerType,
+        CompatibleNumberIntegerType>::value and
+        CompatibleLimits::is_integer and
+        RealLimits::is_signed == CompatibleLimits::is_signed;
+};
+
+template<typename RealIntegerType, typename CompatibleNumberIntegerType>
+struct is_compatible_integer_type
+{
+    static constexpr auto value =
+        is_compatible_integer_type_impl <
+        std::is_integral<CompatibleNumberIntegerType>::value and
+        not std::is_same<bool, CompatibleNumberIntegerType>::value,
+        RealIntegerType, CompatibleNumberIntegerType > ::value;
+};
+
+
+// trait checking if JSONSerializer<T>::from_json(json const&, udt&) exists
+template<typename BasicJsonType, typename T>
+struct has_from_json
+{
+  private:
+    // also check the return type of from_json
+    template<typename U, typename = enable_if_t<std::is_same<void, decltype(uncvref_t<U>::from_json(
+                 std::declval<BasicJsonType>(), std::declval<T&>()))>::value>>
+    static int detect(U&&);
+    static void detect(...);
+
+  public:
+    static constexpr bool value = std::is_integral<decltype(
+                                      detect(std::declval<typename BasicJsonType::template json_serializer<T, void>>()))>::value;
+};
+
+// This trait checks if JSONSerializer<T>::from_json(json const&) exists
+// this overload is used for non-default-constructible user-defined-types
+template<typename BasicJsonType, typename T>
+struct has_non_default_from_json
+{
+  private:
+    template <
+        typename U,
+        typename = enable_if_t<std::is_same<
+                                   T, decltype(uncvref_t<U>::from_json(std::declval<BasicJsonType>()))>::value >>
+    static int detect(U&&);
+    static void detect(...);
+
+  public:
+    static constexpr bool value = std::is_integral<decltype(detect(
+                                      std::declval<typename BasicJsonType::template json_serializer<T, void>>()))>::value;
+};
+
+// This trait checks if BasicJsonType::json_serializer<T>::to_json exists
+template<typename BasicJsonType, typename T>
+struct has_to_json
+{
+  private:
+    template<typename U, typename = decltype(uncvref_t<U>::to_json(
+                 std::declval<BasicJsonType&>(), std::declval<T>()))>
+    static int detect(U&&);
+    static void detect(...);
+
+  public:
+    static constexpr bool value = std::is_integral<decltype(detect(
+                                      std::declval<typename BasicJsonType::template json_serializer<T, void>>()))>::value;
+};
+
+
+/////////////
+// to_json //
+/////////////
+
+template<typename BasicJsonType, typename T, enable_if_t<
+             std::is_same<T, typename BasicJsonType::boolean_t>::value, int> = 0>
+void to_json(BasicJsonType& j, T b) noexcept
+{
+    external_constructor<value_t::boolean>::construct(j, b);
+}
+
+template<typename BasicJsonType, typename CompatibleString,
+         enable_if_t<std::is_constructible<typename BasicJsonType::string_t,
+                     CompatibleString>::value, int> = 0>
+void to_json(BasicJsonType& j, const CompatibleString& s)
+{
+    external_constructor<value_t::string>::construct(j, s);
+}
+
+template<typename BasicJsonType, typename FloatType,
+         enable_if_t<std::is_floating_point<FloatType>::value, int> = 0>
+void to_json(BasicJsonType& j, FloatType val) noexcept
+{
+    external_constructor<value_t::number_float>::construct(j, static_cast<typename BasicJsonType::number_float_t>(val));
+}
+
+template <
+    typename BasicJsonType, typename CompatibleNumberUnsignedType,
+    enable_if_t<is_compatible_integer_type<typename BasicJsonType::number_unsigned_t,
+                CompatibleNumberUnsignedType>::value, int> = 0 >
+void to_json(BasicJsonType& j, CompatibleNumberUnsignedType val) noexcept
+{
+    external_constructor<value_t::number_unsigned>::construct(j, static_cast<typename BasicJsonType::number_unsigned_t>(val));
+}
+
+template <
+    typename BasicJsonType, typename CompatibleNumberIntegerType,
+    enable_if_t<is_compatible_integer_type<typename BasicJsonType::number_integer_t,
+                CompatibleNumberIntegerType>::value, int> = 0 >
+void to_json(BasicJsonType& j, CompatibleNumberIntegerType val) noexcept
+{
+    external_constructor<value_t::number_integer>::construct(j, static_cast<typename BasicJsonType::number_integer_t>(val));
+}
+
+template<typename BasicJsonType, typename EnumType,
+         enable_if_t<std::is_enum<EnumType>::value, int> = 0>
+void to_json(BasicJsonType& j, EnumType e) noexcept
+{
+    using underlying_type = typename std::underlying_type<EnumType>::type;
+    external_constructor<value_t::number_integer>::construct(j, static_cast<underlying_type>(e));
+}
+
+template<typename BasicJsonType>
+void to_json(BasicJsonType& j, const std::vector<bool>& e)
+{
+    external_constructor<value_t::array>::construct(j, e);
+}
+
+template <
+    typename BasicJsonType, typename CompatibleArrayType,
+    enable_if_t <
+        is_compatible_array_type<BasicJsonType, CompatibleArrayType>::value or
+        std::is_same<typename BasicJsonType::array_t, CompatibleArrayType>::value,
+        int > = 0 >
+void to_json(BasicJsonType& j, const  CompatibleArrayType& arr)
+{
+    external_constructor<value_t::array>::construct(j, arr);
+}
+
+template <
+    typename BasicJsonType, typename CompatibleObjectType,
+    enable_if_t<is_compatible_object_type<BasicJsonType, CompatibleObjectType>::value,
+                int> = 0 >
+void to_json(BasicJsonType& j, const  CompatibleObjectType& arr)
+{
+    external_constructor<value_t::object>::construct(j, arr);
+}
+
+template <typename BasicJsonType, typename T, std::size_t N,
+          enable_if_t<not std::is_constructible<
+                          typename BasicJsonType::string_t, T (&)[N]>::value,
+                      int> = 0>
+void to_json(BasicJsonType& j, T (&arr)[N])
+{
+    external_constructor<value_t::array>::construct(j, arr);
+}
+
+template <typename BasicJsonType, typename... Args>
+void to_json(BasicJsonType& j, const std::pair<Args...>& p)
+{
+    j = {p.first, p.second};
+}
+
+template <typename BasicJsonType, typename Tuple, std::size_t... Idx>
+void to_json_tuple_impl(BasicJsonType& j, const Tuple& t, index_sequence<Idx...>)
+{
+    j = {std::get<Idx>(t)...};
+}
+
+template <typename BasicJsonType, typename... Args>
+void to_json(BasicJsonType& j, const std::tuple<Args...>& t)
+{
+    to_json_tuple_impl(j, t, index_sequence_for<Args...> {});
+}
+
+///////////////
+// from_json //
+///////////////
+
+// overloads for basic_json template parameters
+template<typename BasicJsonType, typename ArithmeticType,
+         enable_if_t<std::is_arithmetic<ArithmeticType>::value and
+                     not std::is_same<ArithmeticType,
+                                      typename BasicJsonType::boolean_t>::value,
+                     int> = 0>
+void get_arithmetic_value(const BasicJsonType& j, ArithmeticType& val)
+{
+    switch (static_cast<value_t>(j))
+    {
+        case value_t::number_unsigned:
+        {
+            val = static_cast<ArithmeticType>(
+                      *j.template get_ptr<const typename BasicJsonType::number_unsigned_t*>());
+            break;
+        }
+        case value_t::number_integer:
+        {
+            val = static_cast<ArithmeticType>(
+                      *j.template get_ptr<const typename BasicJsonType::number_integer_t*>());
+            break;
+        }
+        case value_t::number_float:
+        {
+            val = static_cast<ArithmeticType>(
+                      *j.template get_ptr<const typename BasicJsonType::number_float_t*>());
+            break;
+        }
+        default:
+        {
+            JSON_THROW(type_error::create(302, "type must be number, but is " + j.type_name()));
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+template<typename BasicJsonType>
+void from_json(const BasicJsonType& j, typename BasicJsonType::boolean_t& b)
+{
+    if (not j.is_boolean())
+    {
+        JSON_THROW(type_error::create(302, "type must be boolean, but is " + j.type_name()));
+    }
+    b = *j.template get_ptr<const typename BasicJsonType::boolean_t*>();
+}
+
+template<typename BasicJsonType>
+void from_json(const BasicJsonType& j, typename BasicJsonType::string_t& s)
+{
+    if (not j.is_string())
+    {
+        JSON_THROW(type_error::create(302, "type must be string, but is " + j.type_name()));
+    }
+    s = *j.template get_ptr<const typename BasicJsonType::string_t*>();
+}
+
+template<typename BasicJsonType>
+void from_json(const BasicJsonType& j, typename BasicJsonType::number_float_t& val)
+{
+    get_arithmetic_value(j, val);
+}
+
+template<typename BasicJsonType>
+void from_json(const BasicJsonType& j, typename BasicJsonType::number_unsigned_t& val)
+{
+    get_arithmetic_value(j, val);
+}
+
+template<typename BasicJsonType>
+void from_json(const BasicJsonType& j, typename BasicJsonType::number_integer_t& val)
+{
+    get_arithmetic_value(j, val);
+}
+
+template<typename BasicJsonType, typename EnumType,
+         enable_if_t<std::is_enum<EnumType>::value, int> = 0>
+void from_json(const BasicJsonType& j, EnumType& e)
+{
+    typename std::underlying_type<EnumType>::type val;
+    get_arithmetic_value(j, val);
+    e = static_cast<EnumType>(val);
+}
+
+template<typename BasicJsonType>
+void from_json(const BasicJsonType& j, typename BasicJsonType::array_t& arr)
+{
+    if (not j.is_array())
+    {
+        JSON_THROW(type_error::create(302, "type must be array, but is " + j.type_name()));
+    }
+    arr = *j.template get_ptr<const typename BasicJsonType::array_t*>();
+}
+
+// forward_list doesn't have an insert method
+template<typename BasicJsonType, typename T, typename Allocator,
+         enable_if_t<std::is_convertible<BasicJsonType, T>::value, int> = 0>
+void from_json(const BasicJsonType& j, std::forward_list<T, Allocator>& l)
+{
+    if (not j.is_array())
+    {
+        JSON_THROW(type_error::create(302, "type must be array, but is " + j.type_name()));
+    }
+
+    for (auto it = j.rbegin(), end = j.rend(); it != end; ++it)
+    {
+        l.push_front(it->template get<T>());
+    }
+}
+
+template<typename BasicJsonType, typename CompatibleArrayType>
+void from_json_array_impl(const BasicJsonType& j, CompatibleArrayType& arr, priority_tag<0>)
+{
+    using std::begin;
+    using std::end;
+
+    std::transform(j.begin(), j.end(),
+                   std::inserter(arr, end(arr)), [](const BasicJsonType & i)
+    {
+        // get<BasicJsonType>() returns *this, this won't call a from_json
+        // method when value_type is BasicJsonType
+        return i.template get<typename CompatibleArrayType::value_type>();
+    });
+}
+
+template<typename BasicJsonType, typename CompatibleArrayType>
+auto from_json_array_impl(const BasicJsonType& j, CompatibleArrayType& arr, priority_tag<1>)
+-> decltype(
+    arr.reserve(std::declval<typename CompatibleArrayType::size_type>()),
+    void())
+{
+    using std::begin;
+    using std::end;
+
+    arr.reserve(j.size());
+    std::transform(j.begin(), j.end(),
+                   std::inserter(arr, end(arr)), [](const BasicJsonType & i)
+    {
+        // get<BasicJsonType>() returns *this, this won't call a from_json
+        // method when value_type is BasicJsonType
+        return i.template get<typename CompatibleArrayType::value_type>();
+    });
+}
+
+template <typename BasicJsonType, typename T, std::size_t N>
+void from_json_array_impl(const BasicJsonType& j, std::array<T, N>& arr, priority_tag<2>)
+{
+    for (std::size_t i = 0; i < N; ++i)
+    {
+        arr[i] = j.at(i).template get<T>();
+    }
+}
+
+template<typename BasicJsonType, typename CompatibleArrayType,
+         enable_if_t<is_compatible_array_type<BasicJsonType, CompatibleArrayType>::value and
+                     std::is_convertible<BasicJsonType, typename CompatibleArrayType::value_type>::value and
+                     not std::is_same<typename BasicJsonType::array_t, CompatibleArrayType>::value, int> = 0>
+void from_json(const BasicJsonType& j, CompatibleArrayType& arr)
+{
+    if (not j.is_array())
+    {
+        JSON_THROW(type_error::create(302, "type must be array, but is " + j.type_name()));
+    }
+
+    from_json_array_impl(j, arr, priority_tag<2> {});
+}
+
+template<typename BasicJsonType, typename CompatibleObjectType,
+         enable_if_t<is_compatible_object_type<BasicJsonType, CompatibleObjectType>::value, int> = 0>
+void from_json(const BasicJsonType& j, CompatibleObjectType& obj)
+{
+    if (not j.is_object())
+    {
+        JSON_THROW(type_error::create(302, "type must be object, but is " + j.type_name()));
+    }
+
+    auto inner_object = j.template get_ptr<const typename BasicJsonType::object_t*>();
+    using std::begin;
+    using std::end;
+    using value_type = typename CompatibleObjectType::value_type;
+    std::transform(
+        inner_object->begin(), inner_object->end(),
+        std::inserter(obj, obj.begin()),
+        [](typename BasicJsonType::object_t::value_type const & p)
+    {
+        return value_type(
+                   p.first,
+                   p.second
+                   .template get<typename CompatibleObjectType::mapped_type>());
+    });
+}
+
+// overload for arithmetic types, not chosen for basic_json template arguments
+// (BooleanType, etc..); note: Is it really necessary to provide explicit
+// overloads for boolean_t etc. in case of a custom BooleanType which is not
+// an arithmetic type?
+template<typename BasicJsonType, typename ArithmeticType,
+         enable_if_t <
+             std::is_arithmetic<ArithmeticType>::value and
+             not std::is_same<ArithmeticType, typename BasicJsonType::number_unsigned_t>::value and
+             not std::is_same<ArithmeticType, typename BasicJsonType::number_integer_t>::value and
+             not std::is_same<ArithmeticType, typename BasicJsonType::number_float_t>::value and
+             not std::is_same<ArithmeticType, typename BasicJsonType::boolean_t>::value,
+             int> = 0>
+void from_json(const BasicJsonType& j, ArithmeticType& val)
+{
+    switch (static_cast<value_t>(j))
+    {
+        case value_t::number_unsigned:
+        {
+            val = static_cast<ArithmeticType>(*j.template get_ptr<const typename BasicJsonType::number_unsigned_t*>());
+            break;
+        }
+        case value_t::number_integer:
+        {
+            val = static_cast<ArithmeticType>(*j.template get_ptr<const typename BasicJsonType::number_integer_t*>());
+            break;
+        }
+        case value_t::number_float:
+        {
+            val = static_cast<ArithmeticType>(*j.template get_ptr<const typename BasicJsonType::number_float_t*>());
+            break;
+        }
+        case value_t::boolean:
+        {
+            val = static_cast<ArithmeticType>(*j.template get_ptr<const typename BasicJsonType::boolean_t*>());
+            break;
+        }
+        default:
+        {
+            JSON_THROW(type_error::create(302, "type must be number, but is " + j.type_name()));
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+template <typename BasicJsonType, typename... Args>
+void from_json(const BasicJsonType& j, std::pair<Args...>& p)
+{
+    p = {j.at(0), j.at(1)};
+}
+
+template <typename BasicJsonType, typename Tuple, std::size_t... Idx>
+void from_json_tuple_impl(const BasicJsonType& j, Tuple& t, index_sequence<Idx...>)
+{
+    t = std::make_tuple(j.at(Idx)...);
+}
+
+template <typename BasicJsonType, typename... Args>
+void from_json(const BasicJsonType& j, std::tuple<Args...>& t)
+{
+    from_json_tuple_impl(j, t, index_sequence_for<Args...> {});
+}
+
+struct to_json_fn
+{
+  private:
+    template<typename BasicJsonType, typename T>
+    auto call(BasicJsonType& j, T&& val, priority_tag<1>) const noexcept(noexcept(to_json(j, std::forward<T>(val))))
+    -> decltype(to_json(j, std::forward<T>(val)), void())
+    {
+        return to_json(j, std::forward<T>(val));
+    }
+
+    template<typename BasicJsonType, typename T>
+    void call(BasicJsonType&, T&&, priority_tag<0>) const noexcept
+    {
+        static_assert(sizeof(BasicJsonType) == 0,
+                      "could not find to_json() method in T's namespace");
+    }
+
+  public:
+    template<typename BasicJsonType, typename T>
+    void operator()(BasicJsonType& j, T&& val) const
+    noexcept(noexcept(std::declval<to_json_fn>().call(j, std::forward<T>(val), priority_tag<1> {})))
+    {
+        return call(j, std::forward<T>(val), priority_tag<1> {});
+    }
+};
+
+struct from_json_fn
+{
+  private:
+    template<typename BasicJsonType, typename T>
+    auto call(const BasicJsonType& j, T& val, priority_tag<1>) const
+    noexcept(noexcept(from_json(j, val)))
+    -> decltype(from_json(j, val), void())
+    {
+        return from_json(j, val);
+    }
+
+    template<typename BasicJsonType, typename T>
+    void call(const BasicJsonType&, T&, priority_tag<0>) const noexcept
+    {
+        static_assert(sizeof(BasicJsonType) == 0,
+                      "could not find from_json() method in T's namespace");
+    }
+
+  public:
+    template<typename BasicJsonType, typename T>
+    void operator()(const BasicJsonType& j, T& val) const
+    noexcept(noexcept(std::declval<from_json_fn>().call(j, val, priority_tag<1> {})))
+    {
+        return call(j, val, priority_tag<1> {});
+    }
+};
+
+// taken from ranges-v3
+template<typename T>
+struct static_const
+{
+    static constexpr T value{};
+};
+
+template<typename T>
+constexpr T static_const<T>::value;
+} // namespace detail
+
+
+/// namespace to hold default `to_json` / `from_json` functions
+namespace
+{
+constexpr const auto& to_json = detail::static_const<detail::to_json_fn>::value;
+constexpr const auto& from_json = detail::static_const<detail::from_json_fn>::value;
+}
+
+
+/*!
+@brief default JSONSerializer template argument
+
+This serializer ignores the template arguments and uses ADL
+([argument-dependent lookup](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/language/adl))
+for serialization.
+*/
+template<typename = void, typename = void>
+struct adl_serializer
+{
+    /*!
+    @brief convert a JSON value to any value type
+
+    This function is usually called by the `get()` function of the
+    @ref basic_json class (either explicit or via conversion operators).
+
+    @param[in] j         JSON value to read from
+    @param[in,out] val  value to write to
+    */
+    template<typename BasicJsonType, typename ValueType>
+    static void from_json(BasicJsonType&& j, ValueType& val) noexcept(
+        noexcept(::nlohmann::from_json(std::forward<BasicJsonType>(j), val)))
+    {
+        ::nlohmann::from_json(std::forward<BasicJsonType>(j), val);
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief convert any value type to a JSON value
+
+    This function is usually called by the constructors of the @ref basic_json
+    class.
+
+    @param[in,out] j  JSON value to write to
+    @param[in] val     value to read from
+    */
+    template<typename BasicJsonType, typename ValueType>
+    static void to_json(BasicJsonType& j, ValueType&& val) noexcept(
+        noexcept(::nlohmann::to_json(j, std::forward<ValueType>(val))))
+    {
+        ::nlohmann::to_json(j, std::forward<ValueType>(val));
+    }
+};
+
+
+/*!
+@brief a class to store JSON values
+
+@tparam ObjectType type for JSON objects (`std::map` by default; will be used
+in @ref object_t)
+@tparam ArrayType type for JSON arrays (`std::vector` by default; will be used
+in @ref array_t)
+@tparam StringType type for JSON strings and object keys (`std::string` by
+default; will be used in @ref string_t)
+@tparam BooleanType type for JSON booleans (`bool` by default; will be used
+in @ref boolean_t)
+@tparam NumberIntegerType type for JSON integer numbers (`int64_t` by
+default; will be used in @ref number_integer_t)
+@tparam NumberUnsignedType type for JSON unsigned integer numbers (@c
+`uint64_t` by default; will be used in @ref number_unsigned_t)
+@tparam NumberFloatType type for JSON floating-point numbers (`double` by
+default; will be used in @ref number_float_t)
+@tparam AllocatorType type of the allocator to use (`std::allocator` by
+default)
+@tparam JSONSerializer the serializer to resolve internal calls to `to_json()`
+and `from_json()` (@ref adl_serializer by default)
+
+@requirement The class satisfies the following concept requirements:
+- Basic
+ - [DefaultConstructible](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/concept/DefaultConstructible):
+   JSON values can be default constructed. The result will be a JSON null
+   value.
+ - [MoveConstructible](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/concept/MoveConstructible):
+   A JSON value can be constructed from an rvalue argument.
+ - [CopyConstructible](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/concept/CopyConstructible):
+   A JSON value can be copy-constructed from an lvalue expression.
+ - [MoveAssignable](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/concept/MoveAssignable):
+   A JSON value van be assigned from an rvalue argument.
+ - [CopyAssignable](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/concept/CopyAssignable):
+   A JSON value can be copy-assigned from an lvalue expression.
+ - [Destructible](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/concept/Destructible):
+   JSON values can be destructed.
+- Layout
+ - [StandardLayoutType](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/concept/StandardLayoutType):
+   JSON values have
+   [standard layout](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/language/data_members#Standard_layout):
+   All non-static data members are private and standard layout types, the
+   class has no virtual functions or (virtual) base classes.
+- Library-wide
+ - [EqualityComparable](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/concept/EqualityComparable):
+   JSON values can be compared with `==`, see @ref
+   operator==(const_reference,const_reference).
+ - [LessThanComparable](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/concept/LessThanComparable):
+   JSON values can be compared with `<`, see @ref
+   operator<(const_reference,const_reference).
+ - [Swappable](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/concept/Swappable):
+   Any JSON lvalue or rvalue of can be swapped with any lvalue or rvalue of
+   other compatible types, using unqualified function call @ref swap().
+ - [NullablePointer](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/concept/NullablePointer):
+   JSON values can be compared against `std::nullptr_t` objects which are used
+   to model the `null` value.
+- Container
+ - [Container](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/concept/Container):
+   JSON values can be used like STL containers and provide iterator access.
+ - [ReversibleContainer](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/concept/ReversibleContainer);
+   JSON values can be used like STL containers and provide reverse iterator
+   access.
+
+@invariant The member variables @a m_value and @a m_type have the following
+relationship:
+- If `m_type == value_t::object`, then `m_value.object != nullptr`.
+- If `m_type == value_t::array`, then `m_value.array != nullptr`.
+- If `m_type == value_t::string`, then `m_value.string != nullptr`.
+The invariants are checked by member function assert_invariant().
+
+@internal
+@note ObjectType trick from http://stackoverflow.com/a/9860911
+@endinternal
+
+@see [RFC 7159: The JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) Data Interchange
+Format](http://rfc7159.net/rfc7159)
+
+@since version 1.0.0
+
+@nosubgrouping
+*/
+template <
+    template<typename U, typename V, typename... Args> class ObjectType = std::map,
+    template<typename U, typename... Args> class ArrayType = std::vector,
+    class StringType = std::string,
+    class BooleanType = bool,
+    class NumberIntegerType = std::int64_t,
+    class NumberUnsignedType = std::uint64_t,
+    class NumberFloatType = double,
+    template<typename U> class AllocatorType = std::allocator,
+    template<typename T, typename SFINAE = void> class JSONSerializer = adl_serializer
+    >
+class basic_json
+{
+  private:
+    template<detail::value_t> friend struct detail::external_constructor;
+    /// workaround type for MSVC
+    using basic_json_t = basic_json<ObjectType, ArrayType, StringType,
+          BooleanType, NumberIntegerType, NumberUnsignedType, NumberFloatType,
+          AllocatorType, JSONSerializer>;
+
+  public:
+    using value_t = detail::value_t;
+    // forward declarations
+    template<typename U> class iter_impl;
+    template<typename Base> class json_reverse_iterator;
+    class json_pointer;
+    template<typename T, typename SFINAE>
+    using json_serializer = JSONSerializer<T, SFINAE>;
+
+
+    ////////////////
+    // exceptions //
+    ////////////////
+
+    /// @name exceptions
+    /// Classes to implement user-defined exceptions.
+    /// @{
+
+    /// @copydoc detail::exception
+    using exception = detail::exception;
+    /// @copydoc detail::parse_error
+    using parse_error = detail::parse_error;
+    /// @copydoc detail::invalid_iterator
+    using invalid_iterator = detail::invalid_iterator;
+    /// @copydoc detail::type_error
+    using type_error = detail::type_error;
+    /// @copydoc detail::out_of_range
+    using out_of_range = detail::out_of_range;
+    /// @copydoc detail::other_error
+    using other_error = detail::other_error;
+
+    /// @}
+
+
+    /////////////////////
+    // container types //
+    /////////////////////
+
+    /// @name container types
+    /// The canonic container types to use @ref basic_json like any other STL
+    /// container.
+    /// @{
+
+    /// the type of elements in a basic_json container
+    using value_type = basic_json;
+
+    /// the type of an element reference
+    using reference = value_type&;
+    /// the type of an element const reference
+    using const_reference = const value_type&;
+
+    /// a type to represent differences between iterators
+    using difference_type = std::ptrdiff_t;
+    /// a type to represent container sizes
+    using size_type = std::size_t;
+
+    /// the allocator type
+    using allocator_type = AllocatorType<basic_json>;
+
+    /// the type of an element pointer
+    using pointer = typename std::allocator_traits<allocator_type>::pointer;
+    /// the type of an element const pointer
+    using const_pointer = typename std::allocator_traits<allocator_type>::const_pointer;
+
+    /// an iterator for a basic_json container
+    using iterator = iter_impl<basic_json>;
+    /// a const iterator for a basic_json container
+    using const_iterator = iter_impl<const basic_json>;
+    /// a reverse iterator for a basic_json container
+    using reverse_iterator = json_reverse_iterator<typename basic_json::iterator>;
+    /// a const reverse iterator for a basic_json container
+    using const_reverse_iterator = json_reverse_iterator<typename basic_json::const_iterator>;
+
+    /// @}
+
+
+    /*!
+    @brief returns the allocator associated with the container
+    */
+    static allocator_type get_allocator()
+    {
+        return allocator_type();
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief returns version information on the library
+
+    This function returns a JSON object with information about the library,
+    including the version number and information on the platform and compiler.
+
+    @return JSON object holding version information
+    key         | description
+    ----------- | ---------------
+    `compiler`  | Information on the used compiler. It is an object with the following keys: `c++` (the used C++ standard), `family` (the compiler family; possible values are `clang`, `icc`, `gcc`, `ilecpp`, `msvc`, `pgcpp`, `sunpro`, and `unknown`), and `version` (the compiler version).
+    `copyright` | The copyright line for the library as string.
+    `name`      | The name of the library as string.
+    `platform`  | The used platform as string. Possible values are `win32`, `linux`, `apple`, `unix`, and `unknown`.
+    `url`       | The URL of the project as string.
+    `version`   | The version of the library. It is an object with the following keys: `major`, `minor`, and `patch` as defined by [Semantic Versioning](http://semver.org), and `string` (the version string).
+
+    @liveexample{The following code shows an example output of the `meta()`
+    function.,meta}
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @since 2.1.0
+    */
+    static basic_json meta()
+    {
+        basic_json result;
+
+        result["copyright"] = "(C) 2013-2017 Niels Lohmann";
+        result["name"] = "JSON for Modern C++";
+        result["url"] = "https://github.com/nlohmann/json";
+        result["version"] =
+        {
+            {"string", "2.1.1"}, {"major", 2}, {"minor", 1}, {"patch", 1}
+        };
+
+#ifdef _WIN32
+        result["platform"] = "win32";
+#elif defined __linux__
+        result["platform"] = "linux";
+#elif defined __APPLE__
+        result["platform"] = "apple";
+#elif defined __unix__
+        result["platform"] = "unix";
+#else
+        result["platform"] = "unknown";
+#endif
+
+#if defined(__clang__)
+        result["compiler"] = {{"family", "clang"}, {"version", __clang_version__}};
+#elif defined(__ICC) || defined(__INTEL_COMPILER)
+        result["compiler"] = {{"family", "icc"}, {"version", __INTEL_COMPILER}};
+#elif defined(__GNUC__) || defined(__GNUG__)
+        result["compiler"] = {{"family", "gcc"}, {"version", std::to_string(__GNUC__) + "." + std::to_string(__GNUC_MINOR__) + "." + std::to_string(__GNUC_PATCHLEVEL__)}};
+#elif defined(__HP_cc) || defined(__HP_aCC)
+        result["compiler"] = "hp"
+#elif defined(__IBMCPP__)
+        result["compiler"] = {{"family", "ilecpp"}, {"version", __IBMCPP__}};
+#elif defined(_MSC_VER)
+        result["compiler"] = {{"family", "msvc"}, {"version", _MSC_VER}};
+#elif defined(__PGI)
+        result["compiler"] = {{"family", "pgcpp"}, {"version", __PGI}};
+#elif defined(__SUNPRO_CC)
+        result["compiler"] = {{"family", "sunpro"}, {"version", __SUNPRO_CC}};
+#else
+        result["compiler"] = {{"family", "unknown"}, {"version", "unknown"}};
+#endif
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+        result["compiler"]["c++"] = std::to_string(__cplusplus);
+#else
+        result["compiler"]["c++"] = "unknown";
+#endif
+        return result;
+    }
+
+
+    ///////////////////////////
+    // JSON value data types //
+    ///////////////////////////
+
+    /// @name JSON value data types
+    /// The data types to store a JSON value. These types are derived from
+    /// the template arguments passed to class @ref basic_json.
+    /// @{
+
+    /*!
+    @brief a type for an object
+
+    [RFC 7159](http://rfc7159.net/rfc7159) describes JSON objects as follows:
+    > An object is an unordered collection of zero or more name/value pairs,
+    > where a name is a string and a value is a string, number, boolean, null,
+    > object, or array.
+
+    To store objects in C++, a type is defined by the template parameters
+    described below.
+
+    @tparam ObjectType  the container to store objects (e.g., `std::map` or
+    `std::unordered_map`)
+    @tparam StringType the type of the keys or names (e.g., `std::string`).
+    The comparison function `std::less<StringType>` is used to order elements
+    inside the container.
+    @tparam AllocatorType the allocator to use for objects (e.g.,
+    `std::allocator`)
+
+    #### Default type
+
+    With the default values for @a ObjectType (`std::map`), @a StringType
+    (`std::string`), and @a AllocatorType (`std::allocator`), the default
+    value for @a object_t is:
+
+    @code {.cpp}
+    std::map<
+      std::string, // key_type
+      basic_json, // value_type
+      std::less<std::string>, // key_compare
+      std::allocator<std::pair<const std::string, basic_json>> // allocator_type
+    >
+    @endcode
+
+    #### Behavior
+
+    The choice of @a object_t influences the behavior of the JSON class. With
+    the default type, objects have the following behavior:
+
+    - When all names are unique, objects will be interoperable in the sense
+      that all software implementations receiving that object will agree on
+      the name-value mappings.
+    - When the names within an object are not unique, later stored name/value
+      pairs overwrite previously stored name/value pairs, leaving the used
+      names unique. For instance, `{"key": 1}` and `{"key": 2, "key": 1}` will
+      be treated as equal and both stored as `{"key": 1}`.
+    - Internally, name/value pairs are stored in lexicographical order of the
+      names. Objects will also be serialized (see @ref dump) in this order.
+      For instance, `{"b": 1, "a": 2}` and `{"a": 2, "b": 1}` will be stored
+      and serialized as `{"a": 2, "b": 1}`.
+    - When comparing objects, the order of the name/value pairs is irrelevant.
+      This makes objects interoperable in the sense that they will not be
+      affected by these differences. For instance, `{"b": 1, "a": 2}` and
+      `{"a": 2, "b": 1}` will be treated as equal.
+
+    #### Limits
+
+    [RFC 7159](http://rfc7159.net/rfc7159) specifies:
+    > An implementation may set limits on the maximum depth of nesting.
+
+    In this class, the object's limit of nesting is not constraint explicitly.
+    However, a maximum depth of nesting may be introduced by the compiler or
+    runtime environment. A theoretical limit can be queried by calling the
+    @ref max_size function of a JSON object.
+
+    #### Storage
+
+    Objects are stored as pointers in a @ref basic_json type. That is, for any
+    access to object values, a pointer of type `object_t*` must be
+    dereferenced.
+
+    @sa @ref array_t -- type for an array value
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+
+    @note The order name/value pairs are added to the object is *not*
+    preserved by the library. Therefore, iterating an object may return
+    name/value pairs in a different order than they were originally stored. In
+    fact, keys will be traversed in alphabetical order as `std::map` with
+    `std::less` is used by default. Please note this behavior conforms to [RFC
+    7159](http://rfc7159.net/rfc7159), because any order implements the
+    specified "unordered" nature of JSON objects.
+    */
+    using object_t = ObjectType<StringType,
+          basic_json,
+          std::less<StringType>,
+          AllocatorType<std::pair<const StringType,
+          basic_json>>>;
+
+    /*!
+    @brief a type for an array
+
+    [RFC 7159](http://rfc7159.net/rfc7159) describes JSON arrays as follows:
+    > An array is an ordered sequence of zero or more values.
+
+    To store objects in C++, a type is defined by the template parameters
+    explained below.
+
+    @tparam ArrayType  container type to store arrays (e.g., `std::vector` or
+    `std::list`)
+    @tparam AllocatorType allocator to use for arrays (e.g., `std::allocator`)
+
+    #### Default type
+
+    With the default values for @a ArrayType (`std::vector`) and @a
+    AllocatorType (`std::allocator`), the default value for @a array_t is:
+
+    @code {.cpp}
+    std::vector<
+      basic_json, // value_type
+      std::allocator<basic_json> // allocator_type
+    >
+    @endcode
+
+    #### Limits
+
+    [RFC 7159](http://rfc7159.net/rfc7159) specifies:
+    > An implementation may set limits on the maximum depth of nesting.
+
+    In this class, the array's limit of nesting is not constraint explicitly.
+    However, a maximum depth of nesting may be introduced by the compiler or
+    runtime environment. A theoretical limit can be queried by calling the
+    @ref max_size function of a JSON array.
+
+    #### Storage
+
+    Arrays are stored as pointers in a @ref basic_json type. That is, for any
+    access to array values, a pointer of type `array_t*` must be dereferenced.
+
+    @sa @ref object_t -- type for an object value
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    using array_t = ArrayType<basic_json, AllocatorType<basic_json>>;
+
+    /*!
+    @brief a type for a string
+
+    [RFC 7159](http://rfc7159.net/rfc7159) describes JSON strings as follows:
+    > A string is a sequence of zero or more Unicode characters.
+
+    To store objects in C++, a type is defined by the template parameter
+    described below. Unicode values are split by the JSON class into
+    byte-sized characters during deserialization.
+
+    @tparam StringType  the container to store strings (e.g., `std::string`).
+    Note this container is used for keys/names in objects, see @ref object_t.
+
+    #### Default type
+
+    With the default values for @a StringType (`std::string`), the default
+    value for @a string_t is:
+
+    @code {.cpp}
+    std::string
+    @endcode
+
+    #### Encoding
+
+    Strings are stored in UTF-8 encoding. Therefore, functions like
+    `std::string::size()` or `std::string::length()` return the number of
+    bytes in the string rather than the number of characters or glyphs.
+
+    #### String comparison
+
+    [RFC 7159](http://rfc7159.net/rfc7159) states:
+    > Software implementations are typically required to test names of object
+    > members for equality. Implementations that transform the textual
+    > representation into sequences of Unicode code units and then perform the
+    > comparison numerically, code unit by code unit, are interoperable in the
+    > sense that implementations will agree in all cases on equality or
+    > inequality of two strings. For example, implementations that compare
+    > strings with escaped characters unconverted may incorrectly find that
+    > `"a\\b"` and `"a\u005Cb"` are not equal.
+
+    This implementation is interoperable as it does compare strings code unit
+    by code unit.
+
+    #### Storage
+
+    String values are stored as pointers in a @ref basic_json type. That is,
+    for any access to string values, a pointer of type `string_t*` must be
+    dereferenced.
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    using string_t = StringType;
+
+    /*!
+    @brief a type for a boolean
+
+    [RFC 7159](http://rfc7159.net/rfc7159) implicitly describes a boolean as a
+    type which differentiates the two literals `true` and `false`.
+
+    To store objects in C++, a type is defined by the template parameter @a
+    BooleanType which chooses the type to use.
+
+    #### Default type
+
+    With the default values for @a BooleanType (`bool`), the default value for
+    @a boolean_t is:
+
+    @code {.cpp}
+    bool
+    @endcode
+
+    #### Storage
+
+    Boolean values are stored directly inside a @ref basic_json type.
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    using boolean_t = BooleanType;
+
+    /*!
+    @brief a type for a number (integer)
+
+    [RFC 7159](http://rfc7159.net/rfc7159) describes numbers as follows:
+    > The representation of numbers is similar to that used in most
+    > programming languages. A number is represented in base 10 using decimal
+    > digits. It contains an integer component that may be prefixed with an
+    > optional minus sign, which may be followed by a fraction part and/or an
+    > exponent part. Leading zeros are not allowed. (...) Numeric values that
+    > cannot be represented in the grammar below (such as Infinity and NaN)
+    > are not permitted.
+
+    This description includes both integer and floating-point numbers.
+    However, C++ allows more precise storage if it is known whether the number
+    is a signed integer, an unsigned integer or a floating-point number.
+    Therefore, three different types, @ref number_integer_t, @ref
+    number_unsigned_t and @ref number_float_t are used.
+
+    To store integer numbers in C++, a type is defined by the template
+    parameter @a NumberIntegerType which chooses the type to use.
+
+    #### Default type
+
+    With the default values for @a NumberIntegerType (`int64_t`), the default
+    value for @a number_integer_t is:
+
+    @code {.cpp}
+    int64_t
+    @endcode
+
+    #### Default behavior
+
+    - The restrictions about leading zeros is not enforced in C++. Instead,
+      leading zeros in integer literals lead to an interpretation as octal
+      number. Internally, the value will be stored as decimal number. For
+      instance, the C++ integer literal `010` will be serialized to `8`.
+      During deserialization, leading zeros yield an error.
+    - Not-a-number (NaN) values will be serialized to `null`.
+
+    #### Limits
+
+    [RFC 7159](http://rfc7159.net/rfc7159) specifies:
+    > An implementation may set limits on the range and precision of numbers.
+
+    When the default type is used, the maximal integer number that can be
+    stored is `9223372036854775807` (INT64_MAX) and the minimal integer number
+    that can be stored is `-9223372036854775808` (INT64_MIN). Integer numbers
+    that are out of range will yield over/underflow when used in a
+    constructor. During deserialization, too large or small integer numbers
+    will be automatically be stored as @ref number_unsigned_t or @ref
+    number_float_t.
+
+    [RFC 7159](http://rfc7159.net/rfc7159) further states:
+    > Note that when such software is used, numbers that are integers and are
+    > in the range \f$[-2^{53}+1, 2^{53}-1]\f$ are interoperable in the sense
+    > that implementations will agree exactly on their numeric values.
+
+    As this range is a subrange of the exactly supported range [INT64_MIN,
+    INT64_MAX], this class's integer type is interoperable.
+
+    #### Storage
+
+    Integer number values are stored directly inside a @ref basic_json type.
+
+    @sa @ref number_float_t -- type for number values (floating-point)
+
+    @sa @ref number_unsigned_t -- type for number values (unsigned integer)
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    using number_integer_t = NumberIntegerType;
+
+    /*!
+    @brief a type for a number (unsigned)
+
+    [RFC 7159](http://rfc7159.net/rfc7159) describes numbers as follows:
+    > The representation of numbers is similar to that used in most
+    > programming languages. A number is represented in base 10 using decimal
+    > digits. It contains an integer component that may be prefixed with an
+    > optional minus sign, which may be followed by a fraction part and/or an
+    > exponent part. Leading zeros are not allowed. (...) Numeric values that
+    > cannot be represented in the grammar below (such as Infinity and NaN)
+    > are not permitted.
+
+    This description includes both integer and floating-point numbers.
+    However, C++ allows more precise storage if it is known whether the number
+    is a signed integer, an unsigned integer or a floating-point number.
+    Therefore, three different types, @ref number_integer_t, @ref
+    number_unsigned_t and @ref number_float_t are used.
+
+    To store unsigned integer numbers in C++, a type is defined by the
+    template parameter @a NumberUnsignedType which chooses the type to use.
+
+    #### Default type
+
+    With the default values for @a NumberUnsignedType (`uint64_t`), the
+    default value for @a number_unsigned_t is:
+
+    @code {.cpp}
+    uint64_t
+    @endcode
+
+    #### Default behavior
+
+    - The restrictions about leading zeros is not enforced in C++. Instead,
+      leading zeros in integer literals lead to an interpretation as octal
+      number. Internally, the value will be stored as decimal number. For
+      instance, the C++ integer literal `010` will be serialized to `8`.
+      During deserialization, leading zeros yield an error.
+    - Not-a-number (NaN) values will be serialized to `null`.
+
+    #### Limits
+
+    [RFC 7159](http://rfc7159.net/rfc7159) specifies:
+    > An implementation may set limits on the range and precision of numbers.
+
+    When the default type is used, the maximal integer number that can be
+    stored is `18446744073709551615` (UINT64_MAX) and the minimal integer
+    number that can be stored is `0`. Integer numbers that are out of range
+    will yield over/underflow when used in a constructor. During
+    deserialization, too large or small integer numbers will be automatically
+    be stored as @ref number_integer_t or @ref number_float_t.
+
+    [RFC 7159](http://rfc7159.net/rfc7159) further states:
+    > Note that when such software is used, numbers that are integers and are
+    > in the range \f$[-2^{53}+1, 2^{53}-1]\f$ are interoperable in the sense
+    > that implementations will agree exactly on their numeric values.
+
+    As this range is a subrange (when considered in conjunction with the
+    number_integer_t type) of the exactly supported range [0, UINT64_MAX],
+    this class's integer type is interoperable.
+
+    #### Storage
+
+    Integer number values are stored directly inside a @ref basic_json type.
+
+    @sa @ref number_float_t -- type for number values (floating-point)
+    @sa @ref number_integer_t -- type for number values (integer)
+
+    @since version 2.0.0
+    */
+    using number_unsigned_t = NumberUnsignedType;
+
+    /*!
+    @brief a type for a number (floating-point)
+
+    [RFC 7159](http://rfc7159.net/rfc7159) describes numbers as follows:
+    > The representation of numbers is similar to that used in most
+    > programming languages. A number is represented in base 10 using decimal
+    > digits. It contains an integer component that may be prefixed with an
+    > optional minus sign, which may be followed by a fraction part and/or an
+    > exponent part. Leading zeros are not allowed. (...) Numeric values that
+    > cannot be represented in the grammar below (such as Infinity and NaN)
+    > are not permitted.
+
+    This description includes both integer and floating-point numbers.
+    However, C++ allows more precise storage if it is known whether the number
+    is a signed integer, an unsigned integer or a floating-point number.
+    Therefore, three different types, @ref number_integer_t, @ref
+    number_unsigned_t and @ref number_float_t are used.
+
+    To store floating-point numbers in C++, a type is defined by the template
+    parameter @a NumberFloatType which chooses the type to use.
+
+    #### Default type
+
+    With the default values for @a NumberFloatType (`double`), the default
+    value for @a number_float_t is:
+
+    @code {.cpp}
+    double
+    @endcode
+
+    #### Default behavior
+
+    - The restrictions about leading zeros is not enforced in C++. Instead,
+      leading zeros in floating-point literals will be ignored. Internally,
+      the value will be stored as decimal number. For instance, the C++
+      floating-point literal `01.2` will be serialized to `1.2`. During
+      deserialization, leading zeros yield an error.
+    - Not-a-number (NaN) values will be serialized to `null`.
+
+    #### Limits
+
+    [RFC 7159](http://rfc7159.net/rfc7159) states:
+    > This specification allows implementations to set limits on the range and
+    > precision of numbers accepted. Since software that implements IEEE
+    > 754-2008 binary64 (double precision) numbers is generally available and
+    > widely used, good interoperability can be achieved by implementations
+    > that expect no more precision or range than these provide, in the sense
+    > that implementations will approximate JSON numbers within the expected
+    > precision.
+
+    This implementation does exactly follow this approach, as it uses double
+    precision floating-point numbers. Note values smaller than
+    `-1.79769313486232e+308` and values greater than `1.79769313486232e+308`
+    will be stored as NaN internally and be serialized to `null`.
+
+    #### Storage
+
+    Floating-point number values are stored directly inside a @ref basic_json
+    type.
+
+    @sa @ref number_integer_t -- type for number values (integer)
+
+    @sa @ref number_unsigned_t -- type for number values (unsigned integer)
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    using number_float_t = NumberFloatType;
+
+    /// @}
+
+  private:
+
+    /// helper for exception-safe object creation
+    template<typename T, typename... Args>
+    static T* create(Args&& ... args)
+    {
+        AllocatorType<T> alloc;
+        auto deleter = [&](T * object)
+        {
+            alloc.deallocate(object, 1);
+        };
+        std::unique_ptr<T, decltype(deleter)> object(alloc.allocate(1), deleter);
+        alloc.construct(object.get(), std::forward<Args>(args)...);
+        assert(object != nullptr);
+        return object.release();
+    }
+
+    ////////////////////////
+    // JSON value storage //
+    ////////////////////////
+
+    /*!
+    @brief a JSON value
+
+    The actual storage for a JSON value of the @ref basic_json class. This
+    union combines the different storage types for the JSON value types
+    defined in @ref value_t.
+
+    JSON type | value_t type    | used type
+    --------- | --------------- | ------------------------
+    object    | object          | pointer to @ref object_t
+    array     | array           | pointer to @ref array_t
+    string    | string          | pointer to @ref string_t
+    boolean   | boolean         | @ref boolean_t
+    number    | number_integer  | @ref number_integer_t
+    number    | number_unsigned | @ref number_unsigned_t
+    number    | number_float    | @ref number_float_t
+    null      | null            | *no value is stored*
+
+    @note Variable-length types (objects, arrays, and strings) are stored as
+    pointers. The size of the union should not exceed 64 bits if the default
+    value types are used.
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    union json_value
+    {
+        /// object (stored with pointer to save storage)
+        object_t* object;
+        /// array (stored with pointer to save storage)
+        array_t* array;
+        /// string (stored with pointer to save storage)
+        string_t* string;
+        /// boolean
+        boolean_t boolean;
+        /// number (integer)
+        number_integer_t number_integer;
+        /// number (unsigned integer)
+        number_unsigned_t number_unsigned;
+        /// number (floating-point)
+        number_float_t number_float;
+
+        /// default constructor (for null values)
+        json_value() = default;
+        /// constructor for booleans
+        json_value(boolean_t v) noexcept : boolean(v) {}
+        /// constructor for numbers (integer)
+        json_value(number_integer_t v) noexcept : number_integer(v) {}
+        /// constructor for numbers (unsigned)
+        json_value(number_unsigned_t v) noexcept : number_unsigned(v) {}
+        /// constructor for numbers (floating-point)
+        json_value(number_float_t v) noexcept : number_float(v) {}
+        /// constructor for empty values of a given type
+        json_value(value_t t)
+        {
+            switch (t)
+            {
+                case value_t::object:
+                {
+                    object = create<object_t>();
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case value_t::array:
+                {
+                    array = create<array_t>();
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case value_t::string:
+                {
+                    string = create<string_t>("");
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case value_t::boolean:
+                {
+                    boolean = boolean_t(false);
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case value_t::number_integer:
+                {
+                    number_integer = number_integer_t(0);
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case value_t::number_unsigned:
+                {
+                    number_unsigned = number_unsigned_t(0);
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case value_t::number_float:
+                {
+                    number_float = number_float_t(0.0);
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case value_t::null:
+                {
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                default:
+                {
+                    if (JSON_UNLIKELY(t == value_t::null))
+                    {
+                        JSON_THROW(other_error::create(500, "961c151d2e87f2686a955a9be24d316f1362bf21 2.1.1")); // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+                    }
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        /// constructor for strings
+        json_value(const string_t& value)
+        {
+            string = create<string_t>(value);
+        }
+
+        /// constructor for objects
+        json_value(const object_t& value)
+        {
+            object = create<object_t>(value);
+        }
+
+        /// constructor for arrays
+        json_value(const array_t& value)
+        {
+            array = create<array_t>(value);
+        }
+    };
+
+    /*!
+    @brief checks the class invariants
+
+    This function asserts the class invariants. It needs to be called at the
+    end of every constructor to make sure that created objects respect the
+    invariant. Furthermore, it has to be called each time the type of a JSON
+    value is changed, because the invariant expresses a relationship between
+    @a m_type and @a m_value.
+    */
+    void assert_invariant() const
+    {
+        assert(m_type != value_t::object or m_value.object != nullptr);
+        assert(m_type != value_t::array or m_value.array != nullptr);
+        assert(m_type != value_t::string or m_value.string != nullptr);
+    }
+
+  public:
+    //////////////////////////
+    // JSON parser callback //
+    //////////////////////////
+
+    /*!
+    @brief JSON callback events
+
+    This enumeration lists the parser events that can trigger calling a
+    callback function of type @ref parser_callback_t during parsing.
+
+    @image html callback_events.png "Example when certain parse events are triggered"
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    enum class parse_event_t : uint8_t
+    {
+        /// the parser read `{` and started to process a JSON object
+        object_start,
+        /// the parser read `}` and finished processing a JSON object
+        object_end,
+        /// the parser read `[` and started to process a JSON array
+        array_start,
+        /// the parser read `]` and finished processing a JSON array
+        array_end,
+        /// the parser read a key of a value in an object
+        key,
+        /// the parser finished reading a JSON value
+        value
+    };
+
+    /*!
+    @brief per-element parser callback type
+
+    With a parser callback function, the result of parsing a JSON text can be
+    influenced. When passed to @ref parse(std::istream&, const
+    parser_callback_t) or @ref parse(const CharT, const parser_callback_t),
+    it is called on certain events (passed as @ref parse_event_t via parameter
+    @a event) with a set recursion depth @a depth and context JSON value
+    @a parsed. The return value of the callback function is a boolean
+    indicating whether the element that emitted the callback shall be kept or
+    not.
+
+    We distinguish six scenarios (determined by the event type) in which the
+    callback function can be called. The following table describes the values
+    of the parameters @a depth, @a event, and @a parsed.
+
+    parameter @a event | description | parameter @a depth | parameter @a parsed
+    ------------------ | ----------- | ------------------ | -------------------
+    parse_event_t::object_start | the parser read `{` and started to process a JSON object | depth of the parent of the JSON object | a JSON value with type discarded
+    parse_event_t::key | the parser read a key of a value in an object | depth of the currently parsed JSON object | a JSON string containing the key
+    parse_event_t::object_end | the parser read `}` and finished processing a JSON object | depth of the parent of the JSON object | the parsed JSON object
+    parse_event_t::array_start | the parser read `[` and started to process a JSON array | depth of the parent of the JSON array | a JSON value with type discarded
+    parse_event_t::array_end | the parser read `]` and finished processing a JSON array | depth of the parent of the JSON array | the parsed JSON array
+    parse_event_t::value | the parser finished reading a JSON value | depth of the value | the parsed JSON value
+
+    @image html callback_events.png "Example when certain parse events are triggered"
+
+    Discarding a value (i.e., returning `false`) has different effects
+    depending on the context in which function was called:
+
+    - Discarded values in structured types are skipped. That is, the parser
+      will behave as if the discarded value was never read.
+    - In case a value outside a structured type is skipped, it is replaced
+      with `null`. This case happens if the top-level element is skipped.
+
+    @param[in] depth  the depth of the recursion during parsing
+
+    @param[in] event  an event of type parse_event_t indicating the context in
+    the callback function has been called
+
+    @param[in,out] parsed  the current intermediate parse result; note that
+    writing to this value has no effect for parse_event_t::key events
+
+    @return Whether the JSON value which called the function during parsing
+    should be kept (`true`) or not (`false`). In the latter case, it is either
+    skipped completely or replaced by an empty discarded object.
+
+    @sa @ref parse(std::istream&, parser_callback_t) or
+    @ref parse(const CharT, const parser_callback_t) for examples
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    using parser_callback_t = std::function<bool(int depth,
+                              parse_event_t event,
+                              basic_json& parsed)>;
+
+
+    //////////////////
+    // constructors //
+    //////////////////
+
+    /// @name constructors and destructors
+    /// Constructors of class @ref basic_json, copy/move constructor, copy
+    /// assignment, static functions creating objects, and the destructor.
+    /// @{
+
+    /*!
+    @brief create an empty value with a given type
+
+    Create an empty JSON value with a given type. The value will be default
+    initialized with an empty value which depends on the type:
+
+    Value type  | initial value
+    ----------- | -------------
+    null        | `null`
+    boolean     | `false`
+    string      | `""`
+    number      | `0`
+    object      | `{}`
+    array       | `[]`
+
+    @param[in] v  the type of the value to create
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code shows the constructor for different @ref
+    value_t values,basic_json__value_t}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    basic_json(const value_t v)
+        : m_type(v), m_value(v)
+    {
+        assert_invariant();
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief create a null object
+
+    Create a `null` JSON value. It either takes a null pointer as parameter
+    (explicitly creating `null`) or no parameter (implicitly creating `null`).
+    The passed null pointer itself is not read -- it is only used to choose
+    the right constructor.
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @exceptionsafety No-throw guarantee: this constructor never throws
+    exceptions.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code shows the constructor with and without a
+    null pointer parameter.,basic_json__nullptr_t}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    basic_json(std::nullptr_t = nullptr) noexcept
+        : basic_json(value_t::null)
+    {
+        assert_invariant();
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief create a JSON value
+
+    This is a "catch all" constructor for all compatible JSON types; that is,
+    types for which a `to_json()` method exsits. The constructor forwards the
+    parameter @a val to that method (to `json_serializer<U>::to_json` method
+    with `U = uncvref_t<CompatibleType>`, to be exact).
+
+    Template type @a CompatibleType includes, but is not limited to, the
+    following types:
+    - **arrays**: @ref array_t and all kinds of compatible containers such as
+      `std::vector`, `std::deque`, `std::list`, `std::forward_list`,
+      `std::array`, `std::set`, `std::unordered_set`, `std::multiset`, and
+      `unordered_multiset` with a `value_type` from which a @ref basic_json
+      value can be constructed.
+    - **objects**: @ref object_t and all kinds of compatible associative
+      containers such as `std::map`, `std::unordered_map`, `std::multimap`,
+      and `std::unordered_multimap` with a `key_type` compatible to
+      @ref string_t and a `value_type` from which a @ref basic_json value can
+      be constructed.
+    - **strings**: @ref string_t, string literals, and all compatible string
+      containers can be used.
+    - **numbers**: @ref number_integer_t, @ref number_unsigned_t,
+      @ref number_float_t, and all convertible number types such as `int`,
+      `size_t`, `int64_t`, `float` or `double` can be used.
+    - **boolean**: @ref boolean_t / `bool` can be used.
+
+    See the examples below.
+
+    @tparam CompatibleType a type such that:
+    - @a CompatibleType is not derived from `std::istream`,
+    - @a CompatibleType is not @ref basic_json (to avoid hijacking copy/move
+         constructors),
+    - @a CompatibleType is not a @ref basic_json nested type (e.g.,
+         @ref json_pointer, @ref iterator, etc ...)
+    - @ref @ref json_serializer<U> has a
+         `to_json(basic_json_t&, CompatibleType&&)` method
+
+    @tparam U = `uncvref_t<CompatibleType>`
+
+    @param[in] val the value to be forwarded
+
+    @complexity Usually linear in the size of the passed @a val, also
+                depending on the implementation of the called `to_json()`
+                method.
+
+    @throw what `json_serializer<U>::to_json()` throws
+
+    @liveexample{The following code shows the constructor with several
+    compatible types.,basic_json__CompatibleType}
+
+    @since version 2.1.0
+    */
+    template<typename CompatibleType, typename U = detail::uncvref_t<CompatibleType>,
+             detail::enable_if_t<not std::is_base_of<std::istream, U>::value and
+                                 not std::is_same<U, basic_json_t>::value and
+                                 not detail::is_basic_json_nested_type<
+                                     basic_json_t, U>::value and
+                                 detail::has_to_json<basic_json, U>::value,
+                                 int> = 0>
+    basic_json(CompatibleType && val) noexcept(noexcept(JSONSerializer<U>::to_json(
+                std::declval<basic_json_t&>(), std::forward<CompatibleType>(val))))
+    {
+        JSONSerializer<U>::to_json(*this, std::forward<CompatibleType>(val));
+        assert_invariant();
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief create a container (array or object) from an initializer list
+
+    Creates a JSON value of type array or object from the passed initializer
+    list @a init. In case @a type_deduction is `true` (default), the type of
+    the JSON value to be created is deducted from the initializer list @a init
+    according to the following rules:
+
+    1. If the list is empty, an empty JSON object value `{}` is created.
+    2. If the list consists of pairs whose first element is a string, a JSON
+       object value is created where the first elements of the pairs are
+       treated as keys and the second elements are as values.
+    3. In all other cases, an array is created.
+
+    The rules aim to create the best fit between a C++ initializer list and
+    JSON values. The rationale is as follows:
+
+    1. The empty initializer list is written as `{}` which is exactly an empty
+       JSON object.
+    2. C++ has now way of describing mapped types other than to list a list of
+       pairs. As JSON requires that keys must be of type string, rule 2 is the
+       weakest constraint one can pose on initializer lists to interpret them
+       as an object.
+    3. In all other cases, the initializer list could not be interpreted as
+       JSON object type, so interpreting it as JSON array type is safe.
+
+    With the rules described above, the following JSON values cannot be
+    expressed by an initializer list:
+
+    - the empty array (`[]`): use @ref array(std::initializer_list<basic_json>)
+      with an empty initializer list in this case
+    - arrays whose elements satisfy rule 2: use @ref
+      array(std::initializer_list<basic_json>) with the same initializer list
+      in this case
+
+    @note When used without parentheses around an empty initializer list, @ref
+    basic_json() is called instead of this function, yielding the JSON null
+    value.
+
+    @param[in] init  initializer list with JSON values
+
+    @param[in] type_deduction internal parameter; when set to `true`, the type
+    of the JSON value is deducted from the initializer list @a init; when set
+    to `false`, the type provided via @a manual_type is forced. This mode is
+    used by the functions @ref array(std::initializer_list<basic_json>) and
+    @ref object(std::initializer_list<basic_json>).
+
+    @param[in] manual_type internal parameter; when @a type_deduction is set
+    to `false`, the created JSON value will use the provided type (only @ref
+    value_t::array and @ref value_t::object are valid); when @a type_deduction
+    is set to `true`, this parameter has no effect
+
+    @throw type_error.301 if @a type_deduction is `false`, @a manual_type is
+    `value_t::object`, but @a init contains an element which is not a pair
+    whose first element is a string. In this case, the constructor could not
+    create an object. If @a type_deduction would have be `true`, an array
+    would have been created. See @ref object(std::initializer_list<basic_json>)
+    for an example.
+
+    @complexity Linear in the size of the initializer list @a init.
+
+    @liveexample{The example below shows how JSON values are created from
+    initializer lists.,basic_json__list_init_t}
+
+    @sa @ref array(std::initializer_list<basic_json>) -- create a JSON array
+    value from an initializer list
+    @sa @ref object(std::initializer_list<basic_json>) -- create a JSON object
+    value from an initializer list
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    basic_json(std::initializer_list<basic_json> init,
+               bool type_deduction = true,
+               value_t manual_type = value_t::array)
+    {
+        // check if each element is an array with two elements whose first
+        // element is a string
+        bool is_an_object = std::all_of(init.begin(), init.end(),
+                                        [](const basic_json & element)
+        {
+            return element.is_array() and element.size() == 2 and element[0].is_string();
+        });
+
+        // adjust type if type deduction is not wanted
+        if (not type_deduction)
+        {
+            // if array is wanted, do not create an object though possible
+            if (manual_type == value_t::array)
+            {
+                is_an_object = false;
+            }
+
+            // if object is wanted but impossible, throw an exception
+            if (manual_type == value_t::object and not is_an_object)
+            {
+                JSON_THROW(type_error::create(301, "cannot create object from initializer list"));
+            }
+        }
+
+        if (is_an_object)
+        {
+            // the initializer list is a list of pairs -> create object
+            m_type = value_t::object;
+            m_value = value_t::object;
+
+            std::for_each(init.begin(), init.end(), [this](const basic_json & element)
+            {
+                m_value.object->emplace(*(element[0].m_value.string), element[1]);
+            });
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            // the initializer list describes an array -> create array
+            m_type = value_t::array;
+            m_value.array = create<array_t>(init);
+        }
+
+        assert_invariant();
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief explicitly create an array from an initializer list
+
+    Creates a JSON array value from a given initializer list. That is, given a
+    list of values `a, b, c`, creates the JSON value `[a, b, c]`. If the
+    initializer list is empty, the empty array `[]` is created.
+
+    @note This function is only needed to express two edge cases that cannot
+    be realized with the initializer list constructor (@ref
+    basic_json(std::initializer_list<basic_json>, bool, value_t)). These cases
+    are:
+    1. creating an array whose elements are all pairs whose first element is a
+    string -- in this case, the initializer list constructor would create an
+    object, taking the first elements as keys
+    2. creating an empty array -- passing the empty initializer list to the
+    initializer list constructor yields an empty object
+
+    @param[in] init  initializer list with JSON values to create an array from
+    (optional)
+
+    @return JSON array value
+
+    @complexity Linear in the size of @a init.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code shows an example for the `array`
+    function.,array}
+
+    @sa @ref basic_json(std::initializer_list<basic_json>, bool, value_t) --
+    create a JSON value from an initializer list
+    @sa @ref object(std::initializer_list<basic_json>) -- create a JSON object
+    value from an initializer list
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    static basic_json array(std::initializer_list<basic_json> init =
+                                std::initializer_list<basic_json>())
+    {
+        return basic_json(init, false, value_t::array);
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief explicitly create an object from an initializer list
+
+    Creates a JSON object value from a given initializer list. The initializer
+    lists elements must be pairs, and their first elements must be strings. If
+    the initializer list is empty, the empty object `{}` is created.
+
+    @note This function is only added for symmetry reasons. In contrast to the
+    related function @ref array(std::initializer_list<basic_json>), there are
+    no cases which can only be expressed by this function. That is, any
+    initializer list @a init can also be passed to the initializer list
+    constructor @ref basic_json(std::initializer_list<basic_json>, bool, value_t).
+
+    @param[in] init  initializer list to create an object from (optional)
+
+    @return JSON object value
+
+    @throw type_error.301 if @a init is not a list of pairs whose first
+    elements are strings. In this case, no object can be created. When such a
+    value is passed to @ref basic_json(std::initializer_list<basic_json>, bool, value_t),
+    an array would have been created from the passed initializer list @a init.
+    See example below.
+
+    @complexity Linear in the size of @a init.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code shows an example for the `object`
+    function.,object}
+
+    @sa @ref basic_json(std::initializer_list<basic_json>, bool, value_t) --
+    create a JSON value from an initializer list
+    @sa @ref array(std::initializer_list<basic_json>) -- create a JSON array
+    value from an initializer list
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    static basic_json object(std::initializer_list<basic_json> init =
+                                 std::initializer_list<basic_json>())
+    {
+        return basic_json(init, false, value_t::object);
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief construct an array with count copies of given value
+
+    Constructs a JSON array value by creating @a cnt copies of a passed value.
+    In case @a cnt is `0`, an empty array is created. As postcondition,
+    `std::distance(begin(),end()) == cnt` holds.
+
+    @param[in] cnt  the number of JSON copies of @a val to create
+    @param[in] val  the JSON value to copy
+
+    @complexity Linear in @a cnt.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code shows examples for the @ref
+    basic_json(size_type\, const basic_json&)
+    constructor.,basic_json__size_type_basic_json}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    basic_json(size_type cnt, const basic_json& val)
+        : m_type(value_t::array)
+    {
+        m_value.array = create<array_t>(cnt, val);
+        assert_invariant();
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief construct a JSON container given an iterator range
+
+    Constructs the JSON value with the contents of the range `[first, last)`.
+    The semantics depends on the different types a JSON value can have:
+    - In case of primitive types (number, boolean, or string), @a first must
+      be `begin()` and @a last must be `end()`. In this case, the value is
+      copied. Otherwise, invalid_iterator.204 is thrown.
+    - In case of structured types (array, object), the constructor behaves as
+      similar versions for `std::vector`.
+    - In case of a null type, invalid_iterator.206 is thrown.
+
+    @tparam InputIT an input iterator type (@ref iterator or @ref
+    const_iterator)
+
+    @param[in] first begin of the range to copy from (included)
+    @param[in] last end of the range to copy from (excluded)
+
+    @pre Iterators @a first and @a last must be initialized. **This
+         precondition is enforced with an assertion.**
+
+    @pre Range `[first, last)` is valid. Usually, this precondition cannot be
+         checked efficiently. Only certain edge cases are detected; see the
+         description of the exceptions below.
+
+    @throw invalid_iterator.201 if iterators @a first and @a last are not
+    compatible (i.e., do not belong to the same JSON value). In this case,
+    the range `[first, last)` is undefined.
+    @throw invalid_iterator.204 if iterators @a first and @a last belong to a
+    primitive type (number, boolean, or string), but @a first does not point
+    to the first element any more. In this case, the range `[first, last)` is
+    undefined. See example code below.
+    @throw invalid_iterator.206 if iterators @a first and @a last belong to a
+    null value. In this case, the range `[first, last)` is undefined.
+
+    @complexity Linear in distance between @a first and @a last.
+
+    @liveexample{The example below shows several ways to create JSON values by
+    specifying a subrange with iterators.,basic_json__InputIt_InputIt}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    template<class InputIT, typename std::enable_if<
+                 std::is_same<InputIT, typename basic_json_t::iterator>::value or
+                 std::is_same<InputIT, typename basic_json_t::const_iterator>::value, int>::type = 0>
+    basic_json(InputIT first, InputIT last)
+    {
+        assert(first.m_object != nullptr);
+        assert(last.m_object != nullptr);
+
+        // make sure iterator fits the current value
+        if (first.m_object != last.m_object)
+        {
+            JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(201, "iterators are not compatible"));
+        }
+
+        // copy type from first iterator
+        m_type = first.m_object->m_type;
+
+        // check if iterator range is complete for primitive values
+        switch (m_type)
+        {
+            case value_t::boolean:
+            case value_t::number_float:
+            case value_t::number_integer:
+            case value_t::number_unsigned:
+            case value_t::string:
+            {
+                if (not first.m_it.primitive_iterator.is_begin() or not last.m_it.primitive_iterator.is_end())
+                {
+                    JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(204, "iterators out of range"));
+                }
+                break;
+            }
+
+            default:
+            {
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+
+        switch (m_type)
+        {
+            case value_t::number_integer:
+            {
+                m_value.number_integer = first.m_object->m_value.number_integer;
+                break;
+            }
+
+            case value_t::number_unsigned:
+            {
+                m_value.number_unsigned = first.m_object->m_value.number_unsigned;
+                break;
+            }
+
+            case value_t::number_float:
+            {
+                m_value.number_float = first.m_object->m_value.number_float;
+                break;
+            }
+
+            case value_t::boolean:
+            {
+                m_value.boolean = first.m_object->m_value.boolean;
+                break;
+            }
+
+            case value_t::string:
+            {
+                m_value = *first.m_object->m_value.string;
+                break;
+            }
+
+            case value_t::object:
+            {
+                m_value.object = create<object_t>(first.m_it.object_iterator,
+                                                  last.m_it.object_iterator);
+                break;
+            }
+
+            case value_t::array:
+            {
+                m_value.array = create<array_t>(first.m_it.array_iterator,
+                                                last.m_it.array_iterator);
+                break;
+            }
+
+            default:
+            {
+                JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(206, "cannot construct with iterators from " +
+                                                    first.m_object->type_name()));
+            }
+        }
+
+        assert_invariant();
+    }
+
+
+    ///////////////////////////////////////
+    // other constructors and destructor //
+    ///////////////////////////////////////
+
+    /*!
+    @brief copy constructor
+
+    Creates a copy of a given JSON value.
+
+    @param[in] other  the JSON value to copy
+
+    @complexity Linear in the size of @a other.
+
+    @requirement This function helps `basic_json` satisfying the
+    [Container](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/concept/Container)
+    requirements:
+    - The complexity is linear.
+    - As postcondition, it holds: `other == basic_json(other)`.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code shows an example for the copy
+    constructor.,basic_json__basic_json}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    basic_json(const basic_json& other)
+        : m_type(other.m_type)
+    {
+        // check of passed value is valid
+        other.assert_invariant();
+
+        switch (m_type)
+        {
+            case value_t::object:
+            {
+                m_value = *other.m_value.object;
+                break;
+            }
+
+            case value_t::array:
+            {
+                m_value = *other.m_value.array;
+                break;
+            }
+
+            case value_t::string:
+            {
+                m_value = *other.m_value.string;
+                break;
+            }
+
+            case value_t::boolean:
+            {
+                m_value = other.m_value.boolean;
+                break;
+            }
+
+            case value_t::number_integer:
+            {
+                m_value = other.m_value.number_integer;
+                break;
+            }
+
+            case value_t::number_unsigned:
+            {
+                m_value = other.m_value.number_unsigned;
+                break;
+            }
+
+            case value_t::number_float:
+            {
+                m_value = other.m_value.number_float;
+                break;
+            }
+
+            default:
+            {
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+
+        assert_invariant();
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief move constructor
+
+    Move constructor. Constructs a JSON value with the contents of the given
+    value @a other using move semantics. It "steals" the resources from @a
+    other and leaves it as JSON null value.
+
+    @param[in,out] other  value to move to this object
+
+    @post @a other is a JSON null value
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @liveexample{The code below shows the move constructor explicitly called
+    via std::move.,basic_json__moveconstructor}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    basic_json(basic_json&& other) noexcept
+        : m_type(std::move(other.m_type)),
+          m_value(std::move(other.m_value))
+    {
+        // check that passed value is valid
+        other.assert_invariant();
+
+        // invalidate payload
+        other.m_type = value_t::null;
+        other.m_value = {};
+
+        assert_invariant();
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief copy assignment
+
+    Copy assignment operator. Copies a JSON value via the "copy and swap"
+    strategy: It is expressed in terms of the copy constructor, destructor,
+    and the swap() member function.
+
+    @param[in] other  value to copy from
+
+    @complexity Linear.
+
+    @requirement This function helps `basic_json` satisfying the
+    [Container](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/concept/Container)
+    requirements:
+    - The complexity is linear.
+
+    @liveexample{The code below shows and example for the copy assignment. It
+    creates a copy of value `a` which is then swapped with `b`. Finally\, the
+    copy of `a` (which is the null value after the swap) is
+    destroyed.,basic_json__copyassignment}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    reference& operator=(basic_json other) noexcept (
+        std::is_nothrow_move_constructible<value_t>::value and
+        std::is_nothrow_move_assignable<value_t>::value and
+        std::is_nothrow_move_constructible<json_value>::value and
+        std::is_nothrow_move_assignable<json_value>::value
+    )
+    {
+        // check that passed value is valid
+        other.assert_invariant();
+
+        using std::swap;
+        swap(m_type, other.m_type);
+        swap(m_value, other.m_value);
+
+        assert_invariant();
+        return *this;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief destructor
+
+    Destroys the JSON value and frees all allocated memory.
+
+    @complexity Linear.
+
+    @requirement This function helps `basic_json` satisfying the
+    [Container](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/concept/Container)
+    requirements:
+    - The complexity is linear.
+    - All stored elements are destroyed and all memory is freed.
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    ~basic_json()
+    {
+        assert_invariant();
+
+        switch (m_type)
+        {
+            case value_t::object:
+            {
+                AllocatorType<object_t> alloc;
+                alloc.destroy(m_value.object);
+                alloc.deallocate(m_value.object, 1);
+                break;
+            }
+
+            case value_t::array:
+            {
+                AllocatorType<array_t> alloc;
+                alloc.destroy(m_value.array);
+                alloc.deallocate(m_value.array, 1);
+                break;
+            }
+
+            case value_t::string:
+            {
+                AllocatorType<string_t> alloc;
+                alloc.destroy(m_value.string);
+                alloc.deallocate(m_value.string, 1);
+                break;
+            }
+
+            default:
+            {
+                // all other types need no specific destructor
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// @}
+
+  public:
+    ///////////////////////
+    // object inspection //
+    ///////////////////////
+
+    /// @name object inspection
+    /// Functions to inspect the type of a JSON value.
+    /// @{
+
+    /*!
+    @brief serialization
+
+    Serialization function for JSON values. The function tries to mimic
+    Python's `json.dumps()` function, and currently supports its @a indent
+    parameter.
+
+    @param[in] indent If indent is nonnegative, then array elements and object
+    members will be pretty-printed with that indent level. An indent level of
+    `0` will only insert newlines. `-1` (the default) selects the most compact
+    representation.
+    @param[in] indent_char The character to use for indentation if @a indent is
+    greater than `0`. The default is ` ` (space).
+
+    @return string containing the serialization of the JSON value
+
+    @complexity Linear.
+
+    @liveexample{The following example shows the effect of different @a indent
+    parameters to the result of the serialization.,dump}
+
+    @see https://docs.python.org/2/library/json.html#json.dump
+
+    @since version 1.0.0; indentation character added in version 3.0.0
+    */
+    string_t dump(const int indent = -1, const char indent_char = ' ') const
+    {
+        string_t result;
+        serializer s(output_adapter<char>::create(result), indent_char);
+
+        if (indent >= 0)
+        {
+            s.dump(*this, true, static_cast<unsigned int>(indent));
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            s.dump(*this, false, 0);
+        }
+
+        return result;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief return the type of the JSON value (explicit)
+
+    Return the type of the JSON value as a value from the @ref value_t
+    enumeration.
+
+    @return the type of the JSON value
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @exceptionsafety No-throw guarantee: this member function never throws
+    exceptions.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code exemplifies `type()` for all JSON
+    types.,type}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    constexpr value_t type() const noexcept
+    {
+        return m_type;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief return whether type is primitive
+
+    This function returns true iff the JSON type is primitive (string, number,
+    boolean, or null).
+
+    @return `true` if type is primitive (string, number, boolean, or null),
+    `false` otherwise.
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @exceptionsafety No-throw guarantee: this member function never throws
+    exceptions.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code exemplifies `is_primitive()` for all JSON
+    types.,is_primitive}
+
+    @sa @ref is_structured() -- returns whether JSON value is structured
+    @sa @ref is_null() -- returns whether JSON value is `null`
+    @sa @ref is_string() -- returns whether JSON value is a string
+    @sa @ref is_boolean() -- returns whether JSON value is a boolean
+    @sa @ref is_number() -- returns whether JSON value is a number
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    constexpr bool is_primitive() const noexcept
+    {
+        return is_null() or is_string() or is_boolean() or is_number();
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief return whether type is structured
+
+    This function returns true iff the JSON type is structured (array or
+    object).
+
+    @return `true` if type is structured (array or object), `false` otherwise.
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @exceptionsafety No-throw guarantee: this member function never throws
+    exceptions.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code exemplifies `is_structured()` for all JSON
+    types.,is_structured}
+
+    @sa @ref is_primitive() -- returns whether value is primitive
+    @sa @ref is_array() -- returns whether value is an array
+    @sa @ref is_object() -- returns whether value is an object
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    constexpr bool is_structured() const noexcept
+    {
+        return is_array() or is_object();
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief return whether value is null
+
+    This function returns true iff the JSON value is null.
+
+    @return `true` if type is null, `false` otherwise.
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @exceptionsafety No-throw guarantee: this member function never throws
+    exceptions.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code exemplifies `is_null()` for all JSON
+    types.,is_null}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    constexpr bool is_null() const noexcept
+    {
+        return m_type == value_t::null;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief return whether value is a boolean
+
+    This function returns true iff the JSON value is a boolean.
+
+    @return `true` if type is boolean, `false` otherwise.
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @exceptionsafety No-throw guarantee: this member function never throws
+    exceptions.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code exemplifies `is_boolean()` for all JSON
+    types.,is_boolean}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    constexpr bool is_boolean() const noexcept
+    {
+        return m_type == value_t::boolean;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief return whether value is a number
+
+    This function returns true iff the JSON value is a number. This includes
+    both integer and floating-point values.
+
+    @return `true` if type is number (regardless whether integer, unsigned
+    integer or floating-type), `false` otherwise.
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @exceptionsafety No-throw guarantee: this member function never throws
+    exceptions.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code exemplifies `is_number()` for all JSON
+    types.,is_number}
+
+    @sa @ref is_number_integer() -- check if value is an integer or unsigned
+    integer number
+    @sa @ref is_number_unsigned() -- check if value is an unsigned integer
+    number
+    @sa @ref is_number_float() -- check if value is a floating-point number
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    constexpr bool is_number() const noexcept
+    {
+        return is_number_integer() or is_number_float();
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief return whether value is an integer number
+
+    This function returns true iff the JSON value is an integer or unsigned
+    integer number. This excludes floating-point values.
+
+    @return `true` if type is an integer or unsigned integer number, `false`
+    otherwise.
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @exceptionsafety No-throw guarantee: this member function never throws
+    exceptions.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code exemplifies `is_number_integer()` for all
+    JSON types.,is_number_integer}
+
+    @sa @ref is_number() -- check if value is a number
+    @sa @ref is_number_unsigned() -- check if value is an unsigned integer
+    number
+    @sa @ref is_number_float() -- check if value is a floating-point number
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    constexpr bool is_number_integer() const noexcept
+    {
+        return m_type == value_t::number_integer or m_type == value_t::number_unsigned;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief return whether value is an unsigned integer number
+
+    This function returns true iff the JSON value is an unsigned integer
+    number. This excludes floating-point and (signed) integer values.
+
+    @return `true` if type is an unsigned integer number, `false` otherwise.
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @exceptionsafety No-throw guarantee: this member function never throws
+    exceptions.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code exemplifies `is_number_unsigned()` for all
+    JSON types.,is_number_unsigned}
+
+    @sa @ref is_number() -- check if value is a number
+    @sa @ref is_number_integer() -- check if value is an integer or unsigned
+    integer number
+    @sa @ref is_number_float() -- check if value is a floating-point number
+
+    @since version 2.0.0
+    */
+    constexpr bool is_number_unsigned() const noexcept
+    {
+        return m_type == value_t::number_unsigned;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief return whether value is a floating-point number
+
+    This function returns true iff the JSON value is a floating-point number.
+    This excludes integer and unsigned integer values.
+
+    @return `true` if type is a floating-point number, `false` otherwise.
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @exceptionsafety No-throw guarantee: this member function never throws
+    exceptions.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code exemplifies `is_number_float()` for all
+    JSON types.,is_number_float}
+
+    @sa @ref is_number() -- check if value is number
+    @sa @ref is_number_integer() -- check if value is an integer number
+    @sa @ref is_number_unsigned() -- check if value is an unsigned integer
+    number
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    constexpr bool is_number_float() const noexcept
+    {
+        return m_type == value_t::number_float;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief return whether value is an object
+
+    This function returns true iff the JSON value is an object.
+
+    @return `true` if type is object, `false` otherwise.
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @exceptionsafety No-throw guarantee: this member function never throws
+    exceptions.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code exemplifies `is_object()` for all JSON
+    types.,is_object}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    constexpr bool is_object() const noexcept
+    {
+        return m_type == value_t::object;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief return whether value is an array
+
+    This function returns true iff the JSON value is an array.
+
+    @return `true` if type is array, `false` otherwise.
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @exceptionsafety No-throw guarantee: this member function never throws
+    exceptions.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code exemplifies `is_array()` for all JSON
+    types.,is_array}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    constexpr bool is_array() const noexcept
+    {
+        return m_type == value_t::array;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief return whether value is a string
+
+    This function returns true iff the JSON value is a string.
+
+    @return `true` if type is string, `false` otherwise.
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @exceptionsafety No-throw guarantee: this member function never throws
+    exceptions.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code exemplifies `is_string()` for all JSON
+    types.,is_string}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    constexpr bool is_string() const noexcept
+    {
+        return m_type == value_t::string;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief return whether value is discarded
+
+    This function returns true iff the JSON value was discarded during parsing
+    with a callback function (see @ref parser_callback_t).
+
+    @note This function will always be `false` for JSON values after parsing.
+    That is, discarded values can only occur during parsing, but will be
+    removed when inside a structured value or replaced by null in other cases.
+
+    @return `true` if type is discarded, `false` otherwise.
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @exceptionsafety No-throw guarantee: this member function never throws
+    exceptions.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code exemplifies `is_discarded()` for all JSON
+    types.,is_discarded}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    constexpr bool is_discarded() const noexcept
+    {
+        return m_type == value_t::discarded;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief return the type of the JSON value (implicit)
+
+    Implicitly return the type of the JSON value as a value from the @ref
+    value_t enumeration.
+
+    @return the type of the JSON value
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @exceptionsafety No-throw guarantee: this member function never throws
+    exceptions.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code exemplifies the @ref value_t operator for
+    all JSON types.,operator__value_t}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    constexpr operator value_t() const noexcept
+    {
+        return m_type;
+    }
+
+    /// @}
+
+  private:
+    //////////////////
+    // value access //
+    //////////////////
+
+    /// get a boolean (explicit)
+    boolean_t get_impl(boolean_t* /*unused*/) const
+    {
+        if (is_boolean())
+        {
+            return m_value.boolean;
+        }
+
+        JSON_THROW(type_error::create(302, "type must be boolean, but is " + type_name()));
+    }
+
+    /// get a pointer to the value (object)
+    object_t* get_impl_ptr(object_t* /*unused*/) noexcept
+    {
+        return is_object() ? m_value.object : nullptr;
+    }
+
+    /// get a pointer to the value (object)
+    constexpr const object_t* get_impl_ptr(const object_t* /*unused*/) const noexcept
+    {
+        return is_object() ? m_value.object : nullptr;
+    }
+
+    /// get a pointer to the value (array)
+    array_t* get_impl_ptr(array_t* /*unused*/) noexcept
+    {
+        return is_array() ? m_value.array : nullptr;
+    }
+
+    /// get a pointer to the value (array)
+    constexpr const array_t* get_impl_ptr(const array_t* /*unused*/) const noexcept
+    {
+        return is_array() ? m_value.array : nullptr;
+    }
+
+    /// get a pointer to the value (string)
+    string_t* get_impl_ptr(string_t* /*unused*/) noexcept
+    {
+        return is_string() ? m_value.string : nullptr;
+    }
+
+    /// get a pointer to the value (string)
+    constexpr const string_t* get_impl_ptr(const string_t* /*unused*/) const noexcept
+    {
+        return is_string() ? m_value.string : nullptr;
+    }
+
+    /// get a pointer to the value (boolean)
+    boolean_t* get_impl_ptr(boolean_t* /*unused*/) noexcept
+    {
+        return is_boolean() ? &m_value.boolean : nullptr;
+    }
+
+    /// get a pointer to the value (boolean)
+    constexpr const boolean_t* get_impl_ptr(const boolean_t* /*unused*/) const noexcept
+    {
+        return is_boolean() ? &m_value.boolean : nullptr;
+    }
+
+    /// get a pointer to the value (integer number)
+    number_integer_t* get_impl_ptr(number_integer_t* /*unused*/) noexcept
+    {
+        return is_number_integer() ? &m_value.number_integer : nullptr;
+    }
+
+    /// get a pointer to the value (integer number)
+    constexpr const number_integer_t* get_impl_ptr(const number_integer_t* /*unused*/) const noexcept
+    {
+        return is_number_integer() ? &m_value.number_integer : nullptr;
+    }
+
+    /// get a pointer to the value (unsigned number)
+    number_unsigned_t* get_impl_ptr(number_unsigned_t* /*unused*/) noexcept
+    {
+        return is_number_unsigned() ? &m_value.number_unsigned : nullptr;
+    }
+
+    /// get a pointer to the value (unsigned number)
+    constexpr const number_unsigned_t* get_impl_ptr(const number_unsigned_t* /*unused*/) const noexcept
+    {
+        return is_number_unsigned() ? &m_value.number_unsigned : nullptr;
+    }
+
+    /// get a pointer to the value (floating-point number)
+    number_float_t* get_impl_ptr(number_float_t* /*unused*/) noexcept
+    {
+        return is_number_float() ? &m_value.number_float : nullptr;
+    }
+
+    /// get a pointer to the value (floating-point number)
+    constexpr const number_float_t* get_impl_ptr(const number_float_t* /*unused*/) const noexcept
+    {
+        return is_number_float() ? &m_value.number_float : nullptr;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief helper function to implement get_ref()
+
+    This function helps to implement get_ref() without code duplication for
+    const and non-const overloads
+
+    @tparam ThisType will be deduced as `basic_json` or `const basic_json`
+
+    @throw type_error.303 if ReferenceType does not match underlying value
+    type of the current JSON
+    */
+    template<typename ReferenceType, typename ThisType>
+    static ReferenceType get_ref_impl(ThisType& obj)
+    {
+        // helper type
+        using PointerType = typename std::add_pointer<ReferenceType>::type;
+
+        // delegate the call to get_ptr<>()
+        auto ptr = obj.template get_ptr<PointerType>();
+
+        if (ptr != nullptr)
+        {
+            return *ptr;
+        }
+
+        JSON_THROW(type_error::create(303, "incompatible ReferenceType for get_ref, actual type is " + obj.type_name()));
+    }
+
+  public:
+    /// @name value access
+    /// Direct access to the stored value of a JSON value.
+    /// @{
+
+    /*!
+    @brief get special-case overload
+
+    This overloads avoids a lot of template boilerplate, it can be seen as the
+    identity method
+
+    @tparam BasicJsonType == @ref basic_json
+
+    @return a copy of *this
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @since version 2.1.0
+    */
+    template <
+        typename BasicJsonType,
+        detail::enable_if_t<std::is_same<typename std::remove_const<BasicJsonType>::type,
+                                         basic_json_t>::value,
+                            int> = 0 >
+    basic_json get() const
+    {
+        return *this;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief get a value (explicit)
+
+    Explicit type conversion between the JSON value and a compatible value
+    which is [CopyConstructible](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/concept/CopyConstructible)
+    and [DefaultConstructible](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/concept/DefaultConstructible).
+    The value is converted by calling the @ref json_serializer<ValueType>
+    `from_json()` method.
+
+    The function is equivalent to executing
+    @code {.cpp}
+    ValueType ret;
+    JSONSerializer<ValueType>::from_json(*this, ret);
+    return ret;
+    @endcode
+
+    This overloads is chosen if:
+    - @a ValueType is not @ref basic_json,
+    - @ref json_serializer<ValueType> has a `from_json()` method of the form
+      `void from_json(const basic_json&, ValueType&)`, and
+    - @ref json_serializer<ValueType> does not have a `from_json()` method of
+      the form `ValueType from_json(const basic_json&)`
+
+    @tparam ValueTypeCV the provided value type
+    @tparam ValueType the returned value type
+
+    @return copy of the JSON value, converted to @a ValueType
+
+    @throw what @ref json_serializer<ValueType> `from_json()` method throws
+
+    @liveexample{The example below shows several conversions from JSON values
+    to other types. There a few things to note: (1) Floating-point numbers can
+    be converted to integers\, (2) A JSON array can be converted to a standard
+    `std::vector<short>`\, (3) A JSON object can be converted to C++
+    associative containers such as `std::unordered_map<std::string\,
+    json>`.,get__ValueType_const}
+
+    @since version 2.1.0
+    */
+    template <
+        typename ValueTypeCV,
+        typename ValueType = detail::uncvref_t<ValueTypeCV>,
+        detail::enable_if_t <
+            not std::is_same<basic_json_t, ValueType>::value and
+            detail::has_from_json<basic_json_t, ValueType>::value and
+            not detail::has_non_default_from_json<basic_json_t, ValueType>::value,
+            int > = 0 >
+    ValueType get() const noexcept(noexcept(
+                                       JSONSerializer<ValueType>::from_json(std::declval<const basic_json_t&>(), std::declval<ValueType&>())))
+    {
+        // we cannot static_assert on ValueTypeCV being non-const, because
+        // there is support for get<const basic_json_t>(), which is why we
+        // still need the uncvref
+        static_assert(not std::is_reference<ValueTypeCV>::value,
+                      "get() cannot be used with reference types, you might want to use get_ref()");
+        static_assert(std::is_default_constructible<ValueType>::value,
+                      "types must be DefaultConstructible when used with get()");
+
+        ValueType ret;
+        JSONSerializer<ValueType>::from_json(*this, ret);
+        return ret;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief get a value (explicit); special case
+
+    Explicit type conversion between the JSON value and a compatible value
+    which is **not** [CopyConstructible](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/concept/CopyConstructible)
+    and **not** [DefaultConstructible](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/concept/DefaultConstructible).
+    The value is converted by calling the @ref json_serializer<ValueType>
+    `from_json()` method.
+
+    The function is equivalent to executing
+    @code {.cpp}
+    return JSONSerializer<ValueTypeCV>::from_json(*this);
+    @endcode
+
+    This overloads is chosen if:
+    - @a ValueType is not @ref basic_json and
+    - @ref json_serializer<ValueType> has a `from_json()` method of the form
+      `ValueType from_json(const basic_json&)`
+
+    @note If @ref json_serializer<ValueType> has both overloads of
+    `from_json()`, this one is chosen.
+
+    @tparam ValueTypeCV the provided value type
+    @tparam ValueType the returned value type
+
+    @return copy of the JSON value, converted to @a ValueType
+
+    @throw what @ref json_serializer<ValueType> `from_json()` method throws
+
+    @since version 2.1.0
+    */
+    template <
+        typename ValueTypeCV,
+        typename ValueType = detail::uncvref_t<ValueTypeCV>,
+        detail::enable_if_t<not std::is_same<basic_json_t, ValueType>::value and
+                            detail::has_non_default_from_json<basic_json_t,
+                                    ValueType>::value, int> = 0 >
+    ValueType get() const noexcept(noexcept(
+                                       JSONSerializer<ValueTypeCV>::from_json(std::declval<const basic_json_t&>())))
+    {
+        static_assert(not std::is_reference<ValueTypeCV>::value,
+                      "get() cannot be used with reference types, you might want to use get_ref()");
+        return JSONSerializer<ValueTypeCV>::from_json(*this);
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief get a pointer value (explicit)
+
+    Explicit pointer access to the internally stored JSON value. No copies are
+    made.
+
+    @warning The pointer becomes invalid if the underlying JSON object
+    changes.
+
+    @tparam PointerType pointer type; must be a pointer to @ref array_t, @ref
+    object_t, @ref string_t, @ref boolean_t, @ref number_integer_t,
+    @ref number_unsigned_t, or @ref number_float_t.
+
+    @return pointer to the internally stored JSON value if the requested
+    pointer type @a PointerType fits to the JSON value; `nullptr` otherwise
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @liveexample{The example below shows how pointers to internal values of a
+    JSON value can be requested. Note that no type conversions are made and a
+    `nullptr` is returned if the value and the requested pointer type does not
+    match.,get__PointerType}
+
+    @sa @ref get_ptr() for explicit pointer-member access
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    template<typename PointerType, typename std::enable_if<
+                 std::is_pointer<PointerType>::value, int>::type = 0>
+    PointerType get() noexcept
+    {
+        // delegate the call to get_ptr
+        return get_ptr<PointerType>();
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief get a pointer value (explicit)
+    @copydoc get()
+    */
+    template<typename PointerType, typename std::enable_if<
+                 std::is_pointer<PointerType>::value, int>::type = 0>
+    constexpr const PointerType get() const noexcept
+    {
+        // delegate the call to get_ptr
+        return get_ptr<PointerType>();
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief get a pointer value (implicit)
+
+    Implicit pointer access to the internally stored JSON value. No copies are
+    made.
+
+    @warning Writing data to the pointee of the result yields an undefined
+    state.
+
+    @tparam PointerType pointer type; must be a pointer to @ref array_t, @ref
+    object_t, @ref string_t, @ref boolean_t, @ref number_integer_t,
+    @ref number_unsigned_t, or @ref number_float_t. Enforced by a static
+    assertion.
+
+    @return pointer to the internally stored JSON value if the requested
+    pointer type @a PointerType fits to the JSON value; `nullptr` otherwise
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @liveexample{The example below shows how pointers to internal values of a
+    JSON value can be requested. Note that no type conversions are made and a
+    `nullptr` is returned if the value and the requested pointer type does not
+    match.,get_ptr}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    template<typename PointerType, typename std::enable_if<
+                 std::is_pointer<PointerType>::value, int>::type = 0>
+    PointerType get_ptr() noexcept
+    {
+        // get the type of the PointerType (remove pointer and const)
+        using pointee_t = typename std::remove_const<typename
+                          std::remove_pointer<typename
+                          std::remove_const<PointerType>::type>::type>::type;
+        // make sure the type matches the allowed types
+        static_assert(
+            std::is_same<object_t, pointee_t>::value
+            or std::is_same<array_t, pointee_t>::value
+            or std::is_same<string_t, pointee_t>::value
+            or std::is_same<boolean_t, pointee_t>::value
+            or std::is_same<number_integer_t, pointee_t>::value
+            or std::is_same<number_unsigned_t, pointee_t>::value
+            or std::is_same<number_float_t, pointee_t>::value
+            , "incompatible pointer type");
+
+        // delegate the call to get_impl_ptr<>()
+        return get_impl_ptr(static_cast<PointerType>(nullptr));
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief get a pointer value (implicit)
+    @copydoc get_ptr()
+    */
+    template<typename PointerType, typename std::enable_if<
+                 std::is_pointer<PointerType>::value and
+                 std::is_const<typename std::remove_pointer<PointerType>::type>::value, int>::type = 0>
+    constexpr const PointerType get_ptr() const noexcept
+    {
+        // get the type of the PointerType (remove pointer and const)
+        using pointee_t = typename std::remove_const<typename
+                          std::remove_pointer<typename
+                          std::remove_const<PointerType>::type>::type>::type;
+        // make sure the type matches the allowed types
+        static_assert(
+            std::is_same<object_t, pointee_t>::value
+            or std::is_same<array_t, pointee_t>::value
+            or std::is_same<string_t, pointee_t>::value
+            or std::is_same<boolean_t, pointee_t>::value
+            or std::is_same<number_integer_t, pointee_t>::value
+            or std::is_same<number_unsigned_t, pointee_t>::value
+            or std::is_same<number_float_t, pointee_t>::value
+            , "incompatible pointer type");
+
+        // delegate the call to get_impl_ptr<>() const
+        return get_impl_ptr(static_cast<const PointerType>(nullptr));
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief get a reference value (implicit)
+
+    Implicit reference access to the internally stored JSON value. No copies
+    are made.
+
+    @warning Writing data to the referee of the result yields an undefined
+    state.
+
+    @tparam ReferenceType reference type; must be a reference to @ref array_t,
+    @ref object_t, @ref string_t, @ref boolean_t, @ref number_integer_t, or
+    @ref number_float_t. Enforced by static assertion.
+
+    @return reference to the internally stored JSON value if the requested
+    reference type @a ReferenceType fits to the JSON value; throws
+    type_error.303 otherwise
+
+    @throw type_error.303 in case passed type @a ReferenceType is incompatible
+    with the stored JSON value; see example below
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @liveexample{The example shows several calls to `get_ref()`.,get_ref}
+
+    @since version 1.1.0
+    */
+    template<typename ReferenceType, typename std::enable_if<
+                 std::is_reference<ReferenceType>::value, int>::type = 0>
+    ReferenceType get_ref()
+    {
+        // delegate call to get_ref_impl
+        return get_ref_impl<ReferenceType>(*this);
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief get a reference value (implicit)
+    @copydoc get_ref()
+    */
+    template<typename ReferenceType, typename std::enable_if<
+                 std::is_reference<ReferenceType>::value and
+                 std::is_const<typename std::remove_reference<ReferenceType>::type>::value, int>::type = 0>
+    ReferenceType get_ref() const
+    {
+        // delegate call to get_ref_impl
+        return get_ref_impl<ReferenceType>(*this);
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief get a value (implicit)
+
+    Implicit type conversion between the JSON value and a compatible value.
+    The call is realized by calling @ref get() const.
+
+    @tparam ValueType non-pointer type compatible to the JSON value, for
+    instance `int` for JSON integer numbers, `bool` for JSON booleans, or
+    `std::vector` types for JSON arrays. The character type of @ref string_t
+    as well as an initializer list of this type is excluded to avoid
+    ambiguities as these types implicitly convert to `std::string`.
+
+    @return copy of the JSON value, converted to type @a ValueType
+
+    @throw type_error.302 in case passed type @a ValueType is incompatible
+    to the JSON value type (e.g., the JSON value is of type boolean, but a
+    string is requested); see example below
+
+    @complexity Linear in the size of the JSON value.
+
+    @liveexample{The example below shows several conversions from JSON values
+    to other types. There a few things to note: (1) Floating-point numbers can
+    be converted to integers\, (2) A JSON array can be converted to a standard
+    `std::vector<short>`\, (3) A JSON object can be converted to C++
+    associative containers such as `std::unordered_map<std::string\,
+    json>`.,operator__ValueType}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    template < typename ValueType, typename std::enable_if <
+                   not std::is_pointer<ValueType>::value and
+                   not std::is_same<ValueType, typename string_t::value_type>::value
+#ifndef _MSC_VER  // fix for issue #167 operator<< ambiguity under VS2015
+                   and not std::is_same<ValueType, std::initializer_list<typename string_t::value_type>>::value
+#endif
+#if (defined(__cplusplus) && __cplusplus >= 201703L) || (defined(_MSC_VER) && _MSC_VER >1900 && defined(_HAS_CXX17) && _HAS_CXX17 == 1) // fix for issue #464
+                   and not std::is_same<ValueType, typename std::string_view>::value
+#endif
+                   , int >::type = 0 >
+    operator ValueType() const
+    {
+        // delegate the call to get<>() const
+        return get<ValueType>();
+    }
+
+    /// @}
+
+
+    ////////////////////
+    // element access //
+    ////////////////////
+
+    /// @name element access
+    /// Access to the JSON value.
+    /// @{
+
+    /*!
+    @brief access specified array element with bounds checking
+
+    Returns a reference to the element at specified location @a idx, with
+    bounds checking.
+
+    @param[in] idx  index of the element to access
+
+    @return reference to the element at index @a idx
+
+    @throw type_error.304 if the JSON value is not an array; in this case,
+    calling `at` with an index makes no sense. See example below.
+    @throw out_of_range.401 if the index @a idx is out of range of the array;
+    that is, `idx >= size()`. See example below.
+
+    @exceptionsafety Strong guarantee: if an exception is thrown, there are no
+    changes in the JSON value.
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+
+    @liveexample{The example below shows how array elements can be read and
+    written using `at()`. It also demonstrates the different exceptions that
+    can be thrown.,at__size_type}
+    */
+    reference at(size_type idx)
+    {
+        // at only works for arrays
+        if (is_array())
+        {
+            JSON_TRY
+            {
+                return m_value.array->at(idx);
+            }
+            JSON_CATCH (std::out_of_range&)
+            {
+                // create better exception explanation
+                JSON_THROW(out_of_range::create(401, "array index " + std::to_string(idx) + " is out of range"));
+            }
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            JSON_THROW(type_error::create(304, "cannot use at() with " + type_name()));
+        }
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief access specified array element with bounds checking
+
+    Returns a const reference to the element at specified location @a idx,
+    with bounds checking.
+
+    @param[in] idx  index of the element to access
+
+    @return const reference to the element at index @a idx
+
+    @throw type_error.304 if the JSON value is not an array; in this case,
+    calling `at` with an index makes no sense. See example below.
+    @throw out_of_range.401 if the index @a idx is out of range of the array;
+    that is, `idx >= size()`. See example below.
+
+    @exceptionsafety Strong guarantee: if an exception is thrown, there are no
+    changes in the JSON value.
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+
+    @liveexample{The example below shows how array elements can be read using
+    `at()`. It also demonstrates the different exceptions that can be thrown.,
+    at__size_type_const}
+    */
+    const_reference at(size_type idx) const
+    {
+        // at only works for arrays
+        if (is_array())
+        {
+            JSON_TRY
+            {
+                return m_value.array->at(idx);
+            }
+            JSON_CATCH (std::out_of_range&)
+            {
+                // create better exception explanation
+                JSON_THROW(out_of_range::create(401, "array index " + std::to_string(idx) + " is out of range"));
+            }
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            JSON_THROW(type_error::create(304, "cannot use at() with " + type_name()));
+        }
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief access specified object element with bounds checking
+
+    Returns a reference to the element at with specified key @a key, with
+    bounds checking.
+
+    @param[in] key  key of the element to access
+
+    @return reference to the element at key @a key
+
+    @throw type_error.304 if the JSON value is not an object; in this case,
+    calling `at` with a key makes no sense. See example below.
+    @throw out_of_range.403 if the key @a key is is not stored in the object;
+    that is, `find(key) == end()`. See example below.
+
+    @exceptionsafety Strong guarantee: if an exception is thrown, there are no
+    changes in the JSON value.
+
+    @complexity Logarithmic in the size of the container.
+
+    @sa @ref operator[](const typename object_t::key_type&) for unchecked
+    access by reference
+    @sa @ref value() for access by value with a default value
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+
+    @liveexample{The example below shows how object elements can be read and
+    written using `at()`. It also demonstrates the different exceptions that
+    can be thrown.,at__object_t_key_type}
+    */
+    reference at(const typename object_t::key_type& key)
+    {
+        // at only works for objects
+        if (is_object())
+        {
+            JSON_TRY
+            {
+                return m_value.object->at(key);
+            }
+            JSON_CATCH (std::out_of_range&)
+            {
+                // create better exception explanation
+                JSON_THROW(out_of_range::create(403, "key '" + key + "' not found"));
+            }
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            JSON_THROW(type_error::create(304, "cannot use at() with " + type_name()));
+        }
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief access specified object element with bounds checking
+
+    Returns a const reference to the element at with specified key @a key,
+    with bounds checking.
+
+    @param[in] key  key of the element to access
+
+    @return const reference to the element at key @a key
+
+    @throw type_error.304 if the JSON value is not an object; in this case,
+    calling `at` with a key makes no sense. See example below.
+    @throw out_of_range.403 if the key @a key is is not stored in the object;
+    that is, `find(key) == end()`. See example below.
+
+    @exceptionsafety Strong guarantee: if an exception is thrown, there are no
+    changes in the JSON value.
+
+    @complexity Logarithmic in the size of the container.
+
+    @sa @ref operator[](const typename object_t::key_type&) for unchecked
+    access by reference
+    @sa @ref value() for access by value with a default value
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+
+    @liveexample{The example below shows how object elements can be read using
+    `at()`. It also demonstrates the different exceptions that can be thrown.,
+    at__object_t_key_type_const}
+    */
+    const_reference at(const typename object_t::key_type& key) const
+    {
+        // at only works for objects
+        if (is_object())
+        {
+            JSON_TRY
+            {
+                return m_value.object->at(key);
+            }
+            JSON_CATCH (std::out_of_range&)
+            {
+                // create better exception explanation
+                JSON_THROW(out_of_range::create(403, "key '" + key + "' not found"));
+            }
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            JSON_THROW(type_error::create(304, "cannot use at() with " + type_name()));
+        }
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief access specified array element
+
+    Returns a reference to the element at specified location @a idx.
+
+    @note If @a idx is beyond the range of the array (i.e., `idx >= size()`),
+    then the array is silently filled up with `null` values to make `idx` a
+    valid reference to the last stored element.
+
+    @param[in] idx  index of the element to access
+
+    @return reference to the element at index @a idx
+
+    @throw type_error.305 if the JSON value is not an array or null; in that
+    cases, using the [] operator with an index makes no sense.
+
+    @complexity Constant if @a idx is in the range of the array. Otherwise
+    linear in `idx - size()`.
+
+    @liveexample{The example below shows how array elements can be read and
+    written using `[]` operator. Note the addition of `null`
+    values.,operatorarray__size_type}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    reference operator[](size_type idx)
+    {
+        // implicitly convert null value to an empty array
+        if (is_null())
+        {
+            m_type = value_t::array;
+            m_value.array = create<array_t>();
+            assert_invariant();
+        }
+
+        // operator[] only works for arrays
+        if (is_array())
+        {
+            // fill up array with null values if given idx is outside range
+            if (idx >= m_value.array->size())
+            {
+                m_value.array->insert(m_value.array->end(),
+                                      idx - m_value.array->size() + 1,
+                                      basic_json());
+            }
+
+            return m_value.array->operator[](idx);
+        }
+
+        JSON_THROW(type_error::create(305, "cannot use operator[] with " + type_name()));
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief access specified array element
+
+    Returns a const reference to the element at specified location @a idx.
+
+    @param[in] idx  index of the element to access
+
+    @return const reference to the element at index @a idx
+
+    @throw type_error.305 if the JSON value is not an array; in that cases,
+    using the [] operator with an index makes no sense.
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @liveexample{The example below shows how array elements can be read using
+    the `[]` operator.,operatorarray__size_type_const}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    const_reference operator[](size_type idx) const
+    {
+        // const operator[] only works for arrays
+        if (is_array())
+        {
+            return m_value.array->operator[](idx);
+        }
+
+        JSON_THROW(type_error::create(305, "cannot use operator[] with " + type_name()));
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief access specified object element
+
+    Returns a reference to the element at with specified key @a key.
+
+    @note If @a key is not found in the object, then it is silently added to
+    the object and filled with a `null` value to make `key` a valid reference.
+    In case the value was `null` before, it is converted to an object.
+
+    @param[in] key  key of the element to access
+
+    @return reference to the element at key @a key
+
+    @throw type_error.305 if the JSON value is not an object or null; in that
+    cases, using the [] operator with a key makes no sense.
+
+    @complexity Logarithmic in the size of the container.
+
+    @liveexample{The example below shows how object elements can be read and
+    written using the `[]` operator.,operatorarray__key_type}
+
+    @sa @ref at(const typename object_t::key_type&) for access by reference
+    with range checking
+    @sa @ref value() for access by value with a default value
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    reference operator[](const typename object_t::key_type& key)
+    {
+        // implicitly convert null value to an empty object
+        if (is_null())
+        {
+            m_type = value_t::object;
+            m_value.object = create<object_t>();
+            assert_invariant();
+        }
+
+        // operator[] only works for objects
+        if (is_object())
+        {
+            return m_value.object->operator[](key);
+        }
+
+        JSON_THROW(type_error::create(305, "cannot use operator[] with " + type_name()));
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief read-only access specified object element
+
+    Returns a const reference to the element at with specified key @a key. No
+    bounds checking is performed.
+
+    @warning If the element with key @a key does not exist, the behavior is
+    undefined.
+
+    @param[in] key  key of the element to access
+
+    @return const reference to the element at key @a key
+
+    @pre The element with key @a key must exist. **This precondition is
+         enforced with an assertion.**
+
+    @throw type_error.305 if the JSON value is not an object; in that cases,
+    using the [] operator with a key makes no sense.
+
+    @complexity Logarithmic in the size of the container.
+
+    @liveexample{The example below shows how object elements can be read using
+    the `[]` operator.,operatorarray__key_type_const}
+
+    @sa @ref at(const typename object_t::key_type&) for access by reference
+    with range checking
+    @sa @ref value() for access by value with a default value
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    const_reference operator[](const typename object_t::key_type& key) const
+    {
+        // const operator[] only works for objects
+        if (is_object())
+        {
+            assert(m_value.object->find(key) != m_value.object->end());
+            return m_value.object->find(key)->second;
+        }
+
+        JSON_THROW(type_error::create(305, "cannot use operator[] with " + type_name()));
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief access specified object element
+
+    Returns a reference to the element at with specified key @a key.
+
+    @note If @a key is not found in the object, then it is silently added to
+    the object and filled with a `null` value to make `key` a valid reference.
+    In case the value was `null` before, it is converted to an object.
+
+    @param[in] key  key of the element to access
+
+    @return reference to the element at key @a key
+
+    @throw type_error.305 if the JSON value is not an object or null; in that
+    cases, using the [] operator with a key makes no sense.
+
+    @complexity Logarithmic in the size of the container.
+
+    @liveexample{The example below shows how object elements can be read and
+    written using the `[]` operator.,operatorarray__key_type}
+
+    @sa @ref at(const typename object_t::key_type&) for access by reference
+    with range checking
+    @sa @ref value() for access by value with a default value
+
+    @since version 1.1.0
+    */
+    template<typename T>
+    reference operator[](T* key)
+    {
+        // implicitly convert null to object
+        if (is_null())
+        {
+            m_type = value_t::object;
+            m_value = value_t::object;
+            assert_invariant();
+        }
+
+        // at only works for objects
+        if (is_object())
+        {
+            return m_value.object->operator[](key);
+        }
+
+        JSON_THROW(type_error::create(305, "cannot use operator[] with " + type_name()));
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief read-only access specified object element
+
+    Returns a const reference to the element at with specified key @a key. No
+    bounds checking is performed.
+
+    @warning If the element with key @a key does not exist, the behavior is
+    undefined.
+
+    @param[in] key  key of the element to access
+
+    @return const reference to the element at key @a key
+
+    @pre The element with key @a key must exist. **This precondition is
+         enforced with an assertion.**
+
+    @throw type_error.305 if the JSON value is not an object; in that cases,
+    using the [] operator with a key makes no sense.
+
+    @complexity Logarithmic in the size of the container.
+
+    @liveexample{The example below shows how object elements can be read using
+    the `[]` operator.,operatorarray__key_type_const}
+
+    @sa @ref at(const typename object_t::key_type&) for access by reference
+    with range checking
+    @sa @ref value() for access by value with a default value
+
+    @since version 1.1.0
+    */
+    template<typename T>
+    const_reference operator[](T* key) const
+    {
+        // at only works for objects
+        if (is_object())
+        {
+            assert(m_value.object->find(key) != m_value.object->end());
+            return m_value.object->find(key)->second;
+        }
+
+        JSON_THROW(type_error::create(305, "cannot use operator[] with " + type_name()));
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief access specified object element with default value
+
+    Returns either a copy of an object's element at the specified key @a key
+    or a given default value if no element with key @a key exists.
+
+    The function is basically equivalent to executing
+    @code {.cpp}
+    try {
+        return at(key);
+    } catch(out_of_range) {
+        return default_value;
+    }
+    @endcode
+
+    @note Unlike @ref at(const typename object_t::key_type&), this function
+    does not throw if the given key @a key was not found.
+
+    @note Unlike @ref operator[](const typename object_t::key_type& key), this
+    function does not implicitly add an element to the position defined by @a
+    key. This function is furthermore also applicable to const objects.
+
+    @param[in] key  key of the element to access
+    @param[in] default_value  the value to return if @a key is not found
+
+    @tparam ValueType type compatible to JSON values, for instance `int` for
+    JSON integer numbers, `bool` for JSON booleans, or `std::vector` types for
+    JSON arrays. Note the type of the expected value at @a key and the default
+    value @a default_value must be compatible.
+
+    @return copy of the element at key @a key or @a default_value if @a key
+    is not found
+
+    @throw type_error.306 if the JSON value is not an objec; in that cases,
+    using `value()` with a key makes no sense.
+
+    @complexity Logarithmic in the size of the container.
+
+    @liveexample{The example below shows how object elements can be queried
+    with a default value.,basic_json__value}
+
+    @sa @ref at(const typename object_t::key_type&) for access by reference
+    with range checking
+    @sa @ref operator[](const typename object_t::key_type&) for unchecked
+    access by reference
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    template<class ValueType, typename std::enable_if<
+                 std::is_convertible<basic_json_t, ValueType>::value, int>::type = 0>
+    ValueType value(const typename object_t::key_type& key, ValueType default_value) const
+    {
+        // at only works for objects
+        if (is_object())
+        {
+            // if key is found, return value and given default value otherwise
+            const auto it = find(key);
+            if (it != end())
+            {
+                return *it;
+            }
+
+            return default_value;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            JSON_THROW(type_error::create(306, "cannot use value() with " + type_name()));
+        }
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief overload for a default value of type const char*
+    @copydoc basic_json::value(const typename object_t::key_type&, ValueType) const
+    */
+    string_t value(const typename object_t::key_type& key, const char* default_value) const
+    {
+        return value(key, string_t(default_value));
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief access specified object element via JSON Pointer with default value
+
+    Returns either a copy of an object's element at the specified key @a key
+    or a given default value if no element with key @a key exists.
+
+    The function is basically equivalent to executing
+    @code {.cpp}
+    try {
+        return at(ptr);
+    } catch(out_of_range) {
+        return default_value;
+    }
+    @endcode
+
+    @note Unlike @ref at(const json_pointer&), this function does not throw
+    if the given key @a key was not found.
+
+    @param[in] ptr  a JSON pointer to the element to access
+    @param[in] default_value  the value to return if @a ptr found no value
+
+    @tparam ValueType type compatible to JSON values, for instance `int` for
+    JSON integer numbers, `bool` for JSON booleans, or `std::vector` types for
+    JSON arrays. Note the type of the expected value at @a key and the default
+    value @a default_value must be compatible.
+
+    @return copy of the element at key @a key or @a default_value if @a key
+    is not found
+
+    @throw type_error.306 if the JSON value is not an objec; in that cases,
+    using `value()` with a key makes no sense.
+
+    @complexity Logarithmic in the size of the container.
+
+    @liveexample{The example below shows how object elements can be queried
+    with a default value.,basic_json__value_ptr}
+
+    @sa @ref operator[](const json_pointer&) for unchecked access by reference
+
+    @since version 2.0.2
+    */
+    template<class ValueType, typename std::enable_if<
+                 std::is_convertible<basic_json_t, ValueType>::value, int>::type = 0>
+    ValueType value(const json_pointer& ptr, ValueType default_value) const
+    {
+        // at only works for objects
+        if (is_object())
+        {
+            // if pointer resolves a value, return it or use default value
+            JSON_TRY
+            {
+                return ptr.get_checked(this);
+            }
+            JSON_CATCH (out_of_range&)
+            {
+                return default_value;
+            }
+        }
+
+        JSON_THROW(type_error::create(306, "cannot use value() with " + type_name()));
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief overload for a default value of type const char*
+    @copydoc basic_json::value(const json_pointer&, ValueType) const
+    */
+    string_t value(const json_pointer& ptr, const char* default_value) const
+    {
+        return value(ptr, string_t(default_value));
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief access the first element
+
+    Returns a reference to the first element in the container. For a JSON
+    container `c`, the expression `c.front()` is equivalent to `*c.begin()`.
+
+    @return In case of a structured type (array or object), a reference to the
+    first element is returned. In case of number, string, or boolean values, a
+    reference to the value is returned.
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @pre The JSON value must not be `null` (would throw `std::out_of_range`)
+    or an empty array or object (undefined behavior, **guarded by
+    assertions**).
+    @post The JSON value remains unchanged.
+
+    @throw invalid_iterator.214 when called on `null` value
+
+    @liveexample{The following code shows an example for `front()`.,front}
+
+    @sa @ref back() -- access the last element
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    reference front()
+    {
+        return *begin();
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @copydoc basic_json::front()
+    */
+    const_reference front() const
+    {
+        return *cbegin();
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief access the last element
+
+    Returns a reference to the last element in the container. For a JSON
+    container `c`, the expression `c.back()` is equivalent to
+    @code {.cpp}
+    auto tmp = c.end();
+    --tmp;
+    return *tmp;
+    @endcode
+
+    @return In case of a structured type (array or object), a reference to the
+    last element is returned. In case of number, string, or boolean values, a
+    reference to the value is returned.
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @pre The JSON value must not be `null` (would throw `std::out_of_range`)
+    or an empty array or object (undefined behavior, **guarded by
+    assertions**).
+    @post The JSON value remains unchanged.
+
+    @throw invalid_iterator.214 when called on a `null` value. See example
+    below.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code shows an example for `back()`.,back}
+
+    @sa @ref front() -- access the first element
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    reference back()
+    {
+        auto tmp = end();
+        --tmp;
+        return *tmp;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @copydoc basic_json::back()
+    */
+    const_reference back() const
+    {
+        auto tmp = cend();
+        --tmp;
+        return *tmp;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief remove element given an iterator
+
+    Removes the element specified by iterator @a pos. The iterator @a pos must
+    be valid and dereferenceable. Thus the `end()` iterator (which is valid,
+    but is not dereferenceable) cannot be used as a value for @a pos.
+
+    If called on a primitive type other than `null`, the resulting JSON value
+    will be `null`.
+
+    @param[in] pos iterator to the element to remove
+    @return Iterator following the last removed element. If the iterator @a
+    pos refers to the last element, the `end()` iterator is returned.
+
+    @tparam IteratorType an @ref iterator or @ref const_iterator
+
+    @post Invalidates iterators and references at or after the point of the
+    erase, including the `end()` iterator.
+
+    @throw type_error.307 if called on a `null` value; example: `"cannot use
+    erase() with null"`
+    @throw invalid_iterator.202 if called on an iterator which does not belong
+    to the current JSON value; example: `"iterator does not fit current
+    value"`
+    @throw invalid_iterator.205 if called on a primitive type with invalid
+    iterator (i.e., any iterator which is not `begin()`); example: `"iterator
+    out of range"`
+
+    @complexity The complexity depends on the type:
+    - objects: amortized constant
+    - arrays: linear in distance between @a pos and the end of the container
+    - strings: linear in the length of the string
+    - other types: constant
+
+    @liveexample{The example shows the result of `erase()` for different JSON
+    types.,erase__IteratorType}
+
+    @sa @ref erase(IteratorType, IteratorType) -- removes the elements in
+    the given range
+    @sa @ref erase(const typename object_t::key_type&) -- removes the element
+    from an object at the given key
+    @sa @ref erase(const size_type) -- removes the element from an array at
+    the given index
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    template<class IteratorType, typename std::enable_if<
+                 std::is_same<IteratorType, typename basic_json_t::iterator>::value or
+                 std::is_same<IteratorType, typename basic_json_t::const_iterator>::value, int>::type
+             = 0>
+    IteratorType erase(IteratorType pos)
+    {
+        // make sure iterator fits the current value
+        if (this != pos.m_object)
+        {
+            JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(202, "iterator does not fit current value"));
+        }
+
+        IteratorType result = end();
+
+        switch (m_type)
+        {
+            case value_t::boolean:
+            case value_t::number_float:
+            case value_t::number_integer:
+            case value_t::number_unsigned:
+            case value_t::string:
+            {
+                if (not pos.m_it.primitive_iterator.is_begin())
+                {
+                    JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(205, "iterator out of range"));
+                }
+
+                if (is_string())
+                {
+                    AllocatorType<string_t> alloc;
+                    alloc.destroy(m_value.string);
+                    alloc.deallocate(m_value.string, 1);
+                    m_value.string = nullptr;
+                }
+
+                m_type = value_t::null;
+                assert_invariant();
+                break;
+            }
+
+            case value_t::object:
+            {
+                result.m_it.object_iterator = m_value.object->erase(pos.m_it.object_iterator);
+                break;
+            }
+
+            case value_t::array:
+            {
+                result.m_it.array_iterator = m_value.array->erase(pos.m_it.array_iterator);
+                break;
+            }
+
+            default:
+            {
+                JSON_THROW(type_error::create(307, "cannot use erase() with " + type_name()));
+            }
+        }
+
+        return result;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief remove elements given an iterator range
+
+    Removes the element specified by the range `[first; last)`. The iterator
+    @a first does not need to be dereferenceable if `first == last`: erasing
+    an empty range is a no-op.
+
+    If called on a primitive type other than `null`, the resulting JSON value
+    will be `null`.
+
+    @param[in] first iterator to the beginning of the range to remove
+    @param[in] last iterator past the end of the range to remove
+    @return Iterator following the last removed element. If the iterator @a
+    second refers to the last element, the `end()` iterator is returned.
+
+    @tparam IteratorType an @ref iterator or @ref const_iterator
+
+    @post Invalidates iterators and references at or after the point of the
+    erase, including the `end()` iterator.
+
+    @throw type_error.307 if called on a `null` value; example: `"cannot use
+    erase() with null"`
+    @throw invalid_iterator.203 if called on iterators which does not belong
+    to the current JSON value; example: `"iterators do not fit current value"`
+    @throw invalid_iterator.204 if called on a primitive type with invalid
+    iterators (i.e., if `first != begin()` and `last != end()`); example:
+    `"iterators out of range"`
+
+    @complexity The complexity depends on the type:
+    - objects: `log(size()) + std::distance(first, last)`
+    - arrays: linear in the distance between @a first and @a last, plus linear
+      in the distance between @a last and end of the container
+    - strings: linear in the length of the string
+    - other types: constant
+
+    @liveexample{The example shows the result of `erase()` for different JSON
+    types.,erase__IteratorType_IteratorType}
+
+    @sa @ref erase(IteratorType) -- removes the element at a given position
+    @sa @ref erase(const typename object_t::key_type&) -- removes the element
+    from an object at the given key
+    @sa @ref erase(const size_type) -- removes the element from an array at
+    the given index
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    template<class IteratorType, typename std::enable_if<
+                 std::is_same<IteratorType, typename basic_json_t::iterator>::value or
+                 std::is_same<IteratorType, typename basic_json_t::const_iterator>::value, int>::type
+             = 0>
+    IteratorType erase(IteratorType first, IteratorType last)
+    {
+        // make sure iterator fits the current value
+        if (this != first.m_object or this != last.m_object)
+        {
+            JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(203, "iterators do not fit current value"));
+        }
+
+        IteratorType result = end();
+
+        switch (m_type)
+        {
+            case value_t::boolean:
+            case value_t::number_float:
+            case value_t::number_integer:
+            case value_t::number_unsigned:
+            case value_t::string:
+            {
+                if (not first.m_it.primitive_iterator.is_begin() or not last.m_it.primitive_iterator.is_end())
+                {
+                    JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(204, "iterators out of range"));
+                }
+
+                if (is_string())
+                {
+                    AllocatorType<string_t> alloc;
+                    alloc.destroy(m_value.string);
+                    alloc.deallocate(m_value.string, 1);
+                    m_value.string = nullptr;
+                }
+
+                m_type = value_t::null;
+                assert_invariant();
+                break;
+            }
+
+            case value_t::object:
+            {
+                result.m_it.object_iterator = m_value.object->erase(first.m_it.object_iterator,
+                                              last.m_it.object_iterator);
+                break;
+            }
+
+            case value_t::array:
+            {
+                result.m_it.array_iterator = m_value.array->erase(first.m_it.array_iterator,
+                                             last.m_it.array_iterator);
+                break;
+            }
+
+            default:
+            {
+                JSON_THROW(type_error::create(307, "cannot use erase() with " + type_name()));
+            }
+        }
+
+        return result;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief remove element from a JSON object given a key
+
+    Removes elements from a JSON object with the key value @a key.
+
+    @param[in] key value of the elements to remove
+
+    @return Number of elements removed. If @a ObjectType is the default
+    `std::map` type, the return value will always be `0` (@a key was not
+    found) or `1` (@a key was found).
+
+    @post References and iterators to the erased elements are invalidated.
+    Other references and iterators are not affected.
+
+    @throw type_error.307 when called on a type other than JSON object;
+    example: `"cannot use erase() with null"`
+
+    @complexity `log(size()) + count(key)`
+
+    @liveexample{The example shows the effect of `erase()`.,erase__key_type}
+
+    @sa @ref erase(IteratorType) -- removes the element at a given position
+    @sa @ref erase(IteratorType, IteratorType) -- removes the elements in
+    the given range
+    @sa @ref erase(const size_type) -- removes the element from an array at
+    the given index
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    size_type erase(const typename object_t::key_type& key)
+    {
+        // this erase only works for objects
+        if (is_object())
+        {
+            return m_value.object->erase(key);
+        }
+
+        JSON_THROW(type_error::create(307, "cannot use erase() with " + type_name()));
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief remove element from a JSON array given an index
+
+    Removes element from a JSON array at the index @a idx.
+
+    @param[in] idx index of the element to remove
+
+    @throw type_error.307 when called on a type other than JSON object;
+    example: `"cannot use erase() with null"`
+    @throw out_of_range.401 when `idx >= size()`; example: `"array index 17
+    is out of range"`
+
+    @complexity Linear in distance between @a idx and the end of the container.
+
+    @liveexample{The example shows the effect of `erase()`.,erase__size_type}
+
+    @sa @ref erase(IteratorType) -- removes the element at a given position
+    @sa @ref erase(IteratorType, IteratorType) -- removes the elements in
+    the given range
+    @sa @ref erase(const typename object_t::key_type&) -- removes the element
+    from an object at the given key
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    void erase(const size_type idx)
+    {
+        // this erase only works for arrays
+        if (is_array())
+        {
+            if (idx >= size())
+            {
+                JSON_THROW(out_of_range::create(401, "array index " + std::to_string(idx) + " is out of range"));
+            }
+
+            m_value.array->erase(m_value.array->begin() + static_cast<difference_type>(idx));
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            JSON_THROW(type_error::create(307, "cannot use erase() with " + type_name()));
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// @}
+
+
+    ////////////
+    // lookup //
+    ////////////
+
+    /// @name lookup
+    /// @{
+
+    /*!
+    @brief find an element in a JSON object
+
+    Finds an element in a JSON object with key equivalent to @a key. If the
+    element is not found or the JSON value is not an object, end() is
+    returned.
+
+    @note This method always returns @ref end() when executed on a JSON type
+          that is not an object.
+
+    @param[in] key key value of the element to search for
+
+    @return Iterator to an element with key equivalent to @a key. If no such
+    element is found or the JSON value is not an object, past-the-end (see
+    @ref end()) iterator is returned.
+
+    @complexity Logarithmic in the size of the JSON object.
+
+    @liveexample{The example shows how `find()` is used.,find__key_type}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    iterator find(typename object_t::key_type key)
+    {
+        auto result = end();
+
+        if (is_object())
+        {
+            result.m_it.object_iterator = m_value.object->find(key);
+        }
+
+        return result;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief find an element in a JSON object
+    @copydoc find(typename object_t::key_type)
+    */
+    const_iterator find(typename object_t::key_type key) const
+    {
+        auto result = cend();
+
+        if (is_object())
+        {
+            result.m_it.object_iterator = m_value.object->find(key);
+        }
+
+        return result;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief returns the number of occurrences of a key in a JSON object
+
+    Returns the number of elements with key @a key. If ObjectType is the
+    default `std::map` type, the return value will always be `0` (@a key was
+    not found) or `1` (@a key was found).
+
+    @note This method always returns `0` when executed on a JSON type that is
+          not an object.
+
+    @param[in] key key value of the element to count
+
+    @return Number of elements with key @a key. If the JSON value is not an
+    object, the return value will be `0`.
+
+    @complexity Logarithmic in the size of the JSON object.
+
+    @liveexample{The example shows how `count()` is used.,count}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    size_type count(typename object_t::key_type key) const
+    {
+        // return 0 for all nonobject types
+        return is_object() ? m_value.object->count(key) : 0;
+    }
+
+    /// @}
+
+
+    ///////////////
+    // iterators //
+    ///////////////
+
+    /// @name iterators
+    /// @{
+
+    /*!
+    @brief returns an iterator to the first element
+
+    Returns an iterator to the first element.
+
+    @image html range-begin-end.svg "Illustration from cppreference.com"
+
+    @return iterator to the first element
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @requirement This function helps `basic_json` satisfying the
+    [Container](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/concept/Container)
+    requirements:
+    - The complexity is constant.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code shows an example for `begin()`.,begin}
+
+    @sa @ref cbegin() -- returns a const iterator to the beginning
+    @sa @ref end() -- returns an iterator to the end
+    @sa @ref cend() -- returns a const iterator to the end
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    iterator begin() noexcept
+    {
+        iterator result(this);
+        result.set_begin();
+        return result;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @copydoc basic_json::cbegin()
+    */
+    const_iterator begin() const noexcept
+    {
+        return cbegin();
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief returns a const iterator to the first element
+
+    Returns a const iterator to the first element.
+
+    @image html range-begin-end.svg "Illustration from cppreference.com"
+
+    @return const iterator to the first element
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @requirement This function helps `basic_json` satisfying the
+    [Container](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/concept/Container)
+    requirements:
+    - The complexity is constant.
+    - Has the semantics of `const_cast<const basic_json&>(*this).begin()`.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code shows an example for `cbegin()`.,cbegin}
+
+    @sa @ref begin() -- returns an iterator to the beginning
+    @sa @ref end() -- returns an iterator to the end
+    @sa @ref cend() -- returns a const iterator to the end
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    const_iterator cbegin() const noexcept
+    {
+        const_iterator result(this);
+        result.set_begin();
+        return result;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief returns an iterator to one past the last element
+
+    Returns an iterator to one past the last element.
+
+    @image html range-begin-end.svg "Illustration from cppreference.com"
+
+    @return iterator one past the last element
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @requirement This function helps `basic_json` satisfying the
+    [Container](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/concept/Container)
+    requirements:
+    - The complexity is constant.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code shows an example for `end()`.,end}
+
+    @sa @ref cend() -- returns a const iterator to the end
+    @sa @ref begin() -- returns an iterator to the beginning
+    @sa @ref cbegin() -- returns a const iterator to the beginning
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    iterator end() noexcept
+    {
+        iterator result(this);
+        result.set_end();
+        return result;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @copydoc basic_json::cend()
+    */
+    const_iterator end() const noexcept
+    {
+        return cend();
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief returns a const iterator to one past the last element
+
+    Returns a const iterator to one past the last element.
+
+    @image html range-begin-end.svg "Illustration from cppreference.com"
+
+    @return const iterator one past the last element
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @requirement This function helps `basic_json` satisfying the
+    [Container](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/concept/Container)
+    requirements:
+    - The complexity is constant.
+    - Has the semantics of `const_cast<const basic_json&>(*this).end()`.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code shows an example for `cend()`.,cend}
+
+    @sa @ref end() -- returns an iterator to the end
+    @sa @ref begin() -- returns an iterator to the beginning
+    @sa @ref cbegin() -- returns a const iterator to the beginning
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    const_iterator cend() const noexcept
+    {
+        const_iterator result(this);
+        result.set_end();
+        return result;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief returns an iterator to the reverse-beginning
+
+    Returns an iterator to the reverse-beginning; that is, the last element.
+
+    @image html range-rbegin-rend.svg "Illustration from cppreference.com"
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @requirement This function helps `basic_json` satisfying the
+    [ReversibleContainer](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/concept/ReversibleContainer)
+    requirements:
+    - The complexity is constant.
+    - Has the semantics of `reverse_iterator(end())`.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code shows an example for `rbegin()`.,rbegin}
+
+    @sa @ref crbegin() -- returns a const reverse iterator to the beginning
+    @sa @ref rend() -- returns a reverse iterator to the end
+    @sa @ref crend() -- returns a const reverse iterator to the end
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    reverse_iterator rbegin() noexcept
+    {
+        return reverse_iterator(end());
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @copydoc basic_json::crbegin()
+    */
+    const_reverse_iterator rbegin() const noexcept
+    {
+        return crbegin();
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief returns an iterator to the reverse-end
+
+    Returns an iterator to the reverse-end; that is, one before the first
+    element.
+
+    @image html range-rbegin-rend.svg "Illustration from cppreference.com"
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @requirement This function helps `basic_json` satisfying the
+    [ReversibleContainer](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/concept/ReversibleContainer)
+    requirements:
+    - The complexity is constant.
+    - Has the semantics of `reverse_iterator(begin())`.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code shows an example for `rend()`.,rend}
+
+    @sa @ref crend() -- returns a const reverse iterator to the end
+    @sa @ref rbegin() -- returns a reverse iterator to the beginning
+    @sa @ref crbegin() -- returns a const reverse iterator to the beginning
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    reverse_iterator rend() noexcept
+    {
+        return reverse_iterator(begin());
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @copydoc basic_json::crend()
+    */
+    const_reverse_iterator rend() const noexcept
+    {
+        return crend();
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief returns a const reverse iterator to the last element
+
+    Returns a const iterator to the reverse-beginning; that is, the last
+    element.
+
+    @image html range-rbegin-rend.svg "Illustration from cppreference.com"
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @requirement This function helps `basic_json` satisfying the
+    [ReversibleContainer](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/concept/ReversibleContainer)
+    requirements:
+    - The complexity is constant.
+    - Has the semantics of `const_cast<const basic_json&>(*this).rbegin()`.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code shows an example for `crbegin()`.,crbegin}
+
+    @sa @ref rbegin() -- returns a reverse iterator to the beginning
+    @sa @ref rend() -- returns a reverse iterator to the end
+    @sa @ref crend() -- returns a const reverse iterator to the end
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    const_reverse_iterator crbegin() const noexcept
+    {
+        return const_reverse_iterator(cend());
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief returns a const reverse iterator to one before the first
+
+    Returns a const reverse iterator to the reverse-end; that is, one before
+    the first element.
+
+    @image html range-rbegin-rend.svg "Illustration from cppreference.com"
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @requirement This function helps `basic_json` satisfying the
+    [ReversibleContainer](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/concept/ReversibleContainer)
+    requirements:
+    - The complexity is constant.
+    - Has the semantics of `const_cast<const basic_json&>(*this).rend()`.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code shows an example for `crend()`.,crend}
+
+    @sa @ref rend() -- returns a reverse iterator to the end
+    @sa @ref rbegin() -- returns a reverse iterator to the beginning
+    @sa @ref crbegin() -- returns a const reverse iterator to the beginning
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    const_reverse_iterator crend() const noexcept
+    {
+        return const_reverse_iterator(cbegin());
+    }
+
+  private:
+    // forward declaration
+    template<typename IteratorType> class iteration_proxy;
+
+  public:
+    /*!
+    @brief wrapper to access iterator member functions in range-based for
+
+    This function allows to access @ref iterator::key() and @ref
+    iterator::value() during range-based for loops. In these loops, a
+    reference to the JSON values is returned, so there is no access to the
+    underlying iterator.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code shows how the wrapper is used,iterator_wrapper}
+
+    @note The name of this function is not yet final and may change in the
+    future.
+    */
+    static iteration_proxy<iterator> iterator_wrapper(reference cont)
+    {
+        return iteration_proxy<iterator>(cont);
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @copydoc iterator_wrapper(reference)
+    */
+    static iteration_proxy<const_iterator> iterator_wrapper(const_reference cont)
+    {
+        return iteration_proxy<const_iterator>(cont);
+    }
+
+    /// @}
+
+
+    //////////////
+    // capacity //
+    //////////////
+
+    /// @name capacity
+    /// @{
+
+    /*!
+    @brief checks whether the container is empty
+
+    Checks if a JSON value has no elements.
+
+    @return The return value depends on the different types and is
+            defined as follows:
+            Value type  | return value
+            ----------- | -------------
+            null        | `true`
+            boolean     | `false`
+            string      | `false`
+            number      | `false`
+            object      | result of function `object_t::empty()`
+            array       | result of function `array_t::empty()`
+
+    @note This function does not return whether a string stored as JSON value
+    is empty - it returns whether the JSON container itself is empty which is
+    false in the case of a string.
+
+    @complexity Constant, as long as @ref array_t and @ref object_t satisfy
+    the Container concept; that is, their `empty()` functions have constant
+    complexity.
+
+    @requirement This function helps `basic_json` satisfying the
+    [Container](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/concept/Container)
+    requirements:
+    - The complexity is constant.
+    - Has the semantics of `begin() == end()`.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code uses `empty()` to check if a JSON
+    object contains any elements.,empty}
+
+    @sa @ref size() -- returns the number of elements
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    bool empty() const noexcept
+    {
+        switch (m_type)
+        {
+            case value_t::null:
+            {
+                // null values are empty
+                return true;
+            }
+
+            case value_t::array:
+            {
+                // delegate call to array_t::empty()
+                return m_value.array->empty();
+            }
+
+            case value_t::object:
+            {
+                // delegate call to object_t::empty()
+                return m_value.object->empty();
+            }
+
+            default:
+            {
+                // all other types are nonempty
+                return false;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief returns the number of elements
+
+    Returns the number of elements in a JSON value.
+
+    @return The return value depends on the different types and is
+            defined as follows:
+            Value type  | return value
+            ----------- | -------------
+            null        | `0`
+            boolean     | `1`
+            string      | `1`
+            number      | `1`
+            object      | result of function object_t::size()
+            array       | result of function array_t::size()
+
+    @note This function does not return the length of a string stored as JSON
+    value - it returns the number of elements in the JSON value which is 1 in
+    the case of a string.
+
+    @complexity Constant, as long as @ref array_t and @ref object_t satisfy
+    the Container concept; that is, their size() functions have constant
+    complexity.
+
+    @requirement This function helps `basic_json` satisfying the
+    [Container](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/concept/Container)
+    requirements:
+    - The complexity is constant.
+    - Has the semantics of `std::distance(begin(), end())`.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code calls `size()` on the different value
+    types.,size}
+
+    @sa @ref empty() -- checks whether the container is empty
+    @sa @ref max_size() -- returns the maximal number of elements
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    size_type size() const noexcept
+    {
+        switch (m_type)
+        {
+            case value_t::null:
+            {
+                // null values are empty
+                return 0;
+            }
+
+            case value_t::array:
+            {
+                // delegate call to array_t::size()
+                return m_value.array->size();
+            }
+
+            case value_t::object:
+            {
+                // delegate call to object_t::size()
+                return m_value.object->size();
+            }
+
+            default:
+            {
+                // all other types have size 1
+                return 1;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief returns the maximum possible number of elements
+
+    Returns the maximum number of elements a JSON value is able to hold due to
+    system or library implementation limitations, i.e. `std::distance(begin(),
+    end())` for the JSON value.
+
+    @return The return value depends on the different types and is
+            defined as follows:
+            Value type  | return value
+            ----------- | -------------
+            null        | `0` (same as `size()`)
+            boolean     | `1` (same as `size()`)
+            string      | `1` (same as `size()`)
+            number      | `1` (same as `size()`)
+            object      | result of function `object_t::max_size()`
+            array       | result of function `array_t::max_size()`
+
+    @complexity Constant, as long as @ref array_t and @ref object_t satisfy
+    the Container concept; that is, their `max_size()` functions have constant
+    complexity.
+
+    @requirement This function helps `basic_json` satisfying the
+    [Container](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/concept/Container)
+    requirements:
+    - The complexity is constant.
+    - Has the semantics of returning `b.size()` where `b` is the largest
+      possible JSON value.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code calls `max_size()` on the different value
+    types. Note the output is implementation specific.,max_size}
+
+    @sa @ref size() -- returns the number of elements
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    size_type max_size() const noexcept
+    {
+        switch (m_type)
+        {
+            case value_t::array:
+            {
+                // delegate call to array_t::max_size()
+                return m_value.array->max_size();
+            }
+
+            case value_t::object:
+            {
+                // delegate call to object_t::max_size()
+                return m_value.object->max_size();
+            }
+
+            default:
+            {
+                // all other types have max_size() == size()
+                return size();
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// @}
+
+
+    ///////////////
+    // modifiers //
+    ///////////////
+
+    /// @name modifiers
+    /// @{
+
+    /*!
+    @brief clears the contents
+
+    Clears the content of a JSON value and resets it to the default value as
+    if @ref basic_json(value_t) would have been called:
+
+    Value type  | initial value
+    ----------- | -------------
+    null        | `null`
+    boolean     | `false`
+    string      | `""`
+    number      | `0`
+    object      | `{}`
+    array       | `[]`
+
+    @complexity Linear in the size of the JSON value.
+
+    @liveexample{The example below shows the effect of `clear()` to different
+    JSON types.,clear}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    void clear() noexcept
+    {
+        switch (m_type)
+        {
+            case value_t::number_integer:
+            {
+                m_value.number_integer = 0;
+                break;
+            }
+
+            case value_t::number_unsigned:
+            {
+                m_value.number_unsigned = 0;
+                break;
+            }
+
+            case value_t::number_float:
+            {
+                m_value.number_float = 0.0;
+                break;
+            }
+
+            case value_t::boolean:
+            {
+                m_value.boolean = false;
+                break;
+            }
+
+            case value_t::string:
+            {
+                m_value.string->clear();
+                break;
+            }
+
+            case value_t::array:
+            {
+                m_value.array->clear();
+                break;
+            }
+
+            case value_t::object:
+            {
+                m_value.object->clear();
+                break;
+            }
+
+            default:
+            {
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief add an object to an array
+
+    Appends the given element @a val to the end of the JSON value. If the
+    function is called on a JSON null value, an empty array is created before
+    appending @a val.
+
+    @param[in] val the value to add to the JSON array
+
+    @throw type_error.308 when called on a type other than JSON array or
+    null; example: `"cannot use push_back() with number"`
+
+    @complexity Amortized constant.
+
+    @liveexample{The example shows how `push_back()` and `+=` can be used to
+    add elements to a JSON array. Note how the `null` value was silently
+    converted to a JSON array.,push_back}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    void push_back(basic_json&& val)
+    {
+        // push_back only works for null objects or arrays
+        if (not(is_null() or is_array()))
+        {
+            JSON_THROW(type_error::create(308, "cannot use push_back() with " + type_name()));
+        }
+
+        // transform null object into an array
+        if (is_null())
+        {
+            m_type = value_t::array;
+            m_value = value_t::array;
+            assert_invariant();
+        }
+
+        // add element to array (move semantics)
+        m_value.array->push_back(std::move(val));
+        // invalidate object
+        val.m_type = value_t::null;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief add an object to an array
+    @copydoc push_back(basic_json&&)
+    */
+    reference operator+=(basic_json&& val)
+    {
+        push_back(std::move(val));
+        return *this;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief add an object to an array
+    @copydoc push_back(basic_json&&)
+    */
+    void push_back(const basic_json& val)
+    {
+        // push_back only works for null objects or arrays
+        if (not(is_null() or is_array()))
+        {
+            JSON_THROW(type_error::create(308, "cannot use push_back() with " + type_name()));
+        }
+
+        // transform null object into an array
+        if (is_null())
+        {
+            m_type = value_t::array;
+            m_value = value_t::array;
+            assert_invariant();
+        }
+
+        // add element to array
+        m_value.array->push_back(val);
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief add an object to an array
+    @copydoc push_back(basic_json&&)
+    */
+    reference operator+=(const basic_json& val)
+    {
+        push_back(val);
+        return *this;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief add an object to an object
+
+    Inserts the given element @a val to the JSON object. If the function is
+    called on a JSON null value, an empty object is created before inserting
+    @a val.
+
+    @param[in] val the value to add to the JSON object
+
+    @throw type_error.308 when called on a type other than JSON object or
+    null; example: `"cannot use push_back() with number"`
+
+    @complexity Logarithmic in the size of the container, O(log(`size()`)).
+
+    @liveexample{The example shows how `push_back()` and `+=` can be used to
+    add elements to a JSON object. Note how the `null` value was silently
+    converted to a JSON object.,push_back__object_t__value}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    void push_back(const typename object_t::value_type& val)
+    {
+        // push_back only works for null objects or objects
+        if (not(is_null() or is_object()))
+        {
+            JSON_THROW(type_error::create(308, "cannot use push_back() with " + type_name()));
+        }
+
+        // transform null object into an object
+        if (is_null())
+        {
+            m_type = value_t::object;
+            m_value = value_t::object;
+            assert_invariant();
+        }
+
+        // add element to array
+        m_value.object->insert(val);
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief add an object to an object
+    @copydoc push_back(const typename object_t::value_type&)
+    */
+    reference operator+=(const typename object_t::value_type& val)
+    {
+        push_back(val);
+        return *this;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief add an object to an object
+
+    This function allows to use `push_back` with an initializer list. In case
+
+    1. the current value is an object,
+    2. the initializer list @a init contains only two elements, and
+    3. the first element of @a init is a string,
+
+    @a init is converted into an object element and added using
+    @ref push_back(const typename object_t::value_type&). Otherwise, @a init
+    is converted to a JSON value and added using @ref push_back(basic_json&&).
+
+    @param[in] init  an initializer list
+
+    @complexity Linear in the size of the initializer list @a init.
+
+    @note This function is required to resolve an ambiguous overload error,
+          because pairs like `{"key", "value"}` can be both interpreted as
+          `object_t::value_type` or `std::initializer_list<basic_json>`, see
+          https://github.com/nlohmann/json/issues/235 for more information.
+
+    @liveexample{The example shows how initializer lists are treated as
+    objects when possible.,push_back__initializer_list}
+    */
+    void push_back(std::initializer_list<basic_json> init)
+    {
+        if (is_object() and init.size() == 2 and init.begin()->is_string())
+        {
+            const string_t key = *init.begin();
+            push_back(typename object_t::value_type(key, *(init.begin() + 1)));
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            push_back(basic_json(init));
+        }
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief add an object to an object
+    @copydoc push_back(std::initializer_list<basic_json>)
+    */
+    reference operator+=(std::initializer_list<basic_json> init)
+    {
+        push_back(init);
+        return *this;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief add an object to an array
+
+    Creates a JSON value from the passed parameters @a args to the end of the
+    JSON value. If the function is called on a JSON null value, an empty array
+    is created before appending the value created from @a args.
+
+    @param[in] args arguments to forward to a constructor of @ref basic_json
+    @tparam Args compatible types to create a @ref basic_json object
+
+    @throw type_error.311 when called on a type other than JSON array or
+    null; example: `"cannot use emplace_back() with number"`
+
+    @complexity Amortized constant.
+
+    @liveexample{The example shows how `push_back()` can be used to add
+    elements to a JSON array. Note how the `null` value was silently converted
+    to a JSON array.,emplace_back}
+
+    @since version 2.0.8
+    */
+    template<class... Args>
+    void emplace_back(Args&& ... args)
+    {
+        // emplace_back only works for null objects or arrays
+        if (not(is_null() or is_array()))
+        {
+            JSON_THROW(type_error::create(311, "cannot use emplace_back() with " + type_name()));
+        }
+
+        // transform null object into an array
+        if (is_null())
+        {
+            m_type = value_t::array;
+            m_value = value_t::array;
+            assert_invariant();
+        }
+
+        // add element to array (perfect forwarding)
+        m_value.array->emplace_back(std::forward<Args>(args)...);
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief add an object to an object if key does not exist
+
+    Inserts a new element into a JSON object constructed in-place with the
+    given @a args if there is no element with the key in the container. If the
+    function is called on a JSON null value, an empty object is created before
+    appending the value created from @a args.
+
+    @param[in] args arguments to forward to a constructor of @ref basic_json
+    @tparam Args compatible types to create a @ref basic_json object
+
+    @return a pair consisting of an iterator to the inserted element, or the
+            already-existing element if no insertion happened, and a bool
+            denoting whether the insertion took place.
+
+    @throw type_error.311 when called on a type other than JSON object or
+    null; example: `"cannot use emplace() with number"`
+
+    @complexity Logarithmic in the size of the container, O(log(`size()`)).
+
+    @liveexample{The example shows how `emplace()` can be used to add elements
+    to a JSON object. Note how the `null` value was silently converted to a
+    JSON object. Further note how no value is added if there was already one
+    value stored with the same key.,emplace}
+
+    @since version 2.0.8
+    */
+    template<class... Args>
+    std::pair<iterator, bool> emplace(Args&& ... args)
+    {
+        // emplace only works for null objects or arrays
+        if (not(is_null() or is_object()))
+        {
+            JSON_THROW(type_error::create(311, "cannot use emplace() with " + type_name()));
+        }
+
+        // transform null object into an object
+        if (is_null())
+        {
+            m_type = value_t::object;
+            m_value = value_t::object;
+            assert_invariant();
+        }
+
+        // add element to array (perfect forwarding)
+        auto res = m_value.object->emplace(std::forward<Args>(args)...);
+        // create result iterator and set iterator to the result of emplace
+        auto it = begin();
+        it.m_it.object_iterator = res.first;
+
+        // return pair of iterator and boolean
+        return {it, res.second};
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief inserts element
+
+    Inserts element @a val before iterator @a pos.
+
+    @param[in] pos iterator before which the content will be inserted; may be
+    the end() iterator
+    @param[in] val element to insert
+    @return iterator pointing to the inserted @a val.
+
+    @throw type_error.309 if called on JSON values other than arrays;
+    example: `"cannot use insert() with string"`
+    @throw invalid_iterator.202 if @a pos is not an iterator of *this;
+    example: `"iterator does not fit current value"`
+
+    @complexity Constant plus linear in the distance between @a pos and end of
+    the container.
+
+    @liveexample{The example shows how `insert()` is used.,insert}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    iterator insert(const_iterator pos, const basic_json& val)
+    {
+        // insert only works for arrays
+        if (is_array())
+        {
+            // check if iterator pos fits to this JSON value
+            if (pos.m_object != this)
+            {
+                JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(202, "iterator does not fit current value"));
+            }
+
+            // insert to array and return iterator
+            iterator result(this);
+            result.m_it.array_iterator = m_value.array->insert(pos.m_it.array_iterator, val);
+            return result;
+        }
+
+        JSON_THROW(type_error::create(309, "cannot use insert() with " + type_name()));
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief inserts element
+    @copydoc insert(const_iterator, const basic_json&)
+    */
+    iterator insert(const_iterator pos, basic_json&& val)
+    {
+        return insert(pos, val);
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief inserts elements
+
+    Inserts @a cnt copies of @a val before iterator @a pos.
+
+    @param[in] pos iterator before which the content will be inserted; may be
+    the end() iterator
+    @param[in] cnt number of copies of @a val to insert
+    @param[in] val element to insert
+    @return iterator pointing to the first element inserted, or @a pos if
+    `cnt==0`
+
+    @throw type_error.309 if called on JSON values other than arrays; example:
+    `"cannot use insert() with string"`
+    @throw invalid_iterator.202 if @a pos is not an iterator of *this;
+    example: `"iterator does not fit current value"`
+
+    @complexity Linear in @a cnt plus linear in the distance between @a pos
+    and end of the container.
+
+    @liveexample{The example shows how `insert()` is used.,insert__count}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    iterator insert(const_iterator pos, size_type cnt, const basic_json& val)
+    {
+        // insert only works for arrays
+        if (is_array())
+        {
+            // check if iterator pos fits to this JSON value
+            if (pos.m_object != this)
+            {
+                JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(202, "iterator does not fit current value"));
+            }
+
+            // insert to array and return iterator
+            iterator result(this);
+            result.m_it.array_iterator = m_value.array->insert(pos.m_it.array_iterator, cnt, val);
+            return result;
+        }
+
+        JSON_THROW(type_error::create(309, "cannot use insert() with " + type_name()));
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief inserts elements
+
+    Inserts elements from range `[first, last)` before iterator @a pos.
+
+    @param[in] pos iterator before which the content will be inserted; may be
+    the end() iterator
+    @param[in] first begin of the range of elements to insert
+    @param[in] last end of the range of elements to insert
+
+    @throw type_error.309 if called on JSON values other than arrays; example:
+    `"cannot use insert() with string"`
+    @throw invalid_iterator.202 if @a pos is not an iterator of *this;
+    example: `"iterator does not fit current value"`
+    @throw invalid_iterator.210 if @a first and @a last do not belong to the
+    same JSON value; example: `"iterators do not fit"`
+    @throw invalid_iterator.211 if @a first or @a last are iterators into
+    container for which insert is called; example: `"passed iterators may not
+    belong to container"`
+
+    @return iterator pointing to the first element inserted, or @a pos if
+    `first==last`
+
+    @complexity Linear in `std::distance(first, last)` plus linear in the
+    distance between @a pos and end of the container.
+
+    @liveexample{The example shows how `insert()` is used.,insert__range}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    iterator insert(const_iterator pos, const_iterator first, const_iterator last)
+    {
+        // insert only works for arrays
+        if (not is_array())
+        {
+            JSON_THROW(type_error::create(309, "cannot use insert() with " + type_name()));
+        }
+
+        // check if iterator pos fits to this JSON value
+        if (pos.m_object != this)
+        {
+            JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(202, "iterator does not fit current value"));
+        }
+
+        // check if range iterators belong to the same JSON object
+        if (first.m_object != last.m_object)
+        {
+            JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(210, "iterators do not fit"));
+        }
+
+        if (first.m_object == this or last.m_object == this)
+        {
+            JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(211, "passed iterators may not belong to container"));
+        }
+
+        // insert to array and return iterator
+        iterator result(this);
+        result.m_it.array_iterator = m_value.array->insert(
+                                         pos.m_it.array_iterator,
+                                         first.m_it.array_iterator,
+                                         last.m_it.array_iterator);
+        return result;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief inserts elements
+
+    Inserts elements from initializer list @a ilist before iterator @a pos.
+
+    @param[in] pos iterator before which the content will be inserted; may be
+    the end() iterator
+    @param[in] ilist initializer list to insert the values from
+
+    @throw type_error.309 if called on JSON values other than arrays; example:
+    `"cannot use insert() with string"`
+    @throw invalid_iterator.202 if @a pos is not an iterator of *this;
+    example: `"iterator does not fit current value"`
+
+    @return iterator pointing to the first element inserted, or @a pos if
+    `ilist` is empty
+
+    @complexity Linear in `ilist.size()` plus linear in the distance between
+    @a pos and end of the container.
+
+    @liveexample{The example shows how `insert()` is used.,insert__ilist}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    iterator insert(const_iterator pos, std::initializer_list<basic_json> ilist)
+    {
+        // insert only works for arrays
+        if (not is_array())
+        {
+            JSON_THROW(type_error::create(309, "cannot use insert() with " + type_name()));
+        }
+
+        // check if iterator pos fits to this JSON value
+        if (pos.m_object != this)
+        {
+            JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(202, "iterator does not fit current value"));
+        }
+
+        // insert to array and return iterator
+        iterator result(this);
+        result.m_it.array_iterator = m_value.array->insert(pos.m_it.array_iterator, ilist);
+        return result;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief inserts elements
+
+    Inserts elements from range `[first, last)`.
+
+    @param[in] first begin of the range of elements to insert
+    @param[in] last end of the range of elements to insert
+
+    @throw type_error.309 if called on JSON values other than objects; example:
+    `"cannot use insert() with string"`
+    @throw invalid_iterator.202 if iterator @a first or @a last does does not
+    point to an object; example: `"iterators first and last must point to
+    objects"`
+    @throw invalid_iterator.210 if @a first and @a last do not belong to the
+    same JSON value; example: `"iterators do not fit"`
+
+    @complexity Logarithmic: `O(N*log(size() + N))`, where `N` is the number
+    of elements to insert.
+
+    @liveexample{The example shows how `insert()` is used.,insert__range_object}
+
+    @since version 3.0.0
+    */
+    void insert(const_iterator first, const_iterator last)
+    {
+        // insert only works for objects
+        if (not is_object())
+        {
+            JSON_THROW(type_error::create(309, "cannot use insert() with " + type_name()));
+        }
+
+        // check if range iterators belong to the same JSON object
+        if (first.m_object != last.m_object)
+        {
+            JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(210, "iterators do not fit"));
+        }
+
+        // passed iterators must belong to objects
+        if (not first.m_object->is_object() or not first.m_object->is_object())
+        {
+            JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(202, "iterators first and last must point to objects"));
+        }
+
+        m_value.object->insert(first.m_it.object_iterator, last.m_it.object_iterator);
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief exchanges the values
+
+    Exchanges the contents of the JSON value with those of @a other. Does not
+    invoke any move, copy, or swap operations on individual elements. All
+    iterators and references remain valid. The past-the-end iterator is
+    invalidated.
+
+    @param[in,out] other JSON value to exchange the contents with
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @liveexample{The example below shows how JSON values can be swapped with
+    `swap()`.,swap__reference}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    void swap(reference other) noexcept (
+        std::is_nothrow_move_constructible<value_t>::value and
+        std::is_nothrow_move_assignable<value_t>::value and
+        std::is_nothrow_move_constructible<json_value>::value and
+        std::is_nothrow_move_assignable<json_value>::value
+    )
+    {
+        std::swap(m_type, other.m_type);
+        std::swap(m_value, other.m_value);
+        assert_invariant();
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief exchanges the values
+
+    Exchanges the contents of a JSON array with those of @a other. Does not
+    invoke any move, copy, or swap operations on individual elements. All
+    iterators and references remain valid. The past-the-end iterator is
+    invalidated.
+
+    @param[in,out] other array to exchange the contents with
+
+    @throw type_error.310 when JSON value is not an array; example: `"cannot
+    use swap() with string"`
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @liveexample{The example below shows how arrays can be swapped with
+    `swap()`.,swap__array_t}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    void swap(array_t& other)
+    {
+        // swap only works for arrays
+        if (is_array())
+        {
+            std::swap(*(m_value.array), other);
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            JSON_THROW(type_error::create(310, "cannot use swap() with " + type_name()));
+        }
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief exchanges the values
+
+    Exchanges the contents of a JSON object with those of @a other. Does not
+    invoke any move, copy, or swap operations on individual elements. All
+    iterators and references remain valid. The past-the-end iterator is
+    invalidated.
+
+    @param[in,out] other object to exchange the contents with
+
+    @throw type_error.310 when JSON value is not an object; example:
+    `"cannot use swap() with string"`
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @liveexample{The example below shows how objects can be swapped with
+    `swap()`.,swap__object_t}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    void swap(object_t& other)
+    {
+        // swap only works for objects
+        if (is_object())
+        {
+            std::swap(*(m_value.object), other);
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            JSON_THROW(type_error::create(310, "cannot use swap() with " + type_name()));
+        }
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief exchanges the values
+
+    Exchanges the contents of a JSON string with those of @a other. Does not
+    invoke any move, copy, or swap operations on individual elements. All
+    iterators and references remain valid. The past-the-end iterator is
+    invalidated.
+
+    @param[in,out] other string to exchange the contents with
+
+    @throw type_error.310 when JSON value is not a string; example: `"cannot
+    use swap() with boolean"`
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @liveexample{The example below shows how strings can be swapped with
+    `swap()`.,swap__string_t}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    void swap(string_t& other)
+    {
+        // swap only works for strings
+        if (is_string())
+        {
+            std::swap(*(m_value.string), other);
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            JSON_THROW(type_error::create(310, "cannot use swap() with " + type_name()));
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// @}
+
+  public:
+    //////////////////////////////////////////
+    // lexicographical comparison operators //
+    //////////////////////////////////////////
+
+    /// @name lexicographical comparison operators
+    /// @{
+
+    /*!
+    @brief comparison: equal
+
+    Compares two JSON values for equality according to the following rules:
+    - Two JSON values are equal if (1) they are from the same type and (2)
+      their stored values are the same according to their respective
+      `operator==`.
+    - Integer and floating-point numbers are automatically converted before
+      comparison. Note than two NaN values are always treated as unequal.
+    - Two JSON null values are equal.
+
+    @note NaN values never compare equal to themselves or to other NaN values.
+
+    @param[in] lhs  first JSON value to consider
+    @param[in] rhs  second JSON value to consider
+    @return whether the values @a lhs and @a rhs are equal
+
+    @complexity Linear.
+
+    @liveexample{The example demonstrates comparing several JSON
+    types.,operator__equal}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    friend bool operator==(const_reference lhs, const_reference rhs) noexcept
+    {
+        const auto lhs_type = lhs.type();
+        const auto rhs_type = rhs.type();
+
+        if (lhs_type == rhs_type)
+        {
+            switch (lhs_type)
+            {
+                case value_t::array:
+                {
+                    return *lhs.m_value.array == *rhs.m_value.array;
+                }
+                case value_t::object:
+                {
+                    return *lhs.m_value.object == *rhs.m_value.object;
+                }
+                case value_t::null:
+                {
+                    return true;
+                }
+                case value_t::string:
+                {
+                    return *lhs.m_value.string == *rhs.m_value.string;
+                }
+                case value_t::boolean:
+                {
+                    return lhs.m_value.boolean == rhs.m_value.boolean;
+                }
+                case value_t::number_integer:
+                {
+                    return lhs.m_value.number_integer == rhs.m_value.number_integer;
+                }
+                case value_t::number_unsigned:
+                {
+                    return lhs.m_value.number_unsigned == rhs.m_value.number_unsigned;
+                }
+                case value_t::number_float:
+                {
+                    return lhs.m_value.number_float == rhs.m_value.number_float;
+                }
+                default:
+                {
+                    return false;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        else if (lhs_type == value_t::number_integer and rhs_type == value_t::number_float)
+        {
+            return static_cast<number_float_t>(lhs.m_value.number_integer) == rhs.m_value.number_float;
+        }
+        else if (lhs_type == value_t::number_float and rhs_type == value_t::number_integer)
+        {
+            return lhs.m_value.number_float == static_cast<number_float_t>(rhs.m_value.number_integer);
+        }
+        else if (lhs_type == value_t::number_unsigned and rhs_type == value_t::number_float)
+        {
+            return static_cast<number_float_t>(lhs.m_value.number_unsigned) == rhs.m_value.number_float;
+        }
+        else if (lhs_type == value_t::number_float and rhs_type == value_t::number_unsigned)
+        {
+            return lhs.m_value.number_float == static_cast<number_float_t>(rhs.m_value.number_unsigned);
+        }
+        else if (lhs_type == value_t::number_unsigned and rhs_type == value_t::number_integer)
+        {
+            return static_cast<number_integer_t>(lhs.m_value.number_unsigned) == rhs.m_value.number_integer;
+        }
+        else if (lhs_type == value_t::number_integer and rhs_type == value_t::number_unsigned)
+        {
+            return lhs.m_value.number_integer == static_cast<number_integer_t>(rhs.m_value.number_unsigned);
+        }
+
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief comparison: equal
+    @copydoc operator==(const_reference, const_reference)
+    */
+    template<typename ScalarType, typename std::enable_if<
+                 std::is_scalar<ScalarType>::value, int>::type = 0>
+    friend bool operator==(const_reference lhs, const ScalarType rhs) noexcept
+    {
+        return (lhs == basic_json(rhs));
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief comparison: equal
+    @copydoc operator==(const_reference, const_reference)
+    */
+    template<typename ScalarType, typename std::enable_if<
+                 std::is_scalar<ScalarType>::value, int>::type = 0>
+    friend bool operator==(const ScalarType lhs, const_reference rhs) noexcept
+    {
+        return (basic_json(lhs) == rhs);
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief comparison: not equal
+
+    Compares two JSON values for inequality by calculating `not (lhs == rhs)`.
+
+    @param[in] lhs  first JSON value to consider
+    @param[in] rhs  second JSON value to consider
+    @return whether the values @a lhs and @a rhs are not equal
+
+    @complexity Linear.
+
+    @liveexample{The example demonstrates comparing several JSON
+    types.,operator__notequal}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    friend bool operator!=(const_reference lhs, const_reference rhs) noexcept
+    {
+        return not (lhs == rhs);
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief comparison: not equal
+    @copydoc operator!=(const_reference, const_reference)
+    */
+    template<typename ScalarType, typename std::enable_if<
+                 std::is_scalar<ScalarType>::value, int>::type = 0>
+    friend bool operator!=(const_reference lhs, const ScalarType rhs) noexcept
+    {
+        return (lhs != basic_json(rhs));
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief comparison: not equal
+    @copydoc operator!=(const_reference, const_reference)
+    */
+    template<typename ScalarType, typename std::enable_if<
+                 std::is_scalar<ScalarType>::value, int>::type = 0>
+    friend bool operator!=(const ScalarType lhs, const_reference rhs) noexcept
+    {
+        return (basic_json(lhs) != rhs);
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief comparison: less than
+
+    Compares whether one JSON value @a lhs is less than another JSON value @a
+    rhs according to the following rules:
+    - If @a lhs and @a rhs have the same type, the values are compared using
+      the default `<` operator.
+    - Integer and floating-point numbers are automatically converted before
+      comparison
+    - In case @a lhs and @a rhs have different types, the values are ignored
+      and the order of the types is considered, see
+      @ref operator<(const value_t, const value_t).
+
+    @param[in] lhs  first JSON value to consider
+    @param[in] rhs  second JSON value to consider
+    @return whether @a lhs is less than @a rhs
+
+    @complexity Linear.
+
+    @liveexample{The example demonstrates comparing several JSON
+    types.,operator__less}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    friend bool operator<(const_reference lhs, const_reference rhs) noexcept
+    {
+        const auto lhs_type = lhs.type();
+        const auto rhs_type = rhs.type();
+
+        if (lhs_type == rhs_type)
+        {
+            switch (lhs_type)
+            {
+                case value_t::array:
+                {
+                    return (*lhs.m_value.array) < (*rhs.m_value.array);
+                }
+                case value_t::object:
+                {
+                    return *lhs.m_value.object < *rhs.m_value.object;
+                }
+                case value_t::null:
+                {
+                    return false;
+                }
+                case value_t::string:
+                {
+                    return *lhs.m_value.string < *rhs.m_value.string;
+                }
+                case value_t::boolean:
+                {
+                    return lhs.m_value.boolean < rhs.m_value.boolean;
+                }
+                case value_t::number_integer:
+                {
+                    return lhs.m_value.number_integer < rhs.m_value.number_integer;
+                }
+                case value_t::number_unsigned:
+                {
+                    return lhs.m_value.number_unsigned < rhs.m_value.number_unsigned;
+                }
+                case value_t::number_float:
+                {
+                    return lhs.m_value.number_float < rhs.m_value.number_float;
+                }
+                default:
+                {
+                    return false;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        else if (lhs_type == value_t::number_integer and rhs_type == value_t::number_float)
+        {
+            return static_cast<number_float_t>(lhs.m_value.number_integer) < rhs.m_value.number_float;
+        }
+        else if (lhs_type == value_t::number_float and rhs_type == value_t::number_integer)
+        {
+            return lhs.m_value.number_float < static_cast<number_float_t>(rhs.m_value.number_integer);
+        }
+        else if (lhs_type == value_t::number_unsigned and rhs_type == value_t::number_float)
+        {
+            return static_cast<number_float_t>(lhs.m_value.number_unsigned) < rhs.m_value.number_float;
+        }
+        else if (lhs_type == value_t::number_float and rhs_type == value_t::number_unsigned)
+        {
+            return lhs.m_value.number_float < static_cast<number_float_t>(rhs.m_value.number_unsigned);
+        }
+        else if (lhs_type == value_t::number_integer and rhs_type == value_t::number_unsigned)
+        {
+            return lhs.m_value.number_integer < static_cast<number_integer_t>(rhs.m_value.number_unsigned);
+        }
+        else if (lhs_type == value_t::number_unsigned and rhs_type == value_t::number_integer)
+        {
+            return static_cast<number_integer_t>(lhs.m_value.number_unsigned) < rhs.m_value.number_integer;
+        }
+
+        // We only reach this line if we cannot compare values. In that case,
+        // we compare types. Note we have to call the operator explicitly,
+        // because MSVC has problems otherwise.
+        return operator<(lhs_type, rhs_type);
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief comparison: less than
+    @copydoc operator<(const_reference, const_reference)
+    */
+    template<typename ScalarType, typename std::enable_if<
+                 std::is_scalar<ScalarType>::value, int>::type = 0>
+    friend bool operator<(const_reference lhs, const ScalarType rhs) noexcept
+    {
+        return (lhs < basic_json(rhs));
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief comparison: less than
+    @copydoc operator<(const_reference, const_reference)
+    */
+    template<typename ScalarType, typename std::enable_if<
+                 std::is_scalar<ScalarType>::value, int>::type = 0>
+    friend bool operator<(const ScalarType lhs, const_reference rhs) noexcept
+    {
+        return (basic_json(lhs) < rhs);
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief comparison: less than or equal
+
+    Compares whether one JSON value @a lhs is less than or equal to another
+    JSON value by calculating `not (rhs < lhs)`.
+
+    @param[in] lhs  first JSON value to consider
+    @param[in] rhs  second JSON value to consider
+    @return whether @a lhs is less than or equal to @a rhs
+
+    @complexity Linear.
+
+    @liveexample{The example demonstrates comparing several JSON
+    types.,operator__greater}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    friend bool operator<=(const_reference lhs, const_reference rhs) noexcept
+    {
+        return not (rhs < lhs);
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief comparison: less than or equal
+    @copydoc operator<=(const_reference, const_reference)
+    */
+    template<typename ScalarType, typename std::enable_if<
+                 std::is_scalar<ScalarType>::value, int>::type = 0>
+    friend bool operator<=(const_reference lhs, const ScalarType rhs) noexcept
+    {
+        return (lhs <= basic_json(rhs));
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief comparison: less than or equal
+    @copydoc operator<=(const_reference, const_reference)
+    */
+    template<typename ScalarType, typename std::enable_if<
+                 std::is_scalar<ScalarType>::value, int>::type = 0>
+    friend bool operator<=(const ScalarType lhs, const_reference rhs) noexcept
+    {
+        return (basic_json(lhs) <= rhs);
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief comparison: greater than
+
+    Compares whether one JSON value @a lhs is greater than another
+    JSON value by calculating `not (lhs <= rhs)`.
+
+    @param[in] lhs  first JSON value to consider
+    @param[in] rhs  second JSON value to consider
+    @return whether @a lhs is greater than to @a rhs
+
+    @complexity Linear.
+
+    @liveexample{The example demonstrates comparing several JSON
+    types.,operator__lessequal}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    friend bool operator>(const_reference lhs, const_reference rhs) noexcept
+    {
+        return not (lhs <= rhs);
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief comparison: greater than
+    @copydoc operator>(const_reference, const_reference)
+    */
+    template<typename ScalarType, typename std::enable_if<
+                 std::is_scalar<ScalarType>::value, int>::type = 0>
+    friend bool operator>(const_reference lhs, const ScalarType rhs) noexcept
+    {
+        return (lhs > basic_json(rhs));
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief comparison: greater than
+    @copydoc operator>(const_reference, const_reference)
+    */
+    template<typename ScalarType, typename std::enable_if<
+                 std::is_scalar<ScalarType>::value, int>::type = 0>
+    friend bool operator>(const ScalarType lhs, const_reference rhs) noexcept
+    {
+        return (basic_json(lhs) > rhs);
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief comparison: greater than or equal
+
+    Compares whether one JSON value @a lhs is greater than or equal to another
+    JSON value by calculating `not (lhs < rhs)`.
+
+    @param[in] lhs  first JSON value to consider
+    @param[in] rhs  second JSON value to consider
+    @return whether @a lhs is greater than or equal to @a rhs
+
+    @complexity Linear.
+
+    @liveexample{The example demonstrates comparing several JSON
+    types.,operator__greaterequal}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    friend bool operator>=(const_reference lhs, const_reference rhs) noexcept
+    {
+        return not (lhs < rhs);
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief comparison: greater than or equal
+    @copydoc operator>=(const_reference, const_reference)
+    */
+    template<typename ScalarType, typename std::enable_if<
+                 std::is_scalar<ScalarType>::value, int>::type = 0>
+    friend bool operator>=(const_reference lhs, const ScalarType rhs) noexcept
+    {
+        return (lhs >= basic_json(rhs));
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief comparison: greater than or equal
+    @copydoc operator>=(const_reference, const_reference)
+    */
+    template<typename ScalarType, typename std::enable_if<
+                 std::is_scalar<ScalarType>::value, int>::type = 0>
+    friend bool operator>=(const ScalarType lhs, const_reference rhs) noexcept
+    {
+        return (basic_json(lhs) >= rhs);
+    }
+
+    /// @}
+
+  private:
+    /////////////////////
+    // output adapters //
+    /////////////////////
+
+    /// abstract output adapter interface
+    template<typename CharType>
+    class output_adapter
+    {
+      public:
+        virtual void write_character(CharType c) = 0;
+        virtual void write_characters(const CharType* s, size_t length) = 0;
+        virtual ~output_adapter() {}
+
+        static std::shared_ptr<output_adapter<CharType>> create(std::vector<CharType>& vec)
+        {
+            return std::make_shared<output_vector_adapter<CharType>>(vec);
+        }
+
+        static std::shared_ptr<output_adapter<CharType>> create(std::ostream& s)
+        {
+            return std::make_shared<output_stream_adapter<CharType>>(s);
+        }
+
+        static std::shared_ptr<output_adapter<CharType>> create(std::string& s)
+        {
+            return std::make_shared<output_string_adapter<CharType>>(s);
+        }
+    };
+
+    /// a type to simplify interfaces
+    template<typename CharType>
+    using output_adapter_t = std::shared_ptr<output_adapter<CharType>>;
+
+    /// output adapter for byte vectors
+    template<typename CharType>
+    class output_vector_adapter : public output_adapter<CharType>
+    {
+      public:
+        output_vector_adapter(std::vector<CharType>& vec)
+            : v(vec)
+        {}
+
+        void write_character(CharType c) override
+        {
+            v.push_back(c);
+        }
+
+        void write_characters(const CharType* s, size_t length) override
+        {
+            std::copy(s, s + length, std::back_inserter(v));
+        }
+
+      private:
+        std::vector<CharType>& v;
+    };
+
+    /// output adapter for output streams
+    template<typename CharType>
+    class output_stream_adapter : public output_adapter<CharType>
+    {
+      public:
+        output_stream_adapter(std::basic_ostream<CharType>& s)
+            : stream(s)
+        {}
+
+        void write_character(CharType c) override
+        {
+            stream.put(c);
+        }
+
+        void write_characters(const CharType* s, size_t length) override
+        {
+            stream.write(s, static_cast<std::streamsize>(length));
+        }
+
+      private:
+        std::basic_ostream<CharType>& stream;
+    };
+
+    /// output adapter for basic_string
+    template<typename CharType>
+    class output_string_adapter : public output_adapter<CharType>
+    {
+      public:
+        output_string_adapter(std::string& s)
+            : str(s)
+        {}
+
+        void write_character(CharType c) override
+        {
+            str.push_back(c);
+        }
+
+        void write_characters(const CharType* s, size_t length) override
+        {
+            str.append(s, length);
+        }
+
+      private:
+        std::basic_string<CharType>& str;
+    };
+
+
+    ///////////////////
+    // serialization //
+    ///////////////////
+
+    /// @name serialization
+    /// @{
+
+  private:
+    /*!
+    @brief wrapper around the serialization functions
+    */
+    class serializer
+    {
+      public:
+        /*!
+        @param[in] s  output stream to serialize to
+        @param[in] ichar  indentation character to use
+        */
+        serializer(output_adapter_t<char> s, const char ichar)
+            : o(s), loc(std::localeconv()),
+              thousands_sep(!loc->thousands_sep ? '\0' : loc->thousands_sep[0]),
+              decimal_point(!loc->decimal_point ? '\0' : loc->decimal_point[0]),
+              indent_char(ichar), indent_string(512, indent_char)
+        {}
+
+        // delete because of pointer members
+        serializer(const serializer&) = delete;
+        serializer& operator=(const serializer&) = delete;
+
+        /*!
+        @brief internal implementation of the serialization function
+
+        This function is called by the public member function dump and
+        organizes the serialization internally. The indentation level is
+        propagated as additional parameter. In case of arrays and objects, the
+        function is called recursively.
+
+        - strings and object keys are escaped using `escape_string()`
+        - integer numbers are converted implicitly via `operator<<`
+        - floating-point numbers are converted to a string using `"%g"` format
+
+        @param[in] val             value to serialize
+        @param[in] pretty_print    whether the output shall be pretty-printed
+        @param[in] indent_step     the indent level
+        @param[in] current_indent  the current indent level (only used internally)
+        */
+        void dump(const basic_json& val,
+                  const bool pretty_print,
+                  const unsigned int indent_step,
+                  const unsigned int current_indent = 0)
+        {
+            switch (val.m_type)
+            {
+                case value_t::object:
+                {
+                    if (val.m_value.object->empty())
+                    {
+                        o->write_characters("{}", 2);
+                        return;
+                    }
+
+                    if (pretty_print)
+                    {
+                        o->write_characters("{\n", 2);
+
+                        // variable to hold indentation for recursive calls
+                        const auto new_indent = current_indent + indent_step;
+                        if (JSON_UNLIKELY(indent_string.size() < new_indent))
+                        {
+                            indent_string.resize(indent_string.size() * 2, ' ');
+                        }
+
+                        // first n-1 elements
+                        auto i = val.m_value.object->cbegin();
+                        for (size_t cnt = 0; cnt < val.m_value.object->size() - 1; ++cnt, ++i)
+                        {
+                            o->write_characters(indent_string.c_str(), new_indent);
+                            o->write_character('\"');
+                            dump_escaped(i->first);
+                            o->write_characters("\": ", 3);
+                            dump(i->second, true, indent_step, new_indent);
+                            o->write_characters(",\n", 2);
+                        }
+
+                        // last element
+                        assert(i != val.m_value.object->cend());
+                        o->write_characters(indent_string.c_str(), new_indent);
+                        o->write_character('\"');
+                        dump_escaped(i->first);
+                        o->write_characters("\": ", 3);
+                        dump(i->second, true, indent_step, new_indent);
+
+                        o->write_character('\n');
+                        o->write_characters(indent_string.c_str(), current_indent);
+                        o->write_character('}');
+                    }
+                    else
+                    {
+                        o->write_character('{');
+
+                        // first n-1 elements
+                        auto i = val.m_value.object->cbegin();
+                        for (size_t cnt = 0; cnt < val.m_value.object->size() - 1; ++cnt, ++i)
+                        {
+                            o->write_character('\"');
+                            dump_escaped(i->first);
+                            o->write_characters("\":", 2);
+                            dump(i->second, false, indent_step, current_indent);
+                            o->write_character(',');
+                        }
+
+                        // last element
+                        assert(i != val.m_value.object->cend());
+                        o->write_character('\"');
+                        dump_escaped(i->first);
+                        o->write_characters("\":", 2);
+                        dump(i->second, false, indent_step, current_indent);
+
+                        o->write_character('}');
+                    }
+
+                    return;
+                }
+
+                case value_t::array:
+                {
+                    if (val.m_value.array->empty())
+                    {
+                        o->write_characters("[]", 2);
+                        return;
+                    }
+
+                    if (pretty_print)
+                    {
+                        o->write_characters("[\n", 2);
+
+                        // variable to hold indentation for recursive calls
+                        const auto new_indent = current_indent + indent_step;
+                        if (indent_string.size() < new_indent)
+                        {
+                            indent_string.resize(new_indent, ' ');
+                        }
+
+                        // first n-1 elements
+                        for (auto i = val.m_value.array->cbegin(); i != val.m_value.array->cend() - 1; ++i)
+                        {
+                            o->write_characters(indent_string.c_str(), new_indent);
+                            dump(*i, true, indent_step, new_indent);
+                            o->write_characters(",\n", 2);
+                        }
+
+                        // last element
+                        assert(not val.m_value.array->empty());
+                        o->write_characters(indent_string.c_str(), new_indent);
+                        dump(val.m_value.array->back(), true, indent_step, new_indent);
+
+                        o->write_character('\n');
+                        o->write_characters(indent_string.c_str(), current_indent);
+                        o->write_character(']');
+                    }
+                    else
+                    {
+                        o->write_character('[');
+
+                        // first n-1 elements
+                        for (auto i = val.m_value.array->cbegin(); i != val.m_value.array->cend() - 1; ++i)
+                        {
+                            dump(*i, false, indent_step, current_indent);
+                            o->write_character(',');
+                        }
+
+                        // last element
+                        assert(not val.m_value.array->empty());
+                        dump(val.m_value.array->back(), false, indent_step, current_indent);
+
+                        o->write_character(']');
+                    }
+
+                    return;
+                }
+
+                case value_t::string:
+                {
+                    o->write_character('\"');
+                    dump_escaped(*val.m_value.string);
+                    o->write_character('\"');
+                    return;
+                }
+
+                case value_t::boolean:
+                {
+                    if (val.m_value.boolean)
+                    {
+                        o->write_characters("true", 4);
+                    }
+                    else
+                    {
+                        o->write_characters("false", 5);
+                    }
+                    return;
+                }
+
+                case value_t::number_integer:
+                {
+                    dump_integer(val.m_value.number_integer);
+                    return;
+                }
+
+                case value_t::number_unsigned:
+                {
+                    dump_integer(val.m_value.number_unsigned);
+                    return;
+                }
+
+                case value_t::number_float:
+                {
+                    dump_float(val.m_value.number_float);
+                    return;
+                }
+
+                case value_t::discarded:
+                {
+                    o->write_characters("<discarded>", 11);
+                    return;
+                }
+
+                case value_t::null:
+                {
+                    o->write_characters("null", 4);
+                    return;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+      private:
+        /*!
+        @brief calculates the extra space to escape a JSON string
+
+        @param[in] s  the string to escape
+        @return the number of characters required to escape string @a s
+
+        @complexity Linear in the length of string @a s.
+        */
+        static std::size_t extra_space(const string_t& s) noexcept
+        {
+            return std::accumulate(s.begin(), s.end(), size_t{},
+                                   [](size_t res, typename string_t::value_type c)
+            {
+                switch (c)
+                {
+                    case '"':
+                    case '\\':
+                    case '\b':
+                    case '\f':
+                    case '\n':
+                    case '\r':
+                    case '\t':
+                    {
+                        // from c (1 byte) to \x (2 bytes)
+                        return res + 1;
+                    }
+
+                    case 0x00:
+                    case 0x01:
+                    case 0x02:
+                    case 0x03:
+                    case 0x04:
+                    case 0x05:
+                    case 0x06:
+                    case 0x07:
+                    case 0x0b:
+                    case 0x0e:
+                    case 0x0f:
+                    case 0x10:
+                    case 0x11:
+                    case 0x12:
+                    case 0x13:
+                    case 0x14:
+                    case 0x15:
+                    case 0x16:
+                    case 0x17:
+                    case 0x18:
+                    case 0x19:
+                    case 0x1a:
+                    case 0x1b:
+                    case 0x1c:
+                    case 0x1d:
+                    case 0x1e:
+                    case 0x1f:
+                    {
+                        // from c (1 byte) to \uxxxx (6 bytes)
+                        return res + 5;
+                    }
+
+                    default:
+                    {
+                        return res;
+                    }
+                }
+            });
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief dump escaped string
+
+        Escape a string by replacing certain special characters by a sequence
+        of an escape character (backslash) and another character and other
+        control characters by a sequence of "\u" followed by a four-digit hex
+        representation. The escaped string is written to output stream @a o.
+
+        @param[in] s  the string to escape
+
+        @complexity Linear in the length of string @a s.
+        */
+        void dump_escaped(const string_t& s) const
+        {
+            const auto space = extra_space(s);
+            if (space == 0)
+            {
+                o->write_characters(s.c_str(), s.size());
+                return;
+            }
+
+            // create a result string of necessary size
+            string_t result(s.size() + space, '\\');
+            std::size_t pos = 0;
+
+            for (const auto& c : s)
+            {
+                switch (c)
+                {
+                    // quotation mark (0x22)
+                    case '"':
+                    {
+                        result[pos + 1] = '"';
+                        pos += 2;
+                        break;
+                    }
+
+                    // reverse solidus (0x5c)
+                    case '\\':
+                    {
+                        // nothing to change
+                        pos += 2;
+                        break;
+                    }
+
+                    // backspace (0x08)
+                    case '\b':
+                    {
+                        result[pos + 1] = 'b';
+                        pos += 2;
+                        break;
+                    }
+
+                    // formfeed (0x0c)
+                    case '\f':
+                    {
+                        result[pos + 1] = 'f';
+                        pos += 2;
+                        break;
+                    }
+
+                    // newline (0x0a)
+                    case '\n':
+                    {
+                        result[pos + 1] = 'n';
+                        pos += 2;
+                        break;
+                    }
+
+                    // carriage return (0x0d)
+                    case '\r':
+                    {
+                        result[pos + 1] = 'r';
+                        pos += 2;
+                        break;
+                    }
+
+                    // horizontal tab (0x09)
+                    case '\t':
+                    {
+                        result[pos + 1] = 't';
+                        pos += 2;
+                        break;
+                    }
+
+                    case 0x00:
+                    case 0x01:
+                    case 0x02:
+                    case 0x03:
+                    case 0x04:
+                    case 0x05:
+                    case 0x06:
+                    case 0x07:
+                    case 0x0b:
+                    case 0x0e:
+                    case 0x0f:
+                    case 0x10:
+                    case 0x11:
+                    case 0x12:
+                    case 0x13:
+                    case 0x14:
+                    case 0x15:
+                    case 0x16:
+                    case 0x17:
+                    case 0x18:
+                    case 0x19:
+                    case 0x1a:
+                    case 0x1b:
+                    case 0x1c:
+                    case 0x1d:
+                    case 0x1e:
+                    case 0x1f:
+                    {
+                        // convert a number 0..15 to its hex representation
+                        // (0..f)
+                        static const char hexify[16] =
+                        {
+                            '0', '1', '2', '3', '4', '5', '6', '7',
+                            '8', '9', 'a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e', 'f'
+                        };
+
+                        // print character c as \uxxxx
+                        for (const char m :
+                    { 'u', '0', '0', hexify[c >> 4], hexify[c & 0x0f]
+                        })
+                        {
+                            result[++pos] = m;
+                        }
+
+                        ++pos;
+                        break;
+                    }
+
+                    default:
+                    {
+                        // all other characters are added as-is
+                        result[pos++] = c;
+                        break;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
+            assert(pos == s.size() + space);
+            o->write_characters(result.c_str(), result.size());
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief dump an integer
+
+        Dump a given integer to output stream @a o. Works internally with
+        @a number_buffer.
+
+        @param[in] x  integer number (signed or unsigned) to dump
+        @tparam NumberType either @a number_integer_t or @a number_unsigned_t
+        */
+        template<typename NumberType, detail::enable_if_t <
+                     std::is_same<NumberType, number_unsigned_t>::value or
+                     std::is_same<NumberType, number_integer_t>::value, int> = 0>
+        void dump_integer(NumberType x)
+        {
+            // special case for "0"
+            if (x == 0)
+            {
+                o->write_character('0');
+                return;
+            }
+
+            const bool is_negative = x < 0;
+            size_t i = 0;
+
+            // spare 1 byte for '\0'
+            while (x != 0 and i < number_buffer.size() - 1)
+            {
+                const auto digit = std::labs(static_cast<long>(x % 10));
+                number_buffer[i++] = static_cast<char>('0' + digit);
+                x /= 10;
+            }
+
+            // make sure the number has been processed completely
+            assert(x == 0);
+
+            if (is_negative)
+            {
+                // make sure there is capacity for the '-'
+                assert(i < number_buffer.size() - 2);
+                number_buffer[i++] = '-';
+            }
+
+            std::reverse(number_buffer.begin(), number_buffer.begin() + i);
+            o->write_characters(number_buffer.data(), i);
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief dump a floating-point number
+
+        Dump a given floating-point number to output stream @a o. Works
+        internally with @a number_buffer.
+
+        @param[in] x  floating-point number to dump
+        */
+        void dump_float(number_float_t x)
+        {
+            // NaN / inf
+            if (not std::isfinite(x) or std::isnan(x))
+            {
+                o->write_characters("null", 4);
+                return;
+            }
+
+            // special case for 0.0 and -0.0
+            if (x == 0)
+            {
+                if (std::signbit(x))
+                {
+                    o->write_characters("-0.0", 4);
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    o->write_characters("0.0", 3);
+                }
+                return;
+            }
+
+            // get number of digits for a text -> float -> text round-trip
+            static constexpr auto d = std::numeric_limits<number_float_t>::digits10;
+
+            // the actual conversion
+            std::ptrdiff_t len = snprintf(number_buffer.data(), number_buffer.size(),
+                                          "%.*g", d, x);
+
+            // negative value indicates an error
+            assert(len > 0);
+            // check if buffer was large enough
+            assert(static_cast<size_t>(len) < number_buffer.size());
+
+            // erase thousands separator
+            if (thousands_sep != '\0')
+            {
+                const auto end = std::remove(number_buffer.begin(),
+                                             number_buffer.begin() + len,
+                                             thousands_sep);
+                std::fill(end, number_buffer.end(), '\0');
+                assert((end - number_buffer.begin()) <= len);
+                len = (end - number_buffer.begin());
+            }
+
+            // convert decimal point to '.'
+            if (decimal_point != '\0' and decimal_point != '.')
+            {
+                for (auto& c : number_buffer)
+                {
+                    if (c == decimal_point)
+                    {
+                        c = '.';
+                        break;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
+            o->write_characters(number_buffer.data(), static_cast<size_t>(len));
+
+            // determine if need to append ".0"
+            const bool value_is_int_like = std::none_of(number_buffer.begin(),
+                                           number_buffer.begin() + len + 1,
+                                           [](char c)
+            {
+                return c == '.' or c == 'e';
+            });
+
+            if (value_is_int_like)
+            {
+                o->write_characters(".0", 2);
+            }
+        }
+
+      private:
+        /// the output of the serializer
+        output_adapter_t<char> o = nullptr;
+
+        /// a (hopefully) large enough character buffer
+        std::array<char, 64> number_buffer{{}};
+
+        /// the locale
+        const std::lconv* loc = nullptr;
+        /// the locale's thousand separator character
+        const char thousands_sep = '\0';
+        /// the locale's decimal point character
+        const char decimal_point = '\0';
+
+        /// the indentation character
+        const char indent_char;
+
+        /// the indentation string
+        string_t indent_string;
+    };
+
+  public:
+    /*!
+    @brief serialize to stream
+
+    Serialize the given JSON value @a j to the output stream @a o. The JSON
+    value will be serialized using the @ref dump member function.
+
+    - The indentation of the output can be controlled with the member variable
+      `width` of the output stream @a o. For instance, using the manipulator
+      `std::setw(4)` on @a o sets the indentation level to `4` and the
+      serialization result is the same as calling `dump(4)`.
+
+    - The indentation characrer can be controlled with the member variable
+      `fill` of the output stream @a o. For instance, the manipulator
+      `std::setfill('\\t')` sets indentation to use a tab character rather than
+      the default space character.
+
+    @param[in,out] o  stream to serialize to
+    @param[in] j  JSON value to serialize
+
+    @return the stream @a o
+
+    @complexity Linear.
+
+    @liveexample{The example below shows the serialization with different
+    parameters to `width` to adjust the indentation level.,operator_serialize}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0; indentaction character added in version 3.0.0
+    */
+    friend std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& o, const basic_json& j)
+    {
+        // read width member and use it as indentation parameter if nonzero
+        const bool pretty_print = (o.width() > 0);
+        const auto indentation = (pretty_print ? o.width() : 0);
+
+        // reset width to 0 for subsequent calls to this stream
+        o.width(0);
+
+        // do the actual serialization
+        serializer s(output_adapter<char>::create(o), o.fill());
+        s.dump(j, pretty_print, static_cast<unsigned int>(indentation));
+        return o;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief serialize to stream
+    @deprecated This stream operator is deprecated and will be removed in a
+                future version of the library. Please use
+                @ref std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream&, const basic_json&)
+                instead; that is, replace calls like `j >> o;` with `o << j;`.
+    */
+    JSON_DEPRECATED
+    friend std::ostream& operator>>(const basic_json& j, std::ostream& o)
+    {
+        return o << j;
+    }
+
+    /// @}
+
+
+    /////////////////////
+    // deserialization //
+    /////////////////////
+
+    /// @name deserialization
+    /// @{
+
+    /*!
+    @brief deserialize from an array
+
+    This function reads from an array of 1-byte values.
+
+    @pre Each element of the container has a size of 1 byte. Violating this
+    precondition yields undefined behavior. **This precondition is enforced
+    with a static assertion.**
+
+    @param[in] array  array to read from
+    @param[in] cb  a parser callback function of type @ref parser_callback_t
+    which is used to control the deserialization by filtering unwanted values
+    (optional)
+
+    @return result of the deserialization
+
+    @throw parse_error.101 if a parse error occurs; example: `""unexpected end
+    of input; expected string literal""`
+    @throw parse_error.102 if to_unicode fails or surrogate error
+    @throw parse_error.103 if to_unicode fails
+
+    @complexity Linear in the length of the input. The parser is a predictive
+    LL(1) parser. The complexity can be higher if the parser callback function
+    @a cb has a super-linear complexity.
+
+    @note A UTF-8 byte order mark is silently ignored.
+
+    @liveexample{The example below demonstrates the `parse()` function reading
+    from an array.,parse__array__parser_callback_t}
+
+    @since version 2.0.3
+    */
+    template<class T, std::size_t N>
+    static basic_json parse(T (&array)[N],
+                            const parser_callback_t cb = nullptr)
+    {
+        // delegate the call to the iterator-range parse overload
+        return parse(std::begin(array), std::end(array), cb);
+    }
+
+    template<class T, std::size_t N>
+    static bool accept(T (&array)[N])
+    {
+        // delegate the call to the iterator-range accept overload
+        return accept(std::begin(array), std::end(array));
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief deserialize from string literal
+
+    @tparam CharT character/literal type with size of 1 byte
+    @param[in] s  string literal to read a serialized JSON value from
+    @param[in] cb a parser callback function of type @ref parser_callback_t
+    which is used to control the deserialization by filtering unwanted values
+    (optional)
+
+    @return result of the deserialization
+
+    @throw parse_error.101 in case of an unexpected token
+    @throw parse_error.102 if to_unicode fails or surrogate error
+    @throw parse_error.103 if to_unicode fails
+
+    @complexity Linear in the length of the input. The parser is a predictive
+    LL(1) parser. The complexity can be higher if the parser callback function
+    @a cb has a super-linear complexity.
+
+    @note A UTF-8 byte order mark is silently ignored.
+    @note String containers like `std::string` or @ref string_t can be parsed
+          with @ref parse(const ContiguousContainer&, const parser_callback_t)
+
+    @liveexample{The example below demonstrates the `parse()` function with
+    and without callback function.,parse__string__parser_callback_t}
+
+    @sa @ref parse(std::istream&, const parser_callback_t) for a version that
+    reads from an input stream
+
+    @since version 1.0.0 (originally for @ref string_t)
+    */
+    template<typename CharT, typename std::enable_if<
+                 std::is_pointer<CharT>::value and
+                 std::is_integral<typename std::remove_pointer<CharT>::type>::value and
+                 sizeof(typename std::remove_pointer<CharT>::type) == 1, int>::type = 0>
+    static basic_json parse(const CharT s,
+                            const parser_callback_t cb = nullptr)
+    {
+        return parser(input_adapter::create(s), cb).parse(true);
+    }
+
+    template<typename CharT, typename std::enable_if<
+                 std::is_pointer<CharT>::value and
+                 std::is_integral<typename std::remove_pointer<CharT>::type>::value and
+                 sizeof(typename std::remove_pointer<CharT>::type) == 1, int>::type = 0>
+    static bool accept(const CharT s)
+    {
+        return parser(input_adapter::create(s)).accept(true);
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief deserialize from stream
+
+    @param[in,out] i  stream to read a serialized JSON value from
+    @param[in] cb a parser callback function of type @ref parser_callback_t
+    which is used to control the deserialization by filtering unwanted values
+    (optional)
+
+    @return result of the deserialization
+
+    @throw parse_error.101 in case of an unexpected token
+    @throw parse_error.102 if to_unicode fails or surrogate error
+    @throw parse_error.103 if to_unicode fails
+
+    @complexity Linear in the length of the input. The parser is a predictive
+    LL(1) parser. The complexity can be higher if the parser callback function
+    @a cb has a super-linear complexity.
+
+    @note A UTF-8 byte order mark is silently ignored.
+
+    @liveexample{The example below demonstrates the `parse()` function with
+    and without callback function.,parse__istream__parser_callback_t}
+
+    @sa @ref parse(const CharT, const parser_callback_t) for a version
+    that reads from a string
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    static basic_json parse(std::istream& i,
+                            const parser_callback_t cb = nullptr)
+    {
+        return parser(input_adapter::create(i), cb).parse(true);
+    }
+
+    static bool accept(std::istream& i)
+    {
+        return parser(input_adapter::create(i)).accept(true);
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @copydoc parse(std::istream&, const parser_callback_t)
+    */
+    static basic_json parse(std::istream&& i,
+                            const parser_callback_t cb = nullptr)
+    {
+        return parser(input_adapter::create(i), cb).parse(true);
+    }
+
+    static bool accept(std::istream&& i)
+    {
+        return parser(input_adapter::create(i)).accept(true);
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief deserialize from an iterator range with contiguous storage
+
+    This function reads from an iterator range of a container with contiguous
+    storage of 1-byte values. Compatible container types include
+    `std::vector`, `std::string`, `std::array`, `std::valarray`, and
+    `std::initializer_list`. Furthermore, C-style arrays can be used with
+    `std::begin()`/`std::end()`. User-defined containers can be used as long
+    as they implement random-access iterators and a contiguous storage.
+
+    @pre The iterator range is contiguous. Violating this precondition yields
+    undefined behavior. **This precondition is enforced with an assertion.**
+    @pre Each element in the range has a size of 1 byte. Violating this
+    precondition yields undefined behavior. **This precondition is enforced
+    with a static assertion.**
+
+    @warning There is no way to enforce all preconditions at compile-time. If
+             the function is called with noncompliant iterators and with
+             assertions switched off, the behavior is undefined and will most
+             likely yield segmentation violation.
+
+    @tparam IteratorType iterator of container with contiguous storage
+    @param[in] first  begin of the range to parse (included)
+    @param[in] last  end of the range to parse (excluded)
+    @param[in] cb  a parser callback function of type @ref parser_callback_t
+    which is used to control the deserialization by filtering unwanted values
+    (optional)
+
+    @return result of the deserialization
+
+    @throw parse_error.101 in case of an unexpected token
+    @throw parse_error.102 if to_unicode fails or surrogate error
+    @throw parse_error.103 if to_unicode fails
+
+    @complexity Linear in the length of the input. The parser is a predictive
+    LL(1) parser. The complexity can be higher if the parser callback function
+    @a cb has a super-linear complexity.
+
+    @note A UTF-8 byte order mark is silently ignored.
+
+    @liveexample{The example below demonstrates the `parse()` function reading
+    from an iterator range.,parse__iteratortype__parser_callback_t}
+
+    @since version 2.0.3
+    */
+    template<class IteratorType, typename std::enable_if<
+                 std::is_base_of<
+                     std::random_access_iterator_tag,
+                     typename std::iterator_traits<IteratorType>::iterator_category>::value, int>::type = 0>
+    static basic_json parse(IteratorType first, IteratorType last,
+                            const parser_callback_t cb = nullptr)
+    {
+        return parser(input_adapter::create(first, last), cb).parse(true);
+    }
+
+    template<class IteratorType, typename std::enable_if<
+                 std::is_base_of<
+                     std::random_access_iterator_tag,
+                     typename std::iterator_traits<IteratorType>::iterator_category>::value, int>::type = 0>
+    static bool accept(IteratorType first, IteratorType last)
+    {
+        return parser(input_adapter::create(first, last)).accept(true);
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief deserialize from a container with contiguous storage
+
+    This function reads from a container with contiguous storage of 1-byte
+    values. Compatible container types include `std::vector`, `std::string`,
+    `std::array`, and `std::initializer_list`. User-defined containers can be
+    used as long as they implement random-access iterators and a contiguous
+    storage.
+
+    @pre The container storage is contiguous. Violating this precondition
+    yields undefined behavior. **This precondition is enforced with an
+    assertion.**
+    @pre Each element of the container has a size of 1 byte. Violating this
+    precondition yields undefined behavior. **This precondition is enforced
+    with a static assertion.**
+
+    @warning There is no way to enforce all preconditions at compile-time. If
+             the function is called with a noncompliant container and with
+             assertions switched off, the behavior is undefined and will most
+             likely yield segmentation violation.
+
+    @tparam ContiguousContainer container type with contiguous storage
+    @param[in] c  container to read from
+    @param[in] cb  a parser callback function of type @ref parser_callback_t
+    which is used to control the deserialization by filtering unwanted values
+    (optional)
+
+    @return result of the deserialization
+
+    @throw parse_error.101 in case of an unexpected token
+    @throw parse_error.102 if to_unicode fails or surrogate error
+    @throw parse_error.103 if to_unicode fails
+
+    @complexity Linear in the length of the input. The parser is a predictive
+    LL(1) parser. The complexity can be higher if the parser callback function
+    @a cb has a super-linear complexity.
+
+    @note A UTF-8 byte order mark is silently ignored.
+
+    @liveexample{The example below demonstrates the `parse()` function reading
+    from a contiguous container.,parse__contiguouscontainer__parser_callback_t}
+
+    @since version 2.0.3
+    */
+    template<class ContiguousContainer, typename std::enable_if<
+                 not std::is_pointer<ContiguousContainer>::value and
+                 std::is_base_of<
+                     std::random_access_iterator_tag,
+                     typename std::iterator_traits<decltype(std::begin(std::declval<ContiguousContainer const>()))>::iterator_category>::value
+                 , int>::type = 0>
+    static basic_json parse(const ContiguousContainer& c,
+                            const parser_callback_t cb = nullptr)
+    {
+        // delegate the call to the iterator-range parse overload
+        return parse(std::begin(c), std::end(c), cb);
+    }
+
+    template<class ContiguousContainer, typename std::enable_if<
+                 not std::is_pointer<ContiguousContainer>::value and
+                 std::is_base_of<
+                     std::random_access_iterator_tag,
+                     typename std::iterator_traits<decltype(std::begin(std::declval<ContiguousContainer const>()))>::iterator_category>::value
+                 , int>::type = 0>
+    static bool accept(const ContiguousContainer& c)
+    {
+        // delegate the call to the iterator-range accept overload
+        return accept(std::begin(c), std::end(c));
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief deserialize from stream
+    @deprecated This stream operator is deprecated and will be removed in a
+                future version of the library. Please use
+                @ref std::istream& operator>>(std::istream&, basic_json&)
+                instead; that is, replace calls like `j << i;` with `i >> j;`.
+    */
+    JSON_DEPRECATED
+    friend std::istream& operator<<(basic_json& j, std::istream& i)
+    {
+        j = parser(input_adapter::create(i)).parse(false);
+        return i;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief deserialize from stream
+
+    Deserializes an input stream to a JSON value.
+
+    @param[in,out] i  input stream to read a serialized JSON value from
+    @param[in,out] j  JSON value to write the deserialized input to
+
+    @throw parse_error.101 in case of an unexpected token
+    @throw parse_error.102 if to_unicode fails or surrogate error
+    @throw parse_error.103 if to_unicode fails
+
+    @complexity Linear in the length of the input. The parser is a predictive
+    LL(1) parser.
+
+    @note A UTF-8 byte order mark is silently ignored.
+
+    @liveexample{The example below shows how a JSON value is constructed by
+    reading a serialization from a stream.,operator_deserialize}
+
+    @sa parse(std::istream&, const parser_callback_t) for a variant with a
+    parser callback function to filter values while parsing
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    friend std::istream& operator>>(std::istream& i, basic_json& j)
+    {
+        j = parser(input_adapter::create(i)).parse(false);
+        return i;
+    }
+
+    /// @}
+
+    ///////////////////////////
+    // convenience functions //
+    ///////////////////////////
+
+    /*!
+    @brief return the type as string
+
+    Returns the type name as string to be used in error messages - usually to
+    indicate that a function was called on a wrong JSON type.
+
+    @return basically a string representation of a the @a m_type member
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code exemplifies `type_name()` for all JSON
+    types.,type_name}
+
+    @since version 1.0.0, public since 2.1.0
+    */
+    std::string type_name() const
+    {
+        {
+            switch (m_type)
+            {
+                case value_t::null:
+                    return "null";
+                case value_t::object:
+                    return "object";
+                case value_t::array:
+                    return "array";
+                case value_t::string:
+                    return "string";
+                case value_t::boolean:
+                    return "boolean";
+                case value_t::discarded:
+                    return "discarded";
+                default:
+                    return "number";
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+
+  private:
+    //////////////////////
+    // member variables //
+    //////////////////////
+
+    /// the type of the current element
+    value_t m_type = value_t::null;
+
+    /// the value of the current element
+    json_value m_value = {};
+
+
+  private:
+    ///////////////
+    // iterators //
+    ///////////////
+
+    /*!
+    @brief an iterator for primitive JSON types
+
+    This class models an iterator for primitive JSON types (boolean, number,
+    string). It's only purpose is to allow the iterator/const_iterator classes
+    to "iterate" over primitive values. Internally, the iterator is modeled by
+    a `difference_type` variable. Value begin_value (`0`) models the begin,
+    end_value (`1`) models past the end.
+    */
+    class primitive_iterator_t
+    {
+      public:
+
+        difference_type get_value() const noexcept
+        {
+            return m_it;
+        }
+        /// set iterator to a defined beginning
+        void set_begin() noexcept
+        {
+            m_it = begin_value;
+        }
+
+        /// set iterator to a defined past the end
+        void set_end() noexcept
+        {
+            m_it = end_value;
+        }
+
+        /// return whether the iterator can be dereferenced
+        constexpr bool is_begin() const noexcept
+        {
+            return (m_it == begin_value);
+        }
+
+        /// return whether the iterator is at end
+        constexpr bool is_end() const noexcept
+        {
+            return (m_it == end_value);
+        }
+
+        friend constexpr bool operator==(primitive_iterator_t lhs, primitive_iterator_t rhs) noexcept
+        {
+            return lhs.m_it == rhs.m_it;
+        }
+
+        friend constexpr bool operator!=(primitive_iterator_t lhs, primitive_iterator_t rhs) noexcept
+        {
+            return !(lhs == rhs);
+        }
+
+        friend constexpr bool operator<(primitive_iterator_t lhs, primitive_iterator_t rhs) noexcept
+        {
+            return lhs.m_it < rhs.m_it;
+        }
+
+        friend constexpr bool operator<=(primitive_iterator_t lhs, primitive_iterator_t rhs) noexcept
+        {
+            return lhs.m_it <= rhs.m_it;
+        }
+
+        friend constexpr bool operator>(primitive_iterator_t lhs, primitive_iterator_t rhs) noexcept
+        {
+            return lhs.m_it > rhs.m_it;
+        }
+
+        friend constexpr bool operator>=(primitive_iterator_t lhs, primitive_iterator_t rhs) noexcept
+        {
+            return lhs.m_it >= rhs.m_it;
+        }
+
+        primitive_iterator_t operator+(difference_type i)
+        {
+            auto result = *this;
+            result += i;
+            return result;
+        }
+
+        friend constexpr difference_type operator-(primitive_iterator_t lhs, primitive_iterator_t rhs) noexcept
+        {
+            return lhs.m_it - rhs.m_it;
+        }
+
+        friend std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& os, primitive_iterator_t it)
+        {
+            return os << it.m_it;
+        }
+
+        primitive_iterator_t& operator++()
+        {
+            ++m_it;
+            return *this;
+        }
+
+        primitive_iterator_t operator++(int)
+        {
+            auto result = *this;
+            m_it++;
+            return result;
+        }
+
+        primitive_iterator_t& operator--()
+        {
+            --m_it;
+            return *this;
+        }
+
+        primitive_iterator_t operator--(int)
+        {
+            auto result = *this;
+            m_it--;
+            return result;
+        }
+
+        primitive_iterator_t& operator+=(difference_type n)
+        {
+            m_it += n;
+            return *this;
+        }
+
+        primitive_iterator_t& operator-=(difference_type n)
+        {
+            m_it -= n;
+            return *this;
+        }
+
+      private:
+        static constexpr difference_type begin_value = 0;
+        static constexpr difference_type end_value = begin_value + 1;
+
+        /// iterator as signed integer type
+        difference_type m_it = std::numeric_limits<std::ptrdiff_t>::denorm_min();
+    };
+
+    /*!
+    @brief an iterator value
+
+    @note This structure could easily be a union, but MSVC currently does not
+    allow unions members with complex constructors, see
+    https://github.com/nlohmann/json/pull/105.
+    */
+    struct internal_iterator
+    {
+        /// iterator for JSON objects
+        typename object_t::iterator object_iterator;
+        /// iterator for JSON arrays
+        typename array_t::iterator array_iterator;
+        /// generic iterator for all other types
+        primitive_iterator_t primitive_iterator;
+
+        /// create an uninitialized internal_iterator
+        internal_iterator() noexcept
+            : object_iterator(), array_iterator(), primitive_iterator()
+        {}
+    };
+
+    /// proxy class for the iterator_wrapper functions
+    template<typename IteratorType>
+    class iteration_proxy
+    {
+      private:
+        /// helper class for iteration
+        class iteration_proxy_internal
+        {
+          private:
+            /// the iterator
+            IteratorType anchor;
+            /// an index for arrays (used to create key names)
+            size_t array_index = 0;
+
+          public:
+            explicit iteration_proxy_internal(IteratorType it) noexcept
+                : anchor(it)
+            {}
+
+            /// dereference operator (needed for range-based for)
+            iteration_proxy_internal& operator*()
+            {
+                return *this;
+            }
+
+            /// increment operator (needed for range-based for)
+            iteration_proxy_internal& operator++()
+            {
+                ++anchor;
+                ++array_index;
+
+                return *this;
+            }
+
+            /// inequality operator (needed for range-based for)
+            bool operator!= (const iteration_proxy_internal& o) const
+            {
+                return anchor != o.anchor;
+            }
+
+            /// return key of the iterator
+            typename basic_json::string_t key() const
+            {
+                assert(anchor.m_object != nullptr);
+
+                switch (anchor.m_object->type())
+                {
+                    // use integer array index as key
+                    case value_t::array:
+                    {
+                        return std::to_string(array_index);
+                    }
+
+                    // use key from the object
+                    case value_t::object:
+                    {
+                        return anchor.key();
+                    }
+
+                    // use an empty key for all primitive types
+                    default:
+                    {
+                        return "";
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
+            /// return value of the iterator
+            typename IteratorType::reference value() const
+            {
+                return anchor.value();
+            }
+        };
+
+        /// the container to iterate
+        typename IteratorType::reference container;
+
+      public:
+        /// construct iteration proxy from a container
+        explicit iteration_proxy(typename IteratorType::reference cont)
+            : container(cont)
+        {}
+
+        /// return iterator begin (needed for range-based for)
+        iteration_proxy_internal begin() noexcept
+        {
+            return iteration_proxy_internal(container.begin());
+        }
+
+        /// return iterator end (needed for range-based for)
+        iteration_proxy_internal end() noexcept
+        {
+            return iteration_proxy_internal(container.end());
+        }
+    };
+
+  public:
+    /*!
+    @brief a template for a random access iterator for the @ref basic_json class
+
+    This class implements a both iterators (iterator and const_iterator) for the
+    @ref basic_json class.
+
+    @note An iterator is called *initialized* when a pointer to a JSON value
+          has been set (e.g., by a constructor or a copy assignment). If the
+          iterator is default-constructed, it is *uninitialized* and most
+          methods are undefined. **The library uses assertions to detect calls
+          on uninitialized iterators.**
+
+    @requirement The class satisfies the following concept requirements:
+    - [RandomAccessIterator](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/concept/RandomAccessIterator):
+      The iterator that can be moved to point (forward and backward) to any
+      element in constant time.
+
+    @since version 1.0.0, simplified in version 2.0.9
+    */
+    template<typename U>
+    class iter_impl : public std::iterator<std::random_access_iterator_tag, U>
+    {
+        /// allow basic_json to access private members
+        friend class basic_json;
+
+        // make sure U is basic_json or const basic_json
+        static_assert(std::is_same<U, basic_json>::value
+                      or std::is_same<U, const basic_json>::value,
+                      "iter_impl only accepts (const) basic_json");
+
+      public:
+        /// the type of the values when the iterator is dereferenced
+        using value_type = typename basic_json::value_type;
+        /// a type to represent differences between iterators
+        using difference_type = typename basic_json::difference_type;
+        /// defines a pointer to the type iterated over (value_type)
+        using pointer = typename std::conditional<std::is_const<U>::value,
+              typename basic_json::const_pointer,
+              typename basic_json::pointer>::type;
+        /// defines a reference to the type iterated over (value_type)
+        using reference = typename std::conditional<std::is_const<U>::value,
+              typename basic_json::const_reference,
+              typename basic_json::reference>::type;
+        /// the category of the iterator
+        using iterator_category = std::bidirectional_iterator_tag;
+
+        /// default constructor
+        iter_impl() = default;
+
+        /*!
+        @brief constructor for a given JSON instance
+        @param[in] object  pointer to a JSON object for this iterator
+        @pre object != nullptr
+        @post The iterator is initialized; i.e. `m_object != nullptr`.
+        */
+        explicit iter_impl(pointer object) noexcept
+            : m_object(object)
+        {
+            assert(m_object != nullptr);
+
+            switch (m_object->m_type)
+            {
+                case basic_json::value_t::object:
+                {
+                    m_it.object_iterator = typename object_t::iterator();
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case basic_json::value_t::array:
+                {
+                    m_it.array_iterator = typename array_t::iterator();
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                default:
+                {
+                    m_it.primitive_iterator = primitive_iterator_t();
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @note The conventional copy constructor and copy assignment are
+              implicitly defined.
+              Combined with the following converting constructor and assignment,
+              they support: copy from iterator to iterator,
+                            copy from const iterator to const iterator,
+                            and conversion from iterator to const iterator.
+              However conversion from const iterator to iterator is not defined.
+        */
+
+        /*!
+        @brief converting constructor
+        @param[in] other  non-const iterator to copy from
+        @note It is not checked whether @a other is initialized.
+        */
+        iter_impl(const iter_impl<basic_json>& other) noexcept
+            : m_object(other.m_object), m_it(other.m_it)
+        {}
+
+        /*!
+        @brief converting assignment
+        @param[in,out] other  non-const iterator to copy from
+        @return const/non-const iterator
+        @note It is not checked whether @a other is initialized.
+        */
+        iter_impl& operator=(const iter_impl<basic_json>& other) noexcept
+        {
+            m_object = other.m_object;
+            m_it = other.m_it;
+            return *this;
+        }
+
+      private:
+        /*!
+        @brief set the iterator to the first value
+        @pre The iterator is initialized; i.e. `m_object != nullptr`.
+        */
+        void set_begin() noexcept
+        {
+            assert(m_object != nullptr);
+
+            switch (m_object->m_type)
+            {
+                case basic_json::value_t::object:
+                {
+                    m_it.object_iterator = m_object->m_value.object->begin();
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case basic_json::value_t::array:
+                {
+                    m_it.array_iterator = m_object->m_value.array->begin();
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case basic_json::value_t::null:
+                {
+                    // set to end so begin()==end() is true: null is empty
+                    m_it.primitive_iterator.set_end();
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                default:
+                {
+                    m_it.primitive_iterator.set_begin();
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief set the iterator past the last value
+        @pre The iterator is initialized; i.e. `m_object != nullptr`.
+        */
+        void set_end() noexcept
+        {
+            assert(m_object != nullptr);
+
+            switch (m_object->m_type)
+            {
+                case basic_json::value_t::object:
+                {
+                    m_it.object_iterator = m_object->m_value.object->end();
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case basic_json::value_t::array:
+                {
+                    m_it.array_iterator = m_object->m_value.array->end();
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                default:
+                {
+                    m_it.primitive_iterator.set_end();
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+      public:
+        /*!
+        @brief return a reference to the value pointed to by the iterator
+        @pre The iterator is initialized; i.e. `m_object != nullptr`.
+        */
+        reference operator*() const
+        {
+            assert(m_object != nullptr);
+
+            switch (m_object->m_type)
+            {
+                case basic_json::value_t::object:
+                {
+                    assert(m_it.object_iterator != m_object->m_value.object->end());
+                    return m_it.object_iterator->second;
+                }
+
+                case basic_json::value_t::array:
+                {
+                    assert(m_it.array_iterator != m_object->m_value.array->end());
+                    return *m_it.array_iterator;
+                }
+
+                case basic_json::value_t::null:
+                {
+                    JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(214, "cannot get value"));
+                }
+
+                default:
+                {
+                    if (m_it.primitive_iterator.is_begin())
+                    {
+                        return *m_object;
+                    }
+
+                    JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(214, "cannot get value"));
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief dereference the iterator
+        @pre The iterator is initialized; i.e. `m_object != nullptr`.
+        */
+        pointer operator->() const
+        {
+            assert(m_object != nullptr);
+
+            switch (m_object->m_type)
+            {
+                case basic_json::value_t::object:
+                {
+                    assert(m_it.object_iterator != m_object->m_value.object->end());
+                    return &(m_it.object_iterator->second);
+                }
+
+                case basic_json::value_t::array:
+                {
+                    assert(m_it.array_iterator != m_object->m_value.array->end());
+                    return &*m_it.array_iterator;
+                }
+
+                default:
+                {
+                    if (m_it.primitive_iterator.is_begin())
+                    {
+                        return m_object;
+                    }
+
+                    JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(214, "cannot get value"));
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief post-increment (it++)
+        @pre The iterator is initialized; i.e. `m_object != nullptr`.
+        */
+        iter_impl operator++(int)
+        {
+            auto result = *this;
+            ++(*this);
+            return result;
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief pre-increment (++it)
+        @pre The iterator is initialized; i.e. `m_object != nullptr`.
+        */
+        iter_impl& operator++()
+        {
+            assert(m_object != nullptr);
+
+            switch (m_object->m_type)
+            {
+                case basic_json::value_t::object:
+                {
+                    std::advance(m_it.object_iterator, 1);
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case basic_json::value_t::array:
+                {
+                    std::advance(m_it.array_iterator, 1);
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                default:
+                {
+                    ++m_it.primitive_iterator;
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+
+            return *this;
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief post-decrement (it--)
+        @pre The iterator is initialized; i.e. `m_object != nullptr`.
+        */
+        iter_impl operator--(int)
+        {
+            auto result = *this;
+            --(*this);
+            return result;
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief pre-decrement (--it)
+        @pre The iterator is initialized; i.e. `m_object != nullptr`.
+        */
+        iter_impl& operator--()
+        {
+            assert(m_object != nullptr);
+
+            switch (m_object->m_type)
+            {
+                case basic_json::value_t::object:
+                {
+                    std::advance(m_it.object_iterator, -1);
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case basic_json::value_t::array:
+                {
+                    std::advance(m_it.array_iterator, -1);
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                default:
+                {
+                    --m_it.primitive_iterator;
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+
+            return *this;
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief  comparison: equal
+        @pre The iterator is initialized; i.e. `m_object != nullptr`.
+        */
+        bool operator==(const iter_impl& other) const
+        {
+            // if objects are not the same, the comparison is undefined
+            if (m_object != other.m_object)
+            {
+                JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(212, "cannot compare iterators of different containers"));
+            }
+
+            assert(m_object != nullptr);
+
+            switch (m_object->m_type)
+            {
+                case basic_json::value_t::object:
+                {
+                    return (m_it.object_iterator == other.m_it.object_iterator);
+                }
+
+                case basic_json::value_t::array:
+                {
+                    return (m_it.array_iterator == other.m_it.array_iterator);
+                }
+
+                default:
+                {
+                    return (m_it.primitive_iterator == other.m_it.primitive_iterator);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief  comparison: not equal
+        @pre The iterator is initialized; i.e. `m_object != nullptr`.
+        */
+        bool operator!=(const iter_impl& other) const
+        {
+            return not operator==(other);
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief  comparison: smaller
+        @pre The iterator is initialized; i.e. `m_object != nullptr`.
+        */
+        bool operator<(const iter_impl& other) const
+        {
+            // if objects are not the same, the comparison is undefined
+            if (m_object != other.m_object)
+            {
+                JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(212, "cannot compare iterators of different containers"));
+            }
+
+            assert(m_object != nullptr);
+
+            switch (m_object->m_type)
+            {
+                case basic_json::value_t::object:
+                {
+                    JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(213, "cannot compare order of object iterators"));
+                }
+
+                case basic_json::value_t::array:
+                {
+                    return (m_it.array_iterator < other.m_it.array_iterator);
+                }
+
+                default:
+                {
+                    return (m_it.primitive_iterator < other.m_it.primitive_iterator);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief  comparison: less than or equal
+        @pre The iterator is initialized; i.e. `m_object != nullptr`.
+        */
+        bool operator<=(const iter_impl& other) const
+        {
+            return not other.operator < (*this);
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief  comparison: greater than
+        @pre The iterator is initialized; i.e. `m_object != nullptr`.
+        */
+        bool operator>(const iter_impl& other) const
+        {
+            return not operator<=(other);
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief  comparison: greater than or equal
+        @pre The iterator is initialized; i.e. `m_object != nullptr`.
+        */
+        bool operator>=(const iter_impl& other) const
+        {
+            return not operator<(other);
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief  add to iterator
+        @pre The iterator is initialized; i.e. `m_object != nullptr`.
+        */
+        iter_impl& operator+=(difference_type i)
+        {
+            assert(m_object != nullptr);
+
+            switch (m_object->m_type)
+            {
+                case basic_json::value_t::object:
+                {
+                    JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(209, "cannot use offsets with object iterators"));
+                }
+
+                case basic_json::value_t::array:
+                {
+                    std::advance(m_it.array_iterator, i);
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                default:
+                {
+                    m_it.primitive_iterator += i;
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+
+            return *this;
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief  subtract from iterator
+        @pre The iterator is initialized; i.e. `m_object != nullptr`.
+        */
+        iter_impl& operator-=(difference_type i)
+        {
+            return operator+=(-i);
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief  add to iterator
+        @pre The iterator is initialized; i.e. `m_object != nullptr`.
+        */
+        iter_impl operator+(difference_type i) const
+        {
+            auto result = *this;
+            result += i;
+            return result;
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief  addition of distance and iterator
+        @pre The iterator is initialized; i.e. `m_object != nullptr`.
+        */
+        friend iter_impl operator+(difference_type i, const iter_impl& it)
+        {
+            auto result = it;
+            result += i;
+            return result;
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief  subtract from iterator
+        @pre The iterator is initialized; i.e. `m_object != nullptr`.
+        */
+        iter_impl operator-(difference_type i) const
+        {
+            auto result = *this;
+            result -= i;
+            return result;
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief  return difference
+        @pre The iterator is initialized; i.e. `m_object != nullptr`.
+        */
+        difference_type operator-(const iter_impl& other) const
+        {
+            assert(m_object != nullptr);
+
+            switch (m_object->m_type)
+            {
+                case basic_json::value_t::object:
+                {
+                    JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(209, "cannot use offsets with object iterators"));
+                }
+
+                case basic_json::value_t::array:
+                {
+                    return m_it.array_iterator - other.m_it.array_iterator;
+                }
+
+                default:
+                {
+                    return m_it.primitive_iterator - other.m_it.primitive_iterator;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief  access to successor
+        @pre The iterator is initialized; i.e. `m_object != nullptr`.
+        */
+        reference operator[](difference_type n) const
+        {
+            assert(m_object != nullptr);
+
+            switch (m_object->m_type)
+            {
+                case basic_json::value_t::object:
+                {
+                    JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(208, "cannot use operator[] for object iterators"));
+                }
+
+                case basic_json::value_t::array:
+                {
+                    return *std::next(m_it.array_iterator, n);
+                }
+
+                case basic_json::value_t::null:
+                {
+                    JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(214, "cannot get value"));
+                }
+
+                default:
+                {
+                    if (m_it.primitive_iterator.get_value() == -n)
+                    {
+                        return *m_object;
+                    }
+
+                    JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(214, "cannot get value"));
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief  return the key of an object iterator
+        @pre The iterator is initialized; i.e. `m_object != nullptr`.
+        */
+        typename object_t::key_type key() const
+        {
+            assert(m_object != nullptr);
+
+            if (m_object->is_object())
+            {
+                return m_it.object_iterator->first;
+            }
+
+            JSON_THROW(invalid_iterator::create(207, "cannot use key() for non-object iterators"));
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief  return the value of an iterator
+        @pre The iterator is initialized; i.e. `m_object != nullptr`.
+        */
+        reference value() const
+        {
+            return operator*();
+        }
+
+      private:
+        /// associated JSON instance
+        pointer m_object = nullptr;
+        /// the actual iterator of the associated instance
+        struct internal_iterator m_it = internal_iterator();
+    };
+
+    /*!
+    @brief a template for a reverse iterator class
+
+    @tparam Base the base iterator type to reverse. Valid types are @ref
+    iterator (to create @ref reverse_iterator) and @ref const_iterator (to
+    create @ref const_reverse_iterator).
+
+    @requirement The class satisfies the following concept requirements:
+    - [RandomAccessIterator](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/concept/RandomAccessIterator):
+      The iterator that can be moved to point (forward and backward) to any
+      element in constant time.
+    - [OutputIterator](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/concept/OutputIterator):
+      It is possible to write to the pointed-to element (only if @a Base is
+      @ref iterator).
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    template<typename Base>
+    class json_reverse_iterator : public std::reverse_iterator<Base>
+    {
+      public:
+        /// shortcut to the reverse iterator adaptor
+        using base_iterator = std::reverse_iterator<Base>;
+        /// the reference type for the pointed-to element
+        using reference = typename Base::reference;
+
+        /// create reverse iterator from iterator
+        json_reverse_iterator(const typename base_iterator::iterator_type& it) noexcept
+            : base_iterator(it)
+        {}
+
+        /// create reverse iterator from base class
+        json_reverse_iterator(const base_iterator& it) noexcept
+            : base_iterator(it)
+        {}
+
+        /// post-increment (it++)
+        json_reverse_iterator operator++(int)
+        {
+            return static_cast<json_reverse_iterator>(base_iterator::operator++(1));
+        }
+
+        /// pre-increment (++it)
+        json_reverse_iterator& operator++()
+        {
+            return static_cast<json_reverse_iterator&>(base_iterator::operator++());
+        }
+
+        /// post-decrement (it--)
+        json_reverse_iterator operator--(int)
+        {
+            return static_cast<json_reverse_iterator>(base_iterator::operator--(1));
+        }
+
+        /// pre-decrement (--it)
+        json_reverse_iterator& operator--()
+        {
+            return static_cast<json_reverse_iterator&>(base_iterator::operator--());
+        }
+
+        /// add to iterator
+        json_reverse_iterator& operator+=(difference_type i)
+        {
+            return static_cast<json_reverse_iterator&>(base_iterator::operator+=(i));
+        }
+
+        /// add to iterator
+        json_reverse_iterator operator+(difference_type i) const
+        {
+            return static_cast<json_reverse_iterator>(base_iterator::operator+(i));
+        }
+
+        /// subtract from iterator
+        json_reverse_iterator operator-(difference_type i) const
+        {
+            return static_cast<json_reverse_iterator>(base_iterator::operator-(i));
+        }
+
+        /// return difference
+        difference_type operator-(const json_reverse_iterator& other) const
+        {
+            return base_iterator(*this) - base_iterator(other);
+        }
+
+        /// access to successor
+        reference operator[](difference_type n) const
+        {
+            return *(this->operator+(n));
+        }
+
+        /// return the key of an object iterator
+        typename object_t::key_type key() const
+        {
+            auto it = --this->base();
+            return it.key();
+        }
+
+        /// return the value of an iterator
+        reference value() const
+        {
+            auto it = --this->base();
+            return it.operator * ();
+        }
+    };
+
+
+  private:
+    ////////////////////
+    // input adapters //
+    ////////////////////
+
+    /// abstract input adapter interface
+    class input_adapter
+    {
+      public:
+        virtual int get_character() = 0;
+        virtual std::string read(size_t offset, size_t length) = 0;
+        virtual ~input_adapter() {}
+
+        // native support
+
+        /// input adapter for input stream
+        static std::shared_ptr<input_adapter> create(std::istream& i)
+        {
+            return std::make_shared<cached_input_stream_adapter<16384>> (i);
+        }
+
+        /// input adapter for input stream
+        static std::shared_ptr<input_adapter> create(std::istream&& i)
+        {
+            return std::make_shared<cached_input_stream_adapter<16384>>(i);
+        }
+
+        /// input adapter for buffer
+        static std::shared_ptr<input_adapter> create(const char* b, size_t l)
+        {
+            return std::make_shared<input_buffer_adapter>(b, l);
+        }
+
+        // derived support
+
+        /// input adapter for string literal
+        template<typename CharT, typename std::enable_if<
+                     std::is_pointer<CharT>::value and
+                     std::is_integral<typename std::remove_pointer<CharT>::type>::value and
+                     sizeof(typename std::remove_pointer<CharT>::type) == 1, int>::type = 0>
+        static std::shared_ptr<input_adapter> create(CharT b)
+        {
+            return create(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(b),
+                          std::strlen(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(b)));
+        }
+
+        /// input adapter for iterator range with contiguous storage
+        template<class IteratorType, typename std::enable_if<
+                     std::is_same<typename std::iterator_traits<IteratorType>::iterator_category, std::random_access_iterator_tag>::value
+                     , int>::type
+                 = 0>
+        static std::shared_ptr<input_adapter> create(IteratorType first, IteratorType last)
+        {
+            // assertion to check that the iterator range is indeed contiguous,
+            // see http://stackoverflow.com/a/35008842/266378 for more discussion
+            assert(std::accumulate(first, last, std::pair<bool, int>(true, 0),
+                                   [&first](std::pair<bool, int> res, decltype(*first) val)
+            {
+                res.first &= (val == *(std::next(std::addressof(*first), res.second++)));
+                return res;
+            }).first);
+
+            // assertion to check that each element is 1 byte long
+            static_assert(sizeof(typename std::iterator_traits<IteratorType>::value_type) == 1,
+                          "each element in the iterator range must have the size of 1 byte");
+
+            const auto len = static_cast<size_t>(std::distance(first, last));
+            if (JSON_LIKELY(len > 0))
+            {
+                // there is at least one element: use the address of first
+                return create(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(&(*first)), len);
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                // the address of first cannot be used - use nullptr
+                return create(nullptr, len);
+            }
+        }
+
+        /// input adapter for array
+        template<class T, std::size_t N>
+        static std::shared_ptr<input_adapter> create(T (&array)[N])
+        {
+            // delegate the call to the iterator-range overload
+            return create(std::begin(array), std::end(array));
+        }
+
+        /// input adapter for contiguous container
+        template<class ContiguousContainer, typename std::enable_if<
+                     not std::is_pointer<ContiguousContainer>::value and
+                     std::is_base_of<
+                         std::random_access_iterator_tag,
+                         typename std::iterator_traits<decltype(std::begin(std::declval<ContiguousContainer const>()))>::iterator_category>::value
+                     , int>::type = 0>
+        static std::shared_ptr<input_adapter> create(const ContiguousContainer& c)
+        {
+            // delegate the call to the iterator-range overload
+            return create(std::begin(c), std::end(c));
+        }
+    };
+
+    /// a type to simplify interfaces
+    using input_adapter_t = std::shared_ptr<input_adapter>;
+
+    /// input adapter for cached stream input
+    template<std::size_t N>
+    class cached_input_stream_adapter : public input_adapter
+    {
+      public:
+        cached_input_stream_adapter(std::istream& i)
+            : is(i), start_position(is.tellg())
+        {
+            fill_buffer();
+
+            // skip byte order mark
+            if (fill_size >= 3 and buffer[0] == '\xEF' and buffer[1] == '\xBB' and buffer[2] == '\xBF')
+            {
+                buffer_pos += 3;
+                processed_chars += 3;
+            }
+        }
+
+        ~cached_input_stream_adapter() override
+        {
+            // clear stream flags
+            is.clear();
+            // We initially read a lot of characters into the buffer, and we
+            // may not have processed all of them. Therefore, we need to
+            // "rewind" the stream after the last processed char.
+            is.seekg(start_position);
+            is.ignore(static_cast<std::streamsize>(processed_chars));
+            // clear stream flags
+            is.clear();
+        }
+
+        int get_character() override
+        {
+            // check if refilling is necessary and possible
+            if (buffer_pos == fill_size and not eof)
+            {
+                fill_buffer();
+
+                // check and remember that filling did not yield new input
+                if (fill_size == 0)
+                {
+                    eof = true;
+                    return std::char_traits<char>::eof();
+                }
+
+                // the buffer is ready
+                buffer_pos = 0;
+            }
+
+            ++processed_chars;
+            assert(buffer_pos < buffer.size());
+            return buffer[buffer_pos++] & 0xFF;
+        }
+
+        std::string read(size_t offset, size_t length) override
+        {
+            // create buffer
+            std::string result(length, '\0');
+
+            // save stream position
+            const auto current_pos = is.tellg();
+            // save stream flags
+            const auto flags = is.rdstate();
+
+            // clear stream flags
+            is.clear();
+            // set stream position
+            is.seekg(static_cast<std::streamoff>(offset));
+            // read bytes
+            is.read(&result[0], static_cast<std::streamsize>(length));
+
+            // reset stream position
+            is.seekg(current_pos);
+            // reset stream flags
+            is.setstate(flags);
+
+            return result;
+        }
+
+      private:
+        void fill_buffer()
+        {
+            // fill
+            is.read(buffer.data(), static_cast<std::streamsize>(buffer.size()));
+            // store number of bytes in the buffer
+            fill_size = static_cast<size_t>(is.gcount());
+        }
+
+        /// the associated input stream
+        std::istream& is;
+
+        /// chars returned via get_character()
+        size_t processed_chars = 0;
+        /// chars processed in the current buffer
+        size_t buffer_pos = 0;
+
+        /// whether stream reached eof
+        bool eof = false;
+        /// how many chars have been copied to the buffer by last (re)fill
+        size_t fill_size = 0;
+
+        /// position of the stream when we started
+        const std::streampos start_position;
+
+        /// internal buffer
+        std::array<char, N> buffer{{}};
+    };
+
+    /// input adapter for buffer input
+    class input_buffer_adapter : public input_adapter
+    {
+      public:
+        input_buffer_adapter(const char* b, size_t l)
+            : input_adapter(), cursor(b), limit(b + l), start(b)
+        {
+            // skip byte order mark
+            if (l >= 3 and b[0] == '\xEF' and b[1] == '\xBB' and b[2] == '\xBF')
+            {
+                cursor += 3;
+            }
+        }
+
+        // delete because of pointer members
+        input_buffer_adapter(const input_buffer_adapter&) = delete;
+        input_buffer_adapter& operator=(input_buffer_adapter&) = delete;
+
+        int get_character() noexcept override
+        {
+            if (JSON_LIKELY(cursor < limit))
+            {
+                return *(cursor++) & 0xFF;
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                return std::char_traits<char>::eof();
+            }
+        }
+
+        std::string read(size_t offset, size_t length) override
+        {
+            // avoid reading too many characters
+            const size_t max_length = static_cast<size_t>(limit - start);
+            return std::string(start + offset, (std::min)(length, max_length - offset));
+        }
+
+      private:
+        /// pointer to the current character
+        const char* cursor;
+        /// pointer past the last character
+        const char* limit;
+        /// pointer to the first character
+        const char* start;
+    };
+
+    //////////////////////////////////////////
+    // binary serialization/deserialization //
+    //////////////////////////////////////////
+
+    /// @name binary serialization/deserialization support
+    /// @{
+
+  private:
+    /*!
+    @brief deserialization of CBOR and MessagePack values
+    */
+    class binary_reader
+    {
+      public:
+        /*!
+        @brief create a binary reader
+
+        @param[in] adapter  input adapter to read from
+        */
+        explicit binary_reader(input_adapter_t adapter)
+            : ia(adapter), is_little_endian(little_endianess())
+        {
+            assert(ia);
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief create a JSON value from CBOR input
+
+        @param[in] get_char  whether a new character should be retrieved from
+                             the input (true, default) or whether the last
+                             read character should be considered instead
+
+        @return JSON value created from CBOR input
+
+        @throw parse_error.110 if input ended unexpectedly
+        @throw parse_error.112 if unsupported byte was read
+        */
+        basic_json parse_cbor(const bool get_char = true)
+        {
+            switch (get_char ? get() : current)
+            {
+                // EOF
+                case std::char_traits<char>::eof():
+                {
+                    JSON_THROW(parse_error::create(110, chars_read, "unexpected end of input"));
+                }
+
+                // Integer 0x00..0x17 (0..23)
+                case 0x00:
+                case 0x01:
+                case 0x02:
+                case 0x03:
+                case 0x04:
+                case 0x05:
+                case 0x06:
+                case 0x07:
+                case 0x08:
+                case 0x09:
+                case 0x0a:
+                case 0x0b:
+                case 0x0c:
+                case 0x0d:
+                case 0x0e:
+                case 0x0f:
+                case 0x10:
+                case 0x11:
+                case 0x12:
+                case 0x13:
+                case 0x14:
+                case 0x15:
+                case 0x16:
+                case 0x17:
+                {
+                    return static_cast<number_unsigned_t>(current);
+                }
+
+                case 0x18: // Unsigned integer (one-byte uint8_t follows)
+                {
+                    return get_number<uint8_t>();
+                }
+
+                case 0x19: // Unsigned integer (two-byte uint16_t follows)
+                {
+                    return get_number<uint16_t>();
+                }
+
+                case 0x1a: // Unsigned integer (four-byte uint32_t follows)
+                {
+                    return get_number<uint32_t>();
+                }
+
+                case 0x1b: // Unsigned integer (eight-byte uint64_t follows)
+                {
+                    return get_number<uint64_t>();
+                }
+
+                // Negative integer -1-0x00..-1-0x17 (-1..-24)
+                case 0x20:
+                case 0x21:
+                case 0x22:
+                case 0x23:
+                case 0x24:
+                case 0x25:
+                case 0x26:
+                case 0x27:
+                case 0x28:
+                case 0x29:
+                case 0x2a:
+                case 0x2b:
+                case 0x2c:
+                case 0x2d:
+                case 0x2e:
+                case 0x2f:
+                case 0x30:
+                case 0x31:
+                case 0x32:
+                case 0x33:
+                case 0x34:
+                case 0x35:
+                case 0x36:
+                case 0x37:
+                {
+                    return static_cast<int8_t>(0x20 - 1 - current);
+                }
+
+                case 0x38: // Negative integer (one-byte uint8_t follows)
+                {
+                    // must be uint8_t !
+                    return static_cast<number_integer_t>(-1) - get_number<uint8_t>();
+                }
+
+                case 0x39: // Negative integer -1-n (two-byte uint16_t follows)
+                {
+                    return static_cast<number_integer_t>(-1) - get_number<uint16_t>();
+                }
+
+                case 0x3a: // Negative integer -1-n (four-byte uint32_t follows)
+                {
+                    return static_cast<number_integer_t>(-1) - get_number<uint32_t>();
+                }
+
+                case 0x3b: // Negative integer -1-n (eight-byte uint64_t follows)
+                {
+                    return static_cast<number_integer_t>(-1) - static_cast<number_integer_t>(get_number<uint64_t>());
+                }
+
+                // UTF-8 string (0x00..0x17 bytes follow)
+                case 0x60:
+                case 0x61:
+                case 0x62:
+                case 0x63:
+                case 0x64:
+                case 0x65:
+                case 0x66:
+                case 0x67:
+                case 0x68:
+                case 0x69:
+                case 0x6a:
+                case 0x6b:
+                case 0x6c:
+                case 0x6d:
+                case 0x6e:
+                case 0x6f:
+                case 0x70:
+                case 0x71:
+                case 0x72:
+                case 0x73:
+                case 0x74:
+                case 0x75:
+                case 0x76:
+                case 0x77:
+                case 0x78: // UTF-8 string (one-byte uint8_t for n follows)
+                case 0x79: // UTF-8 string (two-byte uint16_t for n follow)
+                case 0x7a: // UTF-8 string (four-byte uint32_t for n follow)
+                case 0x7b: // UTF-8 string (eight-byte uint64_t for n follow)
+                case 0x7f: // UTF-8 string (indefinite length)
+                {
+                    return get_cbor_string();
+                }
+
+                // array (0x00..0x17 data items follow)
+                case 0x80:
+                case 0x81:
+                case 0x82:
+                case 0x83:
+                case 0x84:
+                case 0x85:
+                case 0x86:
+                case 0x87:
+                case 0x88:
+                case 0x89:
+                case 0x8a:
+                case 0x8b:
+                case 0x8c:
+                case 0x8d:
+                case 0x8e:
+                case 0x8f:
+                case 0x90:
+                case 0x91:
+                case 0x92:
+                case 0x93:
+                case 0x94:
+                case 0x95:
+                case 0x96:
+                case 0x97:
+                {
+                    basic_json result = value_t::array;
+                    const auto len = static_cast<size_t>(current & 0x1f);
+                    for (size_t i = 0; i < len; ++i)
+                    {
+                        result.push_back(parse_cbor());
+                    }
+                    return result;
+                }
+
+                case 0x98: // array (one-byte uint8_t for n follows)
+                {
+                    basic_json result = value_t::array;
+                    const auto len = static_cast<size_t>(get_number<uint8_t>());
+                    for (size_t i = 0; i < len; ++i)
+                    {
+                        result.push_back(parse_cbor());
+                    }
+                    return result;
+                }
+
+                case 0x99: // array (two-byte uint16_t for n follow)
+                {
+                    basic_json result = value_t::array;
+                    const auto len = static_cast<size_t>(get_number<uint16_t>());
+                    for (size_t i = 0; i < len; ++i)
+                    {
+                        result.push_back(parse_cbor());
+                    }
+                    return result;
+                }
+
+                case 0x9a: // array (four-byte uint32_t for n follow)
+                {
+                    basic_json result = value_t::array;
+                    const auto len = static_cast<size_t>(get_number<uint32_t>());
+                    for (size_t i = 0; i < len; ++i)
+                    {
+                        result.push_back(parse_cbor());
+                    }
+                    return result;
+                }
+
+                case 0x9b: // array (eight-byte uint64_t for n follow)
+                {
+                    basic_json result = value_t::array;
+                    const auto len = static_cast<size_t>(get_number<uint64_t>());
+                    for (size_t i = 0; i < len; ++i)
+                    {
+                        result.push_back(parse_cbor());
+                    }
+                    return result;
+                }
+
+                case 0x9f: // array (indefinite length)
+                {
+                    basic_json result = value_t::array;
+                    while (get() != 0xff)
+                    {
+                        result.push_back(parse_cbor(false));
+                    }
+                    return result;
+                }
+
+                // map (0x00..0x17 pairs of data items follow)
+                case 0xa0:
+                case 0xa1:
+                case 0xa2:
+                case 0xa3:
+                case 0xa4:
+                case 0xa5:
+                case 0xa6:
+                case 0xa7:
+                case 0xa8:
+                case 0xa9:
+                case 0xaa:
+                case 0xab:
+                case 0xac:
+                case 0xad:
+                case 0xae:
+                case 0xaf:
+                case 0xb0:
+                case 0xb1:
+                case 0xb2:
+                case 0xb3:
+                case 0xb4:
+                case 0xb5:
+                case 0xb6:
+                case 0xb7:
+                {
+                    basic_json result = value_t::object;
+                    const auto len = static_cast<size_t>(current & 0x1f);
+                    for (size_t i = 0; i < len; ++i)
+                    {
+                        get();
+                        auto key = get_cbor_string();
+                        result[key] = parse_cbor();
+                    }
+                    return result;
+                }
+
+                case 0xb8: // map (one-byte uint8_t for n follows)
+                {
+                    basic_json result = value_t::object;
+                    const auto len = static_cast<size_t>(get_number<uint8_t>());
+                    for (size_t i = 0; i < len; ++i)
+                    {
+                        get();
+                        auto key = get_cbor_string();
+                        result[key] = parse_cbor();
+                    }
+                    return result;
+                }
+
+                case 0xb9: // map (two-byte uint16_t for n follow)
+                {
+                    basic_json result = value_t::object;
+                    const auto len = static_cast<size_t>(get_number<uint16_t>());
+                    for (size_t i = 0; i < len; ++i)
+                    {
+                        get();
+                        auto key = get_cbor_string();
+                        result[key] = parse_cbor();
+                    }
+                    return result;
+                }
+
+                case 0xba: // map (four-byte uint32_t for n follow)
+                {
+                    basic_json result = value_t::object;
+                    const auto len = static_cast<size_t>(get_number<uint32_t>());
+                    for (size_t i = 0; i < len; ++i)
+                    {
+                        get();
+                        auto key = get_cbor_string();
+                        result[key] = parse_cbor();
+                    }
+                    return result;
+                }
+
+                case 0xbb: // map (eight-byte uint64_t for n follow)
+                {
+                    basic_json result = value_t::object;
+                    const auto len = static_cast<size_t>(get_number<uint64_t>());
+                    for (size_t i = 0; i < len; ++i)
+                    {
+                        get();
+                        auto key = get_cbor_string();
+                        result[key] = parse_cbor();
+                    }
+                    return result;
+                }
+
+                case 0xbf: // map (indefinite length)
+                {
+                    basic_json result = value_t::object;
+                    while (get() != 0xff)
+                    {
+                        auto key = get_cbor_string();
+                        result[key] = parse_cbor();
+                    }
+                    return result;
+                }
+
+                case 0xf4: // false
+                {
+                    return false;
+                }
+
+                case 0xf5: // true
+                {
+                    return true;
+                }
+
+                case 0xf6: // null
+                {
+                    return value_t::null;
+                }
+
+                case 0xf9: // Half-Precision Float (two-byte IEEE 754)
+                {
+                    const int byte1 = get();
+                    check_eof();
+                    const int byte2 = get();
+                    check_eof();
+
+                    // code from RFC 7049, Appendix D, Figure 3:
+                    // As half-precision floating-point numbers were only added
+                    // to IEEE 754 in 2008, today's programming platforms often
+                    // still only have limited support for them. It is very
+                    // easy to include at least decoding support for them even
+                    // without such support. An example of a small decoder for
+                    // half-precision floating-point numbers in the C language
+                    // is shown in Fig. 3.
+                    const int half = (byte1 << 8) + byte2;
+                    const int exp = (half >> 10) & 0x1f;
+                    const int mant = half & 0x3ff;
+                    double val;
+                    if (exp == 0)
+                    {
+                        val = std::ldexp(mant, -24);
+                    }
+                    else if (exp != 31)
+                    {
+                        val = std::ldexp(mant + 1024, exp - 25);
+                    }
+                    else
+                    {
+                        val = (mant == 0)
+                              ? std::numeric_limits<double>::infinity()
+                              : std::numeric_limits<double>::quiet_NaN();
+                    }
+                    return (half & 0x8000) != 0 ? -val : val;
+                }
+
+                case 0xfa: // Single-Precision Float (four-byte IEEE 754)
+                {
+                    return get_number<float>();
+                }
+
+                case 0xfb: // Double-Precision Float (eight-byte IEEE 754)
+                {
+                    return get_number<double>();
+                }
+
+                default: // anything else (0xFF is handled inside the other types)
+                {
+                    std::stringstream ss;
+                    ss << std::setw(2) << std::setfill('0') << std::hex << current;
+                    JSON_THROW(parse_error::create(112, chars_read, "error reading CBOR; last byte: 0x" + ss.str()));
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief create a JSON value from MessagePack input
+
+        @return JSON value created from MessagePack input
+
+        @throw parse_error.110 if input ended unexpectedly
+        @throw parse_error.112 if unsupported byte was read
+        */
+        basic_json parse_msgpack()
+        {
+            switch (get())
+            {
+                // EOF
+                case std::char_traits<char>::eof():
+                {
+                    JSON_THROW(parse_error::create(110, chars_read, "unexpected end of input"));
+                }
+
+                // positive fixint
+                case 0x00:
+                case 0x01:
+                case 0x02:
+                case 0x03:
+                case 0x04:
+                case 0x05:
+                case 0x06:
+                case 0x07:
+                case 0x08:
+                case 0x09:
+                case 0x0a:
+                case 0x0b:
+                case 0x0c:
+                case 0x0d:
+                case 0x0e:
+                case 0x0f:
+                case 0x10:
+                case 0x11:
+                case 0x12:
+                case 0x13:
+                case 0x14:
+                case 0x15:
+                case 0x16:
+                case 0x17:
+                case 0x18:
+                case 0x19:
+                case 0x1a:
+                case 0x1b:
+                case 0x1c:
+                case 0x1d:
+                case 0x1e:
+                case 0x1f:
+                case 0x20:
+                case 0x21:
+                case 0x22:
+                case 0x23:
+                case 0x24:
+                case 0x25:
+                case 0x26:
+                case 0x27:
+                case 0x28:
+                case 0x29:
+                case 0x2a:
+                case 0x2b:
+                case 0x2c:
+                case 0x2d:
+                case 0x2e:
+                case 0x2f:
+                case 0x30:
+                case 0x31:
+                case 0x32:
+                case 0x33:
+                case 0x34:
+                case 0x35:
+                case 0x36:
+                case 0x37:
+                case 0x38:
+                case 0x39:
+                case 0x3a:
+                case 0x3b:
+                case 0x3c:
+                case 0x3d:
+                case 0x3e:
+                case 0x3f:
+                case 0x40:
+                case 0x41:
+                case 0x42:
+                case 0x43:
+                case 0x44:
+                case 0x45:
+                case 0x46:
+                case 0x47:
+                case 0x48:
+                case 0x49:
+                case 0x4a:
+                case 0x4b:
+                case 0x4c:
+                case 0x4d:
+                case 0x4e:
+                case 0x4f:
+                case 0x50:
+                case 0x51:
+                case 0x52:
+                case 0x53:
+                case 0x54:
+                case 0x55:
+                case 0x56:
+                case 0x57:
+                case 0x58:
+                case 0x59:
+                case 0x5a:
+                case 0x5b:
+                case 0x5c:
+                case 0x5d:
+                case 0x5e:
+                case 0x5f:
+                case 0x60:
+                case 0x61:
+                case 0x62:
+                case 0x63:
+                case 0x64:
+                case 0x65:
+                case 0x66:
+                case 0x67:
+                case 0x68:
+                case 0x69:
+                case 0x6a:
+                case 0x6b:
+                case 0x6c:
+                case 0x6d:
+                case 0x6e:
+                case 0x6f:
+                case 0x70:
+                case 0x71:
+                case 0x72:
+                case 0x73:
+                case 0x74:
+                case 0x75:
+                case 0x76:
+                case 0x77:
+                case 0x78:
+                case 0x79:
+                case 0x7a:
+                case 0x7b:
+                case 0x7c:
+                case 0x7d:
+                case 0x7e:
+                case 0x7f:
+                {
+                    return static_cast<number_unsigned_t>(current);
+                }
+
+                // fixmap
+                case 0x80:
+                case 0x81:
+                case 0x82:
+                case 0x83:
+                case 0x84:
+                case 0x85:
+                case 0x86:
+                case 0x87:
+                case 0x88:
+                case 0x89:
+                case 0x8a:
+                case 0x8b:
+                case 0x8c:
+                case 0x8d:
+                case 0x8e:
+                case 0x8f:
+                {
+                    basic_json result = value_t::object;
+                    const auto len = static_cast<size_t>(current & 0x0f);
+                    for (size_t i = 0; i < len; ++i)
+                    {
+                        get();
+                        auto key = get_msgpack_string();
+                        result[key] = parse_msgpack();
+                    }
+                    return result;
+                }
+
+                // fixarray
+                case 0x90:
+                case 0x91:
+                case 0x92:
+                case 0x93:
+                case 0x94:
+                case 0x95:
+                case 0x96:
+                case 0x97:
+                case 0x98:
+                case 0x99:
+                case 0x9a:
+                case 0x9b:
+                case 0x9c:
+                case 0x9d:
+                case 0x9e:
+                case 0x9f:
+                {
+                    basic_json result = value_t::array;
+                    const auto len = static_cast<size_t>(current & 0x0f);
+                    for (size_t i = 0; i < len; ++i)
+                    {
+                        result.push_back(parse_msgpack());
+                    }
+                    return result;
+                }
+
+                // fixstr
+                case 0xa0:
+                case 0xa1:
+                case 0xa2:
+                case 0xa3:
+                case 0xa4:
+                case 0xa5:
+                case 0xa6:
+                case 0xa7:
+                case 0xa8:
+                case 0xa9:
+                case 0xaa:
+                case 0xab:
+                case 0xac:
+                case 0xad:
+                case 0xae:
+                case 0xaf:
+                case 0xb0:
+                case 0xb1:
+                case 0xb2:
+                case 0xb3:
+                case 0xb4:
+                case 0xb5:
+                case 0xb6:
+                case 0xb7:
+                case 0xb8:
+                case 0xb9:
+                case 0xba:
+                case 0xbb:
+                case 0xbc:
+                case 0xbd:
+                case 0xbe:
+                case 0xbf:
+                {
+                    return get_msgpack_string();
+                }
+
+                case 0xc0: // nil
+                {
+                    return value_t::null;
+                }
+
+                case 0xc2: // false
+                {
+                    return false;
+                }
+
+                case 0xc3: // true
+                {
+                    return true;
+                }
+
+                case 0xca: // float 32
+                {
+                    return get_number<float>();
+                }
+
+                case 0xcb: // float 64
+                {
+                    return get_number<double>();
+                }
+
+                case 0xcc: // uint 8
+                {
+                    return get_number<uint8_t>();
+                }
+
+                case 0xcd: // uint 16
+                {
+                    return get_number<uint16_t>();
+                }
+
+                case 0xce: // uint 32
+                {
+                    return get_number<uint32_t>();
+                }
+
+                case 0xcf: // uint 64
+                {
+                    return get_number<uint64_t>();
+                }
+
+                case 0xd0: // int 8
+                {
+                    return get_number<int8_t>();
+                }
+
+                case 0xd1: // int 16
+                {
+                    return get_number<int16_t>();
+                }
+
+                case 0xd2: // int 32
+                {
+                    return get_number<int32_t>();
+                }
+
+                case 0xd3: // int 64
+                {
+                    return get_number<int64_t>();
+                }
+
+                case 0xd9: // str 8
+                case 0xda: // str 16
+                case 0xdb: // str 32
+                {
+                    return get_msgpack_string();
+                }
+
+                case 0xdc: // array 16
+                {
+                    basic_json result = value_t::array;
+                    const auto len = static_cast<size_t>(get_number<uint16_t>());
+                    for (size_t i = 0; i < len; ++i)
+                    {
+                        result.push_back(parse_msgpack());
+                    }
+                    return result;
+                }
+
+                case 0xdd: // array 32
+                {
+                    basic_json result = value_t::array;
+                    const auto len = static_cast<size_t>(get_number<uint32_t>());
+                    for (size_t i = 0; i < len; ++i)
+                    {
+                        result.push_back(parse_msgpack());
+                    }
+                    return result;
+                }
+
+                case 0xde: // map 16
+                {
+                    basic_json result = value_t::object;
+                    const auto len = static_cast<size_t>(get_number<uint16_t>());
+                    for (size_t i = 0; i < len; ++i)
+                    {
+                        get();
+                        auto key = get_msgpack_string();
+                        result[key] = parse_msgpack();
+                    }
+                    return result;
+                }
+
+                case 0xdf: // map 32
+                {
+                    basic_json result = value_t::object;
+                    const auto len = static_cast<size_t>(get_number<uint32_t>());
+                    for (size_t i = 0; i < len; ++i)
+                    {
+                        get();
+                        auto key = get_msgpack_string();
+                        result[key] = parse_msgpack();
+                    }
+                    return result;
+                }
+
+                // positive fixint
+                case 0xe0:
+                case 0xe1:
+                case 0xe2:
+                case 0xe3:
+                case 0xe4:
+                case 0xe5:
+                case 0xe6:
+                case 0xe7:
+                case 0xe8:
+                case 0xe9:
+                case 0xea:
+                case 0xeb:
+                case 0xec:
+                case 0xed:
+                case 0xee:
+                case 0xef:
+                case 0xf0:
+                case 0xf1:
+                case 0xf2:
+                case 0xf3:
+                case 0xf4:
+                case 0xf5:
+                case 0xf6:
+                case 0xf7:
+                case 0xf8:
+                case 0xf9:
+                case 0xfa:
+                case 0xfb:
+                case 0xfc:
+                case 0xfd:
+                case 0xfe:
+                case 0xff:
+                {
+                    return static_cast<int8_t>(current);
+                }
+
+                default: // anything else
+                {
+                    std::stringstream ss;
+                    ss << std::setw(2) << std::setfill('0') << std::hex << current;
+                    JSON_THROW(parse_error::create(112, chars_read, "error reading MessagePack; last byte: 0x" + ss.str()));
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief determine system byte order
+
+        @return true iff system's byte order is little endian
+
+        @note from http://stackoverflow.com/a/1001328/266378
+        */
+        static bool little_endianess() noexcept
+        {
+            int num = 1;
+            return (*reinterpret_cast<char*>(&num) == 1);
+        }
+
+      private:
+        /*!
+        @brief get next character from the input
+
+        This function provides the interface to the used input adapter. It does
+        not throw in case the input reached EOF, but returns
+        `std::char_traits<char>::eof()` in that case.
+
+        @return character read from the input
+        */
+        int get()
+        {
+            ++chars_read;
+            return (current = ia->get_character());
+        }
+
+        /*
+        @brief read a number from the input
+
+        @tparam NumberType the type of the number
+
+        @return number of type @a NumberType
+
+        @note This function needs to respect the system's endianess, because
+              bytes in CBOR and MessagePack are stored in network order (big
+              endian) and therefore need reordering on little endian systems.
+
+        @throw parse_error.110 if input has less than `sizeof(NumberType)`
+                               bytes
+        */
+        template<typename NumberType>
+        NumberType get_number()
+        {
+            // step 1: read input into array with system's byte order
+            std::array<uint8_t, sizeof(NumberType)> vec;
+            for (size_t i = 0; i < sizeof(NumberType); ++i)
+            {
+                get();
+                check_eof();
+
+                // reverse byte order prior to conversion if necessary
+                if (is_little_endian)
+                {
+                    vec[sizeof(NumberType) - i - 1] = static_cast<uint8_t>(current);
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    vec[i] = static_cast<uint8_t>(current);  // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+                }
+            }
+
+            // step 2: convert array into number of type T and return
+            NumberType result;
+            std::memcpy(&result, vec.data(), sizeof(NumberType));
+            return result;
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief create a string by reading characters from the input
+
+        @param[in] len number of bytes to read
+
+        @note We can not reserve @a len bytes for the result, because @a len
+              may be too large. Usually, @ref check_eof() detects the end of
+              the input before we run out of string memory.
+
+        @return string created by reading @a len bytes
+
+        @throw parse_error.110 if input has less than @a len bytes
+        */
+        std::string get_string(const size_t len)
+        {
+            std::string result;
+            for (size_t i = 0; i < len; ++i)
+            {
+                get();
+                check_eof();
+                result.append(1, static_cast<char>(current));
+            }
+            return result;
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief reads a CBOR string
+
+        This function first reads starting bytes to determine the expected
+        string length and then copies this number of bytes into a string.
+        Additionally, CBOR's strings with indefinite lengths are supported.
+
+        @return string
+
+        @throw parse_error.110 if input ended
+        @throw parse_error.113 if an unexpected byte is read
+        */
+        std::string get_cbor_string()
+        {
+            check_eof();
+
+            switch (current)
+            {
+                // UTF-8 string (0x00..0x17 bytes follow)
+                case 0x60:
+                case 0x61:
+                case 0x62:
+                case 0x63:
+                case 0x64:
+                case 0x65:
+                case 0x66:
+                case 0x67:
+                case 0x68:
+                case 0x69:
+                case 0x6a:
+                case 0x6b:
+                case 0x6c:
+                case 0x6d:
+                case 0x6e:
+                case 0x6f:
+                case 0x70:
+                case 0x71:
+                case 0x72:
+                case 0x73:
+                case 0x74:
+                case 0x75:
+                case 0x76:
+                case 0x77:
+                {
+                    const auto len = static_cast<size_t>(current & 0x1f);
+                    return get_string(len);
+                }
+
+                case 0x78: // UTF-8 string (one-byte uint8_t for n follows)
+                {
+                    const auto len = static_cast<size_t>(get_number<uint8_t>());
+                    return get_string(len);
+                }
+
+                case 0x79: // UTF-8 string (two-byte uint16_t for n follow)
+                {
+                    const auto len = static_cast<size_t>(get_number<uint16_t>());
+                    return get_string(len);
+                }
+
+                case 0x7a: // UTF-8 string (four-byte uint32_t for n follow)
+                {
+                    const auto len = static_cast<size_t>(get_number<uint32_t>());
+                    return get_string(len);
+                }
+
+                case 0x7b: // UTF-8 string (eight-byte uint64_t for n follow)
+                {
+                    const auto len = static_cast<size_t>(get_number<uint64_t>());
+                    return get_string(len);
+                }
+
+                case 0x7f: // UTF-8 string (indefinite length)
+                {
+                    std::string result;
+                    while (get() != 0xff)
+                    {
+                        check_eof();
+                        result.append(1, static_cast<char>(current));
+                    }
+                    return result;
+                }
+
+                default:
+                {
+                    std::stringstream ss;
+                    ss << std::setw(2) << std::setfill('0') << std::hex << current;
+                    JSON_THROW(parse_error::create(113, chars_read, "expected a CBOR string; last byte: 0x" + ss.str()));
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief reads a MessagePack string
+
+        This function first reads starting bytes to determine the expected
+        string length and then copies this number of bytes into a string.
+
+        @return string
+
+        @throw parse_error.110 if input ended
+        @throw parse_error.113 if an unexpected byte is read
+        */
+        std::string get_msgpack_string()
+        {
+            check_eof();
+
+            switch (current)
+            {
+                // fixstr
+                case 0xa0:
+                case 0xa1:
+                case 0xa2:
+                case 0xa3:
+                case 0xa4:
+                case 0xa5:
+                case 0xa6:
+                case 0xa7:
+                case 0xa8:
+                case 0xa9:
+                case 0xaa:
+                case 0xab:
+                case 0xac:
+                case 0xad:
+                case 0xae:
+                case 0xaf:
+                case 0xb0:
+                case 0xb1:
+                case 0xb2:
+                case 0xb3:
+                case 0xb4:
+                case 0xb5:
+                case 0xb6:
+                case 0xb7:
+                case 0xb8:
+                case 0xb9:
+                case 0xba:
+                case 0xbb:
+                case 0xbc:
+                case 0xbd:
+                case 0xbe:
+                case 0xbf:
+                {
+                    const auto len = static_cast<size_t>(current & 0x1f);
+                    return get_string(len);
+                }
+
+                case 0xd9: // str 8
+                {
+                    const auto len = static_cast<size_t>(get_number<uint8_t>());
+                    return get_string(len);
+                }
+
+                case 0xda: // str 16
+                {
+                    const auto len = static_cast<size_t>(get_number<uint16_t>());
+                    return get_string(len);
+                }
+
+                case 0xdb: // str 32
+                {
+                    const auto len = static_cast<size_t>(get_number<uint32_t>());
+                    return get_string(len);
+                }
+
+                default:
+                {
+                    std::stringstream ss;
+                    ss << std::setw(2) << std::setfill('0') << std::hex << current;
+                    JSON_THROW(parse_error::create(113, chars_read, "expected a MessagePack string; last byte: 0x" + ss.str()));
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief check if input ended
+        @throw parse_error.110 if input ended
+        */
+        void check_eof() const
+        {
+            if (JSON_UNLIKELY(current == std::char_traits<char>::eof()))
+            {
+                JSON_THROW(parse_error::create(110, chars_read, "unexpected end of input"));
+            }
+        }
+
+      private:
+        /// input adapter
+        input_adapter_t ia = nullptr;
+
+        /// the current character
+        int current = std::char_traits<char>::eof();
+
+        /// the number of characters read
+        size_t chars_read = 0;
+
+        /// whether we can assume little endianess
+        const bool is_little_endian = true;
+    };
+
+    /*!
+    @brief serialization to CBOR and MessagePack values
+    */
+    class binary_writer
+    {
+      public:
+        /*!
+        @brief create a binary writer
+
+        @param[in] adapter  output adapter to write to
+        */
+        explicit binary_writer(output_adapter_t<uint8_t> adapter)
+            : is_little_endian(binary_reader::little_endianess()), oa(adapter)
+        {
+            assert(oa);
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief[in] j  JSON value to serialize
+        */
+        void write_cbor(const basic_json& j)
+        {
+            switch (j.type())
+            {
+                case value_t::null:
+                {
+                    oa->write_character(0xf6);
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case value_t::boolean:
+                {
+                    oa->write_character(j.m_value.boolean ? 0xf5 : 0xf4);
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case value_t::number_integer:
+                {
+                    if (j.m_value.number_integer >= 0)
+                    {
+                        // CBOR does not differentiate between positive signed
+                        // integers and unsigned integers. Therefore, we used the
+                        // code from the value_t::number_unsigned case here.
+                        if (j.m_value.number_integer <= 0x17)
+                        {
+                            write_number(static_cast<uint8_t>(j.m_value.number_integer));
+                        }
+                        else if (j.m_value.number_integer <= (std::numeric_limits<uint8_t>::max)())
+                        {
+                            oa->write_character(0x18);
+                            write_number(static_cast<uint8_t>(j.m_value.number_integer));
+                        }
+                        else if (j.m_value.number_integer <= (std::numeric_limits<uint16_t>::max)())
+                        {
+                            oa->write_character(0x19);
+                            write_number(static_cast<uint16_t>(j.m_value.number_integer));
+                        }
+                        else if (j.m_value.number_integer <= (std::numeric_limits<uint32_t>::max)())
+                        {
+                            oa->write_character(0x1a);
+                            write_number(static_cast<uint32_t>(j.m_value.number_integer));
+                        }
+                        else
+                        {
+                            oa->write_character(0x1b);
+                            write_number(static_cast<uint64_t>(j.m_value.number_integer));
+                        }
+                    }
+                    else
+                    {
+                        // The conversions below encode the sign in the first
+                        // byte, and the value is converted to a positive number.
+                        const auto positive_number = -1 - j.m_value.number_integer;
+                        if (j.m_value.number_integer >= -24)
+                        {
+                            write_number(static_cast<uint8_t>(0x20 + positive_number));
+                        }
+                        else if (positive_number <= (std::numeric_limits<uint8_t>::max)())
+                        {
+                            oa->write_character(0x38);
+                            write_number(static_cast<uint8_t>(positive_number));
+                        }
+                        else if (positive_number <= (std::numeric_limits<uint16_t>::max)())
+                        {
+                            oa->write_character(0x39);
+                            write_number(static_cast<uint16_t>(positive_number));
+                        }
+                        else if (positive_number <= (std::numeric_limits<uint32_t>::max)())
+                        {
+                            oa->write_character(0x3a);
+                            write_number(static_cast<uint32_t>(positive_number));
+                        }
+                        else
+                        {
+                            oa->write_character(0x3b);
+                            write_number(static_cast<uint64_t>(positive_number));
+                        }
+                    }
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case value_t::number_unsigned:
+                {
+                    if (j.m_value.number_unsigned <= 0x17)
+                    {
+                        write_number(static_cast<uint8_t>(j.m_value.number_unsigned));
+                    }
+                    else if (j.m_value.number_unsigned <= (std::numeric_limits<uint8_t>::max)())
+                    {
+                        oa->write_character(0x18);
+                        write_number(static_cast<uint8_t>(j.m_value.number_unsigned));
+                    }
+                    else if (j.m_value.number_unsigned <= (std::numeric_limits<uint16_t>::max)())
+                    {
+                        oa->write_character(0x19);
+                        write_number(static_cast<uint16_t>(j.m_value.number_unsigned));
+                    }
+                    else if (j.m_value.number_unsigned <= (std::numeric_limits<uint32_t>::max)())
+                    {
+                        oa->write_character(0x1a);
+                        write_number(static_cast<uint32_t>(j.m_value.number_unsigned));
+                    }
+                    else
+                    {
+                        oa->write_character(0x1b);
+                        write_number(static_cast<uint64_t>(j.m_value.number_unsigned));
+                    }
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case value_t::number_float:
+                {
+                    // Double-Precision Float
+                    oa->write_character(0xfb);
+                    write_number(j.m_value.number_float);
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case value_t::string:
+                {
+                    // step 1: write control byte and the string length
+                    const auto N = j.m_value.string->size();
+                    if (N <= 0x17)
+                    {
+                        write_number(static_cast<uint8_t>(0x60 + N));
+                    }
+                    else if (N <= 0xff)
+                    {
+                        oa->write_character(0x78);
+                        write_number(static_cast<uint8_t>(N));
+                    }
+                    else if (N <= 0xffff)
+                    {
+                        oa->write_character(0x79);
+                        write_number(static_cast<uint16_t>(N));
+                    }
+                    else if (N <= 0xffffffff)
+                    {
+                        oa->write_character(0x7a);
+                        write_number(static_cast<uint32_t>(N));
+                    }
+                    // LCOV_EXCL_START
+                    else if (N <= 0xffffffffffffffff)
+                    {
+                        oa->write_character(0x7b);
+                        write_number(static_cast<uint64_t>(N));
+                    }
+                    // LCOV_EXCL_STOP
+
+                    // step 2: write the string
+                    oa->write_characters(reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(j.m_value.string->c_str()),
+                                         j.m_value.string->size());
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case value_t::array:
+                {
+                    // step 1: write control byte and the array size
+                    const auto N = j.m_value.array->size();
+                    if (N <= 0x17)
+                    {
+                        write_number(static_cast<uint8_t>(0x80 + N));
+                    }
+                    else if (N <= 0xff)
+                    {
+                        oa->write_character(0x98);
+                        write_number(static_cast<uint8_t>(N));
+                    }
+                    else if (N <= 0xffff)
+                    {
+                        oa->write_character(0x99);
+                        write_number(static_cast<uint16_t>(N));
+                    }
+                    else if (N <= 0xffffffff)
+                    {
+                        oa->write_character(0x9a);
+                        write_number(static_cast<uint32_t>(N));
+                    }
+                    // LCOV_EXCL_START
+                    else if (N <= 0xffffffffffffffff)
+                    {
+                        oa->write_character(0x9b);
+                        write_number(static_cast<uint64_t>(N));
+                    }
+                    // LCOV_EXCL_STOP
+
+                    // step 2: write each element
+                    for (const auto& el : *j.m_value.array)
+                    {
+                        write_cbor(el);
+                    }
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case value_t::object:
+                {
+                    // step 1: write control byte and the object size
+                    const auto N = j.m_value.object->size();
+                    if (N <= 0x17)
+                    {
+                        write_number(static_cast<uint8_t>(0xa0 + N));
+                    }
+                    else if (N <= 0xff)
+                    {
+                        oa->write_character(0xb8);
+                        write_number(static_cast<uint8_t>(N));
+                    }
+                    else if (N <= 0xffff)
+                    {
+                        oa->write_character(0xb9);
+                        write_number(static_cast<uint16_t>(N));
+                    }
+                    else if (N <= 0xffffffff)
+                    {
+                        oa->write_character(0xba);
+                        write_number(static_cast<uint32_t>(N));
+                    }
+                    // LCOV_EXCL_START
+                    else if (N <= 0xffffffffffffffff)
+                    {
+                        oa->write_character(0xbb);
+                        write_number(static_cast<uint64_t>(N));
+                    }
+                    // LCOV_EXCL_STOP
+
+                    // step 2: write each element
+                    for (const auto& el : *j.m_value.object)
+                    {
+                        write_cbor(el.first);
+                        write_cbor(el.second);
+                    }
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                default:
+                {
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief[in] j  JSON value to serialize
+        */
+        void write_msgpack(const basic_json& j)
+        {
+            switch (j.type())
+            {
+                case value_t::null:
+                {
+                    // nil
+                    oa->write_character(0xc0);
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case value_t::boolean:
+                {
+                    // true and false
+                    oa->write_character(j.m_value.boolean ? 0xc3 : 0xc2);
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case value_t::number_integer:
+                {
+                    if (j.m_value.number_integer >= 0)
+                    {
+                        // MessagePack does not differentiate between positive
+                        // signed integers and unsigned integers. Therefore, we
+                        // used the code from the value_t::number_unsigned case
+                        // here.
+                        if (j.m_value.number_unsigned < 128)
+                        {
+                            // positive fixnum
+                            write_number(static_cast<uint8_t>(j.m_value.number_integer));
+                        }
+                        else if (j.m_value.number_unsigned <= (std::numeric_limits<uint8_t>::max)())
+                        {
+                            // uint 8
+                            oa->write_character(0xcc);
+                            write_number(static_cast<uint8_t>(j.m_value.number_integer));
+                        }
+                        else if (j.m_value.number_unsigned <= (std::numeric_limits<uint16_t>::max)())
+                        {
+                            // uint 16
+                            oa->write_character(0xcd);
+                            write_number(static_cast<uint16_t>(j.m_value.number_integer));
+                        }
+                        else if (j.m_value.number_unsigned <= (std::numeric_limits<uint32_t>::max)())
+                        {
+                            // uint 32
+                            oa->write_character(0xce);
+                            write_number(static_cast<uint32_t>(j.m_value.number_integer));
+                        }
+                        else if (j.m_value.number_unsigned <= (std::numeric_limits<uint64_t>::max)())
+                        {
+                            // uint 64
+                            oa->write_character(0xcf);
+                            write_number(static_cast<uint64_t>(j.m_value.number_integer));
+                        }
+                    }
+                    else
+                    {
+                        if (j.m_value.number_integer >= -32)
+                        {
+                            // negative fixnum
+                            write_number(static_cast<int8_t>(j.m_value.number_integer));
+                        }
+                        else if (j.m_value.number_integer >= (std::numeric_limits<int8_t>::min)() and j.m_value.number_integer <= (std::numeric_limits<int8_t>::max)())
+                        {
+                            // int 8
+                            oa->write_character(0xd0);
+                            write_number(static_cast<int8_t>(j.m_value.number_integer));
+                        }
+                        else if (j.m_value.number_integer >= (std::numeric_limits<int16_t>::min)() and j.m_value.number_integer <= (std::numeric_limits<int16_t>::max)())
+                        {
+                            // int 16
+                            oa->write_character(0xd1);
+                            write_number(static_cast<int16_t>(j.m_value.number_integer));
+                        }
+                        else if (j.m_value.number_integer >= (std::numeric_limits<int32_t>::min)() and j.m_value.number_integer <= (std::numeric_limits<int32_t>::max)())
+                        {
+                            // int 32
+                            oa->write_character(0xd2);
+                            write_number(static_cast<int32_t>(j.m_value.number_integer));
+                        }
+                        else if (j.m_value.number_integer >= (std::numeric_limits<int64_t>::min)() and j.m_value.number_integer <= (std::numeric_limits<int64_t>::max)())
+                        {
+                            // int 64
+                            oa->write_character(0xd3);
+                            write_number(static_cast<int64_t>(j.m_value.number_integer));
+                        }
+                    }
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case value_t::number_unsigned:
+                {
+                    if (j.m_value.number_unsigned < 128)
+                    {
+                        // positive fixnum
+                        write_number(static_cast<uint8_t>(j.m_value.number_integer));
+                    }
+                    else if (j.m_value.number_unsigned <= (std::numeric_limits<uint8_t>::max)())
+                    {
+                        // uint 8
+                        oa->write_character(0xcc);
+                        write_number(static_cast<uint8_t>(j.m_value.number_integer));
+                    }
+                    else if (j.m_value.number_unsigned <= (std::numeric_limits<uint16_t>::max)())
+                    {
+                        // uint 16
+                        oa->write_character(0xcd);
+                        write_number(static_cast<uint16_t>(j.m_value.number_integer));
+                    }
+                    else if (j.m_value.number_unsigned <= (std::numeric_limits<uint32_t>::max)())
+                    {
+                        // uint 32
+                        oa->write_character(0xce);
+                        write_number(static_cast<uint32_t>(j.m_value.number_integer));
+                    }
+                    else if (j.m_value.number_unsigned <= (std::numeric_limits<uint64_t>::max)())
+                    {
+                        // uint 64
+                        oa->write_character(0xcf);
+                        write_number(static_cast<uint64_t>(j.m_value.number_integer));
+                    }
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case value_t::number_float:
+                {
+                    // float 64
+                    oa->write_character(0xcb);
+                    write_number(j.m_value.number_float);
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case value_t::string:
+                {
+                    // step 1: write control byte and the string length
+                    const auto N = j.m_value.string->size();
+                    if (N <= 31)
+                    {
+                        // fixstr
+                        write_number(static_cast<uint8_t>(0xa0 | N));
+                    }
+                    else if (N <= 255)
+                    {
+                        // str 8
+                        oa->write_character(0xd9);
+                        write_number(static_cast<uint8_t>(N));
+                    }
+                    else if (N <= 65535)
+                    {
+                        // str 16
+                        oa->write_character(0xda);
+                        write_number(static_cast<uint16_t>(N));
+                    }
+                    else if (N <= 4294967295)
+                    {
+                        // str 32
+                        oa->write_character(0xdb);
+                        write_number(static_cast<uint32_t>(N));
+                    }
+
+                    // step 2: write the string
+                    oa->write_characters(reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(j.m_value.string->c_str()),
+                                         j.m_value.string->size());
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case value_t::array:
+                {
+                    // step 1: write control byte and the array size
+                    const auto N = j.m_value.array->size();
+                    if (N <= 15)
+                    {
+                        // fixarray
+                        write_number(static_cast<uint8_t>(0x90 | N));
+                    }
+                    else if (N <= 0xffff)
+                    {
+                        // array 16
+                        oa->write_character(0xdc);
+                        write_number(static_cast<uint16_t>(N));
+                    }
+                    else if (N <= 0xffffffff)
+                    {
+                        // array 32
+                        oa->write_character(0xdd);
+                        write_number(static_cast<uint32_t>(N));
+                    }
+
+                    // step 2: write each element
+                    for (const auto& el : *j.m_value.array)
+                    {
+                        write_msgpack(el);
+                    }
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case value_t::object:
+                {
+                    // step 1: write control byte and the object size
+                    const auto N = j.m_value.object->size();
+                    if (N <= 15)
+                    {
+                        // fixmap
+                        write_number(static_cast<uint8_t>(0x80 | (N & 0xf)));
+                    }
+                    else if (N <= 65535)
+                    {
+                        // map 16
+                        oa->write_character(0xde);
+                        write_number(static_cast<uint16_t>(N));
+                    }
+                    else if (N <= 4294967295)
+                    {
+                        // map 32
+                        oa->write_character(0xdf);
+                        write_number(static_cast<uint32_t>(N));
+                    }
+
+                    // step 2: write each element
+                    for (const auto& el : *j.m_value.object)
+                    {
+                        write_msgpack(el.first);
+                        write_msgpack(el.second);
+                    }
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                default:
+                {
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+      private:
+        /*
+        @brief write a number to output input
+
+        @param[in] n number of type @a NumberType
+        @tparam NumberType the type of the number
+
+        @note This function needs to respect the system's endianess, because
+              bytes in CBOR and MessagePack are stored in network order (big
+              endian) and therefore need reordering on little endian systems.
+        */
+        template<typename NumberType>
+        void write_number(NumberType n)
+        {
+            // step 1: write number to array of length NumberType
+            std::array<uint8_t, sizeof(NumberType)> vec;
+            std::memcpy(vec.data(), &n, sizeof(NumberType));
+
+            // step 2: write array to output (with possible reordering)
+            if (is_little_endian)
+            {
+                // reverse byte order prior to conversion if necessary
+                std::reverse(vec.begin(), vec.end());
+            }
+
+            oa->write_characters(vec.data(), sizeof(NumberType));
+        }
+
+      private:
+        /// whether we can assume little endianess
+        const bool is_little_endian = true;
+
+        /// the output
+        output_adapter_t<uint8_t> oa = nullptr;
+    };
+
+  public:
+    /*!
+    @brief create a CBOR serialization of a given JSON value
+
+    Serializes a given JSON value @a j to a byte vector using the CBOR (Concise
+    Binary Object Representation) serialization format. CBOR is a binary
+    serialization format which aims to be more compact than JSON itself, yet
+    more efficient to parse.
+
+    The library uses the following mapping from JSON values types to
+    CBOR types according to the CBOR specification (RFC 7049):
+
+    JSON value type | value/range                                | CBOR type                          | first byte
+    --------------- | ------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------- | ---------------
+    null            | `null`                                     | Null                               | 0xf6
+    boolean         | `true`                                     | True                               | 0xf5
+    boolean         | `false`                                    | False                              | 0xf4
+    number_integer  | -9223372036854775808..-2147483649          | Negative integer (8 bytes follow)  | 0x3b
+    number_integer  | -2147483648..-32769                        | Negative integer (4 bytes follow)  | 0x3a
+    number_integer  | -32768..-129                               | Negative integer (2 bytes follow)  | 0x39
+    number_integer  | -128..-25                                  | Negative integer (1 byte follow)   | 0x38
+    number_integer  | -24..-1                                    | Negative integer                   | 0x20..0x37
+    number_integer  | 0..23                                      | Integer                            | 0x00..0x17
+    number_integer  | 24..255                                    | Unsigned integer (1 byte follow)   | 0x18
+    number_integer  | 256..65535                                 | Unsigned integer (2 bytes follow)  | 0x19
+    number_integer  | 65536..4294967295                          | Unsigned integer (4 bytes follow)  | 0x1a
+    number_integer  | 4294967296..18446744073709551615           | Unsigned integer (8 bytes follow)  | 0x1b
+    number_unsigned | 0..23                                      | Integer                            | 0x00..0x17
+    number_unsigned | 24..255                                    | Unsigned integer (1 byte follow)   | 0x18
+    number_unsigned | 256..65535                                 | Unsigned integer (2 bytes follow)  | 0x19
+    number_unsigned | 65536..4294967295                          | Unsigned integer (4 bytes follow)  | 0x1a
+    number_unsigned | 4294967296..18446744073709551615           | Unsigned integer (8 bytes follow)  | 0x1b
+    number_float    | *any value*                                | Double-Precision Float             | 0xfb
+    string          | *length*: 0..23                            | UTF-8 string                       | 0x60..0x77
+    string          | *length*: 23..255                          | UTF-8 string (1 byte follow)       | 0x78
+    string          | *length*: 256..65535                       | UTF-8 string (2 bytes follow)      | 0x79
+    string          | *length*: 65536..4294967295                | UTF-8 string (4 bytes follow)      | 0x7a
+    string          | *length*: 4294967296..18446744073709551615 | UTF-8 string (8 bytes follow)      | 0x7b
+    array           | *size*: 0..23                              | array                              | 0x80..0x97
+    array           | *size*: 23..255                            | array (1 byte follow)              | 0x98
+    array           | *size*: 256..65535                         | array (2 bytes follow)             | 0x99
+    array           | *size*: 65536..4294967295                  | array (4 bytes follow)             | 0x9a
+    array           | *size*: 4294967296..18446744073709551615   | array (8 bytes follow)             | 0x9b
+    object          | *size*: 0..23                              | map                                | 0xa0..0xb7
+    object          | *size*: 23..255                            | map (1 byte follow)                | 0xb8
+    object          | *size*: 256..65535                         | map (2 bytes follow)               | 0xb9
+    object          | *size*: 65536..4294967295                  | map (4 bytes follow)               | 0xba
+    object          | *size*: 4294967296..18446744073709551615   | map (8 bytes follow)               | 0xbb
+
+    @note The mapping is **complete** in the sense that any JSON value type
+          can be converted to a CBOR value.
+
+    @note The following CBOR types are not used in the conversion:
+          - byte strings (0x40..0x5f)
+          - UTF-8 strings terminated by "break" (0x7f)
+          - arrays terminated by "break" (0x9f)
+          - maps terminated by "break" (0xbf)
+          - date/time (0xc0..0xc1)
+          - bignum (0xc2..0xc3)
+          - decimal fraction (0xc4)
+          - bigfloat (0xc5)
+          - tagged items (0xc6..0xd4, 0xd8..0xdb)
+          - expected conversions (0xd5..0xd7)
+          - simple values (0xe0..0xf3, 0xf8)
+          - undefined (0xf7)
+          - half and single-precision floats (0xf9-0xfa)
+          - break (0xff)
+
+    @param[in] j  JSON value to serialize
+    @return MessagePack serialization as byte vector
+
+    @complexity Linear in the size of the JSON value @a j.
+
+    @liveexample{The example shows the serialization of a JSON value to a byte
+    vector in CBOR format.,to_cbor}
+
+    @sa http://cbor.io
+    @sa @ref from_cbor(const std::vector<uint8_t>&, const size_t) for the
+        analogous deserialization
+    @sa @ref to_msgpack(const basic_json& for the related MessagePack format
+
+    @since version 2.0.9
+    */
+    static std::vector<uint8_t> to_cbor(const basic_json& j)
+    {
+        std::vector<uint8_t> result;
+        binary_writer bw(output_adapter<uint8_t>::create(result));
+        bw.write_cbor(j);
+        return result;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief create a MessagePack serialization of a given JSON value
+
+    Serializes a given JSON value @a j to a byte vector using the MessagePack
+    serialization format. MessagePack is a binary serialization format which
+    aims to be more compact than JSON itself, yet more efficient to parse.
+
+    The library uses the following mapping from JSON values types to
+    MessagePack types according to the MessagePack specification:
+
+    JSON value type | value/range                       | MessagePack type | first byte
+    --------------- | --------------------------------- | ---------------- | ----------
+    null            | `null`                            | nil              | 0xc0
+    boolean         | `true`                            | true             | 0xc3
+    boolean         | `false`                           | false            | 0xc2
+    number_integer  | -9223372036854775808..-2147483649 | int64            | 0xd3
+    number_integer  | -2147483648..-32769               | int32            | 0xd2
+    number_integer  | -32768..-129                      | int16            | 0xd1
+    number_integer  | -128..-33                         | int8             | 0xd0
+    number_integer  | -32..-1                           | negative fixint  | 0xe0..0xff
+    number_integer  | 0..127                            | positive fixint  | 0x00..0x7f
+    number_integer  | 128..255                          | uint 8           | 0xcc
+    number_integer  | 256..65535                        | uint 16          | 0xcd
+    number_integer  | 65536..4294967295                 | uint 32          | 0xce
+    number_integer  | 4294967296..18446744073709551615  | uint 64          | 0xcf
+    number_unsigned | 0..127                            | positive fixint  | 0x00..0x7f
+    number_unsigned | 128..255                          | uint 8           | 0xcc
+    number_unsigned | 256..65535                        | uint 16          | 0xcd
+    number_unsigned | 65536..4294967295                 | uint 32          | 0xce
+    number_unsigned | 4294967296..18446744073709551615  | uint 64          | 0xcf
+    number_float    | *any value*                       | float 64         | 0xcb
+    string          | *length*: 0..31                   | fixstr           | 0xa0..0xbf
+    string          | *length*: 32..255                 | str 8            | 0xd9
+    string          | *length*: 256..65535              | str 16           | 0xda
+    string          | *length*: 65536..4294967295       | str 32           | 0xdb
+    array           | *size*: 0..15                     | fixarray         | 0x90..0x9f
+    array           | *size*: 16..65535                 | array 16         | 0xdc
+    array           | *size*: 65536..4294967295         | array 32         | 0xdd
+    object          | *size*: 0..15                     | fix map          | 0x80..0x8f
+    object          | *size*: 16..65535                 | map 16           | 0xde
+    object          | *size*: 65536..4294967295         | map 32           | 0xdf
+
+    @note The mapping is **complete** in the sense that any JSON value type
+          can be converted to a MessagePack value.
+
+    @note The following values can **not** be converted to a MessagePack value:
+          - strings with more than 4294967295 bytes
+          - arrays with more than 4294967295 elements
+          - objects with more than 4294967295 elements
+
+    @note The following MessagePack types are not used in the conversion:
+          - bin 8 - bin 32 (0xc4..0xc6)
+          - ext 8 - ext 32 (0xc7..0xc9)
+          - float 32 (0xca)
+          - fixext 1 - fixext 16 (0xd4..0xd8)
+
+    @note Any MessagePack output created @ref to_msgpack can be successfully
+          parsed by @ref from_msgpack.
+
+    @param[in] j  JSON value to serialize
+    @return MessagePack serialization as byte vector
+
+    @complexity Linear in the size of the JSON value @a j.
+
+    @liveexample{The example shows the serialization of a JSON value to a byte
+    vector in MessagePack format.,to_msgpack}
+
+    @sa http://msgpack.org
+    @sa @ref from_msgpack(const std::vector<uint8_t>&, const size_t) for the
+        analogous deserialization
+    @sa @ref to_cbor(const basic_json& for the related CBOR format
+
+    @since version 2.0.9
+    */
+    static std::vector<uint8_t> to_msgpack(const basic_json& j)
+    {
+        std::vector<uint8_t> result;
+        binary_writer bw(output_adapter<uint8_t>::create(result));
+        bw.write_msgpack(j);
+        return result;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief create a JSON value from a byte vector in CBOR format
+
+    Deserializes a given byte vector @a v to a JSON value using the CBOR
+    (Concise Binary Object Representation) serialization format.
+
+    The library maps CBOR types to JSON value types as follows:
+
+    CBOR type              | JSON value type | first byte
+    ---------------------- | --------------- | ----------
+    Integer                | number_unsigned | 0x00..0x17
+    Unsigned integer       | number_unsigned | 0x18
+    Unsigned integer       | number_unsigned | 0x19
+    Unsigned integer       | number_unsigned | 0x1a
+    Unsigned integer       | number_unsigned | 0x1b
+    Negative integer       | number_integer  | 0x20..0x37
+    Negative integer       | number_integer  | 0x38
+    Negative integer       | number_integer  | 0x39
+    Negative integer       | number_integer  | 0x3a
+    Negative integer       | number_integer  | 0x3b
+    Negative integer       | number_integer  | 0x40..0x57
+    UTF-8 string           | string          | 0x60..0x77
+    UTF-8 string           | string          | 0x78
+    UTF-8 string           | string          | 0x79
+    UTF-8 string           | string          | 0x7a
+    UTF-8 string           | string          | 0x7b
+    UTF-8 string           | string          | 0x7f
+    array                  | array           | 0x80..0x97
+    array                  | array           | 0x98
+    array                  | array           | 0x99
+    array                  | array           | 0x9a
+    array                  | array           | 0x9b
+    array                  | array           | 0x9f
+    map                    | object          | 0xa0..0xb7
+    map                    | object          | 0xb8
+    map                    | object          | 0xb9
+    map                    | object          | 0xba
+    map                    | object          | 0xbb
+    map                    | object          | 0xbf
+    False                  | `false`         | 0xf4
+    True                   | `true`          | 0xf5
+    Nill                   | `null`          | 0xf6
+    Half-Precision Float   | number_float    | 0xf9
+    Single-Precision Float | number_float    | 0xfa
+    Double-Precision Float | number_float    | 0xfb
+
+    @warning The mapping is **incomplete** in the sense that not all CBOR
+             types can be converted to a JSON value. The following CBOR types
+             are not supported and will yield parse errors (parse_error.112):
+             - byte strings (0x40..0x5f)
+             - date/time (0xc0..0xc1)
+             - bignum (0xc2..0xc3)
+             - decimal fraction (0xc4)
+             - bigfloat (0xc5)
+             - tagged items (0xc6..0xd4, 0xd8..0xdb)
+             - expected conversions (0xd5..0xd7)
+             - simple values (0xe0..0xf3, 0xf8)
+             - undefined (0xf7)
+
+    @warning CBOR allows map keys of any type, whereas JSON only allows
+             strings as keys in object values. Therefore, CBOR maps with keys
+             other than UTF-8 strings are rejected (parse_error.113).
+
+    @note Any CBOR output created @ref to_cbor can be successfully parsed by
+          @ref from_cbor.
+
+    @param[in] v  a byte vector in CBOR format
+    @param[in] start_index the index to start reading from @a v (0 by default)
+    @return deserialized JSON value
+
+    @throw parse_error.110 if the given vector ends prematurely
+    @throw parse_error.112 if unsupported features from CBOR were
+    used in the given vector @a v or if the input is not valid CBOR
+    @throw parse_error.113 if a string was expected as map key, but not found
+
+    @complexity Linear in the size of the byte vector @a v.
+
+    @liveexample{The example shows the deserialization of a byte vector in CBOR
+    format to a JSON value.,from_cbor}
+
+    @sa http://cbor.io
+    @sa @ref to_cbor(const basic_json&) for the analogous serialization
+    @sa @ref from_msgpack(const std::vector<uint8_t>&, const size_t) for the
+        related MessagePack format
+
+    @since version 2.0.9, parameter @a start_index since 2.1.1
+    */
+    static basic_json from_cbor(const std::vector<uint8_t>& v,
+                                const size_t start_index = 0)
+    {
+        binary_reader br(input_adapter::create(v.begin() + static_cast<difference_type>(start_index), v.end()));
+        return br.parse_cbor();
+    }
+
+
+    /*!
+    @brief create a JSON value from a byte vector in MessagePack format
+
+    Deserializes a given byte vector @a v to a JSON value using the MessagePack
+    serialization format.
+
+    The library maps MessagePack types to JSON value types as follows:
+
+    MessagePack type | JSON value type | first byte
+    ---------------- | --------------- | ----------
+    positive fixint  | number_unsigned | 0x00..0x7f
+    fixmap           | object          | 0x80..0x8f
+    fixarray         | array           | 0x90..0x9f
+    fixstr           | string          | 0xa0..0xbf
+    nil              | `null`          | 0xc0
+    false            | `false`         | 0xc2
+    true             | `true`          | 0xc3
+    float 32         | number_float    | 0xca
+    float 64         | number_float    | 0xcb
+    uint 8           | number_unsigned | 0xcc
+    uint 16          | number_unsigned | 0xcd
+    uint 32          | number_unsigned | 0xce
+    uint 64          | number_unsigned | 0xcf
+    int 8            | number_integer  | 0xd0
+    int 16           | number_integer  | 0xd1
+    int 32           | number_integer  | 0xd2
+    int 64           | number_integer  | 0xd3
+    str 8            | string          | 0xd9
+    str 16           | string          | 0xda
+    str 32           | string          | 0xdb
+    array 16         | array           | 0xdc
+    array 32         | array           | 0xdd
+    map 16           | object          | 0xde
+    map 32           | object          | 0xdf
+    negative fixint  | number_integer  | 0xe0-0xff
+
+    @warning The mapping is **incomplete** in the sense that not all
+             MessagePack types can be converted to a JSON value. The following
+             MessagePack types are not supported and will yield parse errors:
+              - bin 8 - bin 32 (0xc4..0xc6)
+              - ext 8 - ext 32 (0xc7..0xc9)
+              - fixext 1 - fixext 16 (0xd4..0xd8)
+
+    @note Any MessagePack output created @ref to_msgpack can be successfully
+          parsed by @ref from_msgpack.
+
+    @param[in] v  a byte vector in MessagePack format
+    @param[in] start_index the index to start reading from @a v (0 by default)
+    @return deserialized JSON value
+
+    @throw parse_error.110 if the given vector ends prematurely
+    @throw parse_error.112 if unsupported features from MessagePack were
+    used in the given vector @a v or if the input is not valid MessagePack
+    @throw parse_error.113 if a string was expected as map key, but not found
+
+    @complexity Linear in the size of the byte vector @a v.
+
+    @liveexample{The example shows the deserialization of a byte vector in
+    MessagePack format to a JSON value.,from_msgpack}
+
+    @sa http://msgpack.org
+    @sa @ref to_msgpack(const basic_json&) for the analogous serialization
+    @sa @ref from_cbor(const std::vector<uint8_t>&, const size_t) for the
+        related CBOR format
+
+    @since version 2.0.9, parameter @a start_index since 2.1.1
+    */
+    static basic_json from_msgpack(const std::vector<uint8_t>& v,
+                                   const size_t start_index = 0)
+    {
+        binary_reader br(input_adapter::create(v.begin() + static_cast<difference_type>(start_index), v.end()));
+        return br.parse_msgpack();
+    }
+
+    /// @}
+
+    //////////////////////
+    // lexer and parser //
+    //////////////////////
+
+  private:
+    /*!
+    @brief lexical analysis
+
+    This class organizes the lexical analysis during JSON deserialization.
+    */
+    class lexer
+    {
+      public:
+        /// token types for the parser
+        enum class token_type
+        {
+            uninitialized,   ///< indicating the scanner is uninitialized
+            literal_true,    ///< the `true` literal
+            literal_false,   ///< the `false` literal
+            literal_null,    ///< the `null` literal
+            value_string,    ///< a string -- use get_string() for actual value
+            value_unsigned,  ///< an unsigned integer -- use get_number_unsigned() for actual value
+            value_integer,   ///< a signed integer -- use get_number_integer() for actual value
+            value_float,     ///< an floating point number -- use get_number_float() for actual value
+            begin_array,     ///< the character for array begin `[`
+            begin_object,    ///< the character for object begin `{`
+            end_array,       ///< the character for array end `]`
+            end_object,      ///< the character for object end `}`
+            name_separator,  ///< the name separator `:`
+            value_separator, ///< the value separator `,`
+            parse_error,     ///< indicating a parse error
+            end_of_input,    ///< indicating the end of the input buffer
+            literal_or_value ///< a literal or the begin of a value (only for diagnostics)
+        };
+
+        /// return name of values of type token_type (only used for errors)
+        static const char* token_type_name(const token_type t) noexcept
+        {
+            switch (t)
+            {
+                case token_type::uninitialized:
+                    return "<uninitialized>";
+                case token_type::literal_true:
+                    return "true literal";
+                case token_type::literal_false:
+                    return "false literal";
+                case token_type::literal_null:
+                    return "null literal";
+                case token_type::value_string:
+                    return "string literal";
+                case lexer::token_type::value_unsigned:
+                case lexer::token_type::value_integer:
+                case lexer::token_type::value_float:
+                    return "number literal";
+                case token_type::begin_array:
+                    return "'['";
+                case token_type::begin_object:
+                    return "'{'";
+                case token_type::end_array:
+                    return "']'";
+                case token_type::end_object:
+                    return "'}'";
+                case token_type::name_separator:
+                    return "':'";
+                case token_type::value_separator:
+                    return "','";
+                case token_type::parse_error:
+                    return "<parse error>";
+                case token_type::end_of_input:
+                    return "end of input";
+                case token_type::literal_or_value:
+                    return "'[', '{', or a literal";
+                default:
+                {
+                    // catch non-enum values
+                    return "unknown token"; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        explicit lexer(input_adapter_t adapter)
+            : ia(adapter), decimal_point_char(get_decimal_point())
+        {}
+
+        // delete because of pointer members
+        lexer(const lexer&) = delete;
+        lexer& operator=(lexer&) = delete;
+
+      private:
+        /////////////////////
+        // locales
+        /////////////////////
+
+        /// return the locale-dependent decimal point
+        static char get_decimal_point() noexcept
+        {
+            const auto loc = localeconv();
+            assert(loc != nullptr);
+            return (loc->decimal_point == nullptr) ? '.' : loc->decimal_point[0];
+        }
+
+        /////////////////////
+        // scan functions
+        /////////////////////
+
+        /*!
+        @brief get codepoint from 4 hex characters following `\u`
+
+        @return codepoint or -1 in case of an error (e.g. EOF or non-hex
+                character)
+        */
+        int get_codepoint()
+        {
+            // this function only makes sense after reading `\u`
+            assert(current == 'u');
+            int codepoint = 0;
+
+            // byte 1: \uXxxx
+            switch (get())
+            {
+                case '0':
+                    break;
+                case '1':
+                    codepoint += 0x1000;
+                    break;
+                case '2':
+                    codepoint += 0x2000;
+                    break;
+                case '3':
+                    codepoint += 0x3000;
+                    break;
+                case '4':
+                    codepoint += 0x4000;
+                    break;
+                case '5':
+                    codepoint += 0x5000;
+                    break;
+                case '6':
+                    codepoint += 0x6000;
+                    break;
+                case '7':
+                    codepoint += 0x7000;
+                    break;
+                case '8':
+                    codepoint += 0x8000;
+                    break;
+                case '9':
+                    codepoint += 0x9000;
+                    break;
+                case 'A':
+                case 'a':
+                    codepoint += 0xa000;
+                    break;
+                case 'B':
+                case 'b':
+                    codepoint += 0xb000;
+                    break;
+                case 'C':
+                case 'c':
+                    codepoint += 0xc000;
+                    break;
+                case 'D':
+                case 'd':
+                    codepoint += 0xd000;
+                    break;
+                case 'E':
+                case 'e':
+                    codepoint += 0xe000;
+                    break;
+                case 'F':
+                case 'f':
+                    codepoint += 0xf000;
+                    break;
+                default:
+                    return -1;
+            }
+
+            // byte 2: \uxXxx
+            switch (get())
+            {
+                case '0':
+                    break;
+                case '1':
+                    codepoint += 0x0100;
+                    break;
+                case '2':
+                    codepoint += 0x0200;
+                    break;
+                case '3':
+                    codepoint += 0x0300;
+                    break;
+                case '4':
+                    codepoint += 0x0400;
+                    break;
+                case '5':
+                    codepoint += 0x0500;
+                    break;
+                case '6':
+                    codepoint += 0x0600;
+                    break;
+                case '7':
+                    codepoint += 0x0700;
+                    break;
+                case '8':
+                    codepoint += 0x0800;
+                    break;
+                case '9':
+                    codepoint += 0x0900;
+                    break;
+                case 'A':
+                case 'a':
+                    codepoint += 0x0a00;
+                    break;
+                case 'B':
+                case 'b':
+                    codepoint += 0x0b00;
+                    break;
+                case 'C':
+                case 'c':
+                    codepoint += 0x0c00;
+                    break;
+                case 'D':
+                case 'd':
+                    codepoint += 0x0d00;
+                    break;
+                case 'E':
+                case 'e':
+                    codepoint += 0x0e00;
+                    break;
+                case 'F':
+                case 'f':
+                    codepoint += 0x0f00;
+                    break;
+                default:
+                    return -1;
+            }
+
+            // byte 3: \uxxXx
+            switch (get())
+            {
+                case '0':
+                    break;
+                case '1':
+                    codepoint += 0x0010;
+                    break;
+                case '2':
+                    codepoint += 0x0020;
+                    break;
+                case '3':
+                    codepoint += 0x0030;
+                    break;
+                case '4':
+                    codepoint += 0x0040;
+                    break;
+                case '5':
+                    codepoint += 0x0050;
+                    break;
+                case '6':
+                    codepoint += 0x0060;
+                    break;
+                case '7':
+                    codepoint += 0x0070;
+                    break;
+                case '8':
+                    codepoint += 0x0080;
+                    break;
+                case '9':
+                    codepoint += 0x0090;
+                    break;
+                case 'A':
+                case 'a':
+                    codepoint += 0x00a0;
+                    break;
+                case 'B':
+                case 'b':
+                    codepoint += 0x00b0;
+                    break;
+                case 'C':
+                case 'c':
+                    codepoint += 0x00c0;
+                    break;
+                case 'D':
+                case 'd':
+                    codepoint += 0x00d0;
+                    break;
+                case 'E':
+                case 'e':
+                    codepoint += 0x00e0;
+                    break;
+                case 'F':
+                case 'f':
+                    codepoint += 0x00f0;
+                    break;
+                default:
+                    return -1;
+            }
+
+            // byte 4: \uxxxX
+            switch (get())
+            {
+                case '0':
+                    break;
+                case '1':
+                    codepoint += 0x0001;
+                    break;
+                case '2':
+                    codepoint += 0x0002;
+                    break;
+                case '3':
+                    codepoint += 0x0003;
+                    break;
+                case '4':
+                    codepoint += 0x0004;
+                    break;
+                case '5':
+                    codepoint += 0x0005;
+                    break;
+                case '6':
+                    codepoint += 0x0006;
+                    break;
+                case '7':
+                    codepoint += 0x0007;
+                    break;
+                case '8':
+                    codepoint += 0x0008;
+                    break;
+                case '9':
+                    codepoint += 0x0009;
+                    break;
+                case 'A':
+                case 'a':
+                    codepoint += 0x000a;
+                    break;
+                case 'B':
+                case 'b':
+                    codepoint += 0x000b;
+                    break;
+                case 'C':
+                case 'c':
+                    codepoint += 0x000c;
+                    break;
+                case 'D':
+                case 'd':
+                    codepoint += 0x000d;
+                    break;
+                case 'E':
+                case 'e':
+                    codepoint += 0x000e;
+                    break;
+                case 'F':
+                case 'f':
+                    codepoint += 0x000f;
+                    break;
+                default:
+                    return -1;
+            }
+
+            return codepoint;
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief scan a string literal
+
+        This function scans a string according to Sect. 7 of RFC 7159. While
+        scanning, bytes are escaped and copied into buffer yytext. Then the
+        function returns successfully, yytext is null-terminated and yylen
+        contains the number of bytes in the string.
+
+        @return token_type::value_string if string could be successfully
+                scanned, token_type::parse_error otherwise
+
+        @note In case of errors, variable error_message contains a textual
+              description.
+        */
+        token_type scan_string()
+        {
+            // reset yytext (ignore opening quote)
+            reset();
+
+            // we entered the function by reading an open quote
+            assert(current == '\"');
+
+            while (true)
+            {
+                // get next character
+                switch (get())
+                {
+                    // end of file while parsing string
+                    case std::char_traits<char>::eof():
+                    {
+                        error_message = "invalid string: missing closing quote";
+                        return token_type::parse_error;
+                    }
+
+                    // closing quote
+                    case '\"':
+                    {
+                        // terminate yytext
+                        add('\0');
+                        --yylen;
+                        return token_type::value_string;
+                    }
+
+                    // escapes
+                    case '\\':
+                    {
+                        switch (get())
+                        {
+                            // quotation mark
+                            case '\"':
+                                add('\"');
+                                break;
+                            // reverse solidus
+                            case '\\':
+                                add('\\');
+                                break;
+                            // solidus
+                            case '/':
+                                add('/');
+                                break;
+                            // backspace
+                            case 'b':
+                                add('\b');
+                                break;
+                            // form feed
+                            case 'f':
+                                add('\f');
+                                break;
+                            // line feed
+                            case 'n':
+                                add('\n');
+                                break;
+                            // carriage return
+                            case 'r':
+                                add('\r');
+                                break;
+                            // tab
+                            case 't':
+                                add('\t');
+                                break;
+
+                            // unicode escapes
+                            case 'u':
+                            {
+                                int codepoint;
+                                int codepoint1 = get_codepoint();
+
+                                if (JSON_UNLIKELY(codepoint1 == -1))
+                                {
+                                    error_message = "invalid string: '\\u' must be followed by 4 hex digits";
+                                    return token_type::parse_error;
+                                }
+
+                                // check if code point is a high surrogate
+                                if (0xD800 <= codepoint1 and codepoint1 <= 0xDBFF)
+                                {
+                                    // expect next \uxxxx entry
+                                    if (JSON_LIKELY(get() == '\\' and get() == 'u'))
+                                    {
+                                        const int codepoint2 = get_codepoint();
+
+                                        if (JSON_UNLIKELY(codepoint2 == -1))
+                                        {
+                                            error_message = "invalid string: '\\u' must be followed by 4 hex digits";
+                                            return token_type::parse_error;
+                                        }
+
+                                        // check if codepoint2 is a low surrogate
+                                        if (JSON_LIKELY(0xDC00 <= codepoint2 and codepoint2 <= 0xDFFF))
+                                        {
+                                            codepoint =
+                                                // high surrogate occupies the most significant 22 bits
+                                                (codepoint1 << 10)
+                                                // low surrogate occupies the least significant 15 bits
+                                                + codepoint2
+                                                // there is still the 0xD800, 0xDC00 and 0x10000 noise
+                                                // in the result so we have to subtract with:
+                                                // (0xD800 << 10) + DC00 - 0x10000 = 0x35FDC00
+                                                - 0x35FDC00;
+                                        }
+                                        else
+                                        {
+                                            error_message = "invalid string: surrogate U+DC00..U+DFFF must be followed by U+DC00..U+DFFF";
+                                            return token_type::parse_error;
+                                        }
+                                    }
+                                    else
+                                    {
+                                        error_message = "invalid string: surrogate U+DC00..U+DFFF must be followed by U+DC00..U+DFFF";
+                                        return token_type::parse_error;
+                                    }
+                                }
+                                else
+                                {
+                                    if (JSON_UNLIKELY(0xDC00 <= codepoint1 and codepoint1 <= 0xDFFF))
+                                    {
+                                        error_message = "invalid string: surrogate U+DC00..U+DFFF must follow U+D800..U+DBFF";
+                                        return token_type::parse_error;
+                                    }
+
+                                    // only work with first code point
+                                    codepoint = codepoint1;
+                                }
+
+                                // result of the above calculation yields a proper codepoint
+                                assert(0x00 <= codepoint and codepoint <= 0x10FFFF);
+
+                                // translate code point to bytes
+                                if (codepoint < 0x80)
+                                {
+                                    // 1-byte characters: 0xxxxxxx (ASCII)
+                                    add(codepoint);
+                                }
+                                else if (codepoint <= 0x7ff)
+                                {
+                                    // 2-byte characters: 110xxxxx 10xxxxxx
+                                    add(0xC0 | (codepoint >> 6));
+                                    add(0x80 | (codepoint & 0x3F));
+                                }
+                                else if (codepoint <= 0xffff)
+                                {
+                                    // 3-byte characters: 1110xxxx 10xxxxxx 10xxxxxx
+                                    add(0xE0 | (codepoint >> 12));
+                                    add(0x80 | ((codepoint >> 6) & 0x3F));
+                                    add(0x80 | (codepoint & 0x3F));
+                                }
+                                else
+                                {
+                                    // 4-byte characters: 11110xxx 10xxxxxx 10xxxxxx 10xxxxxx
+                                    add(0xF0 | (codepoint >> 18));
+                                    add(0x80 | ((codepoint >> 12) & 0x3F));
+                                    add(0x80 | ((codepoint >> 6) & 0x3F));
+                                    add(0x80 | (codepoint & 0x3F));
+                                }
+
+                                break;
+                            }
+
+                            // other characters after escape
+                            default:
+                                error_message = "invalid string: forbidden character after backslash";
+                                return token_type::parse_error;
+                        }
+
+                        break;
+                    }
+
+                    // invalid control characters
+                    case 0x00:
+                    case 0x01:
+                    case 0x02:
+                    case 0x03:
+                    case 0x04:
+                    case 0x05:
+                    case 0x06:
+                    case 0x07:
+                    case 0x08:
+                    case 0x09:
+                    case 0x0a:
+                    case 0x0b:
+                    case 0x0c:
+                    case 0x0d:
+                    case 0x0e:
+                    case 0x0f:
+                    case 0x10:
+                    case 0x11:
+                    case 0x12:
+                    case 0x13:
+                    case 0x14:
+                    case 0x15:
+                    case 0x16:
+                    case 0x17:
+                    case 0x18:
+                    case 0x19:
+                    case 0x1a:
+                    case 0x1b:
+                    case 0x1c:
+                    case 0x1d:
+                    case 0x1e:
+                    case 0x1f:
+                    {
+                        error_message = "invalid string: control character must be escaped";
+                        return token_type::parse_error;
+                    }
+
+                    // U+0020..U+007F (except U+0022 (quote) and U+005C (backspace))
+                    case 0x20:
+                    case 0x21:
+                    case 0x23:
+                    case 0x24:
+                    case 0x25:
+                    case 0x26:
+                    case 0x27:
+                    case 0x28:
+                    case 0x29:
+                    case 0x2a:
+                    case 0x2b:
+                    case 0x2c:
+                    case 0x2d:
+                    case 0x2e:
+                    case 0x2f:
+                    case 0x30:
+                    case 0x31:
+                    case 0x32:
+                    case 0x33:
+                    case 0x34:
+                    case 0x35:
+                    case 0x36:
+                    case 0x37:
+                    case 0x38:
+                    case 0x39:
+                    case 0x3a:
+                    case 0x3b:
+                    case 0x3c:
+                    case 0x3d:
+                    case 0x3e:
+                    case 0x3f:
+                    case 0x40:
+                    case 0x41:
+                    case 0x42:
+                    case 0x43:
+                    case 0x44:
+                    case 0x45:
+                    case 0x46:
+                    case 0x47:
+                    case 0x48:
+                    case 0x49:
+                    case 0x4a:
+                    case 0x4b:
+                    case 0x4c:
+                    case 0x4d:
+                    case 0x4e:
+                    case 0x4f:
+                    case 0x50:
+                    case 0x51:
+                    case 0x52:
+                    case 0x53:
+                    case 0x54:
+                    case 0x55:
+                    case 0x56:
+                    case 0x57:
+                    case 0x58:
+                    case 0x59:
+                    case 0x5a:
+                    case 0x5b:
+                    case 0x5d:
+                    case 0x5e:
+                    case 0x5f:
+                    case 0x60:
+                    case 0x61:
+                    case 0x62:
+                    case 0x63:
+                    case 0x64:
+                    case 0x65:
+                    case 0x66:
+                    case 0x67:
+                    case 0x68:
+                    case 0x69:
+                    case 0x6a:
+                    case 0x6b:
+                    case 0x6c:
+                    case 0x6d:
+                    case 0x6e:
+                    case 0x6f:
+                    case 0x70:
+                    case 0x71:
+                    case 0x72:
+                    case 0x73:
+                    case 0x74:
+                    case 0x75:
+                    case 0x76:
+                    case 0x77:
+                    case 0x78:
+                    case 0x79:
+                    case 0x7a:
+                    case 0x7b:
+                    case 0x7c:
+                    case 0x7d:
+                    case 0x7e:
+                    case 0x7f:
+                    {
+                        add(current);
+                        break;
+                    }
+
+                    // U+0080..U+07FF: bytes C2..DF 80..BF
+                    case 0xc2:
+                    case 0xc3:
+                    case 0xc4:
+                    case 0xc5:
+                    case 0xc6:
+                    case 0xc7:
+                    case 0xc8:
+                    case 0xc9:
+                    case 0xca:
+                    case 0xcb:
+                    case 0xcc:
+                    case 0xcd:
+                    case 0xce:
+                    case 0xcf:
+                    case 0xd0:
+                    case 0xd1:
+                    case 0xd2:
+                    case 0xd3:
+                    case 0xd4:
+                    case 0xd5:
+                    case 0xd6:
+                    case 0xd7:
+                    case 0xd8:
+                    case 0xd9:
+                    case 0xda:
+                    case 0xdb:
+                    case 0xdc:
+                    case 0xdd:
+                    case 0xde:
+                    case 0xdf:
+                    {
+                        add(current);
+                        get();
+                        if (JSON_LIKELY(0x80 <= current and current <= 0xbf))
+                        {
+                            add(current);
+                            continue;
+                        }
+
+                        error_message = "invalid string: ill-formed UTF-8 byte";
+                        return token_type::parse_error;
+                    }
+
+                    // U+0800..U+0FFF: bytes E0 A0..BF 80..BF
+                    case 0xe0:
+                    {
+                        add(current);
+                        get();
+                        if (JSON_LIKELY(0xa0 <= current and current <= 0xbf))
+                        {
+                            add(current);
+                            get();
+                            if (JSON_LIKELY(0x80 <= current and current <= 0xbf))
+                            {
+                                add(current);
+                                continue;
+                            }
+                        }
+
+                        error_message = "invalid string: ill-formed UTF-8 byte";
+                        return token_type::parse_error;
+                    }
+
+                    // U+1000..U+CFFF: bytes E1..EC 80..BF 80..BF
+                    // U+E000..U+FFFF: bytes EE..EF 80..BF 80..BF
+                    case 0xe1:
+                    case 0xe2:
+                    case 0xe3:
+                    case 0xe4:
+                    case 0xe5:
+                    case 0xe6:
+                    case 0xe7:
+                    case 0xe8:
+                    case 0xe9:
+                    case 0xea:
+                    case 0xeb:
+                    case 0xec:
+                    case 0xee:
+                    case 0xef:
+                    {
+                        add(current);
+                        get();
+                        if (JSON_LIKELY(0x80 <= current and current <= 0xbf))
+                        {
+                            add(current);
+                            get();
+                            if (JSON_LIKELY(0x80 <= current and current <= 0xbf))
+                            {
+                                add(current);
+                                continue;
+                            }
+                        }
+
+                        error_message = "invalid string: ill-formed UTF-8 byte";
+                        return token_type::parse_error;
+                    }
+
+                    // U+D000..U+D7FF: bytes ED 80..9F 80..BF
+                    case 0xed:
+                    {
+                        add(current);
+                        get();
+                        if (JSON_LIKELY(0x80 <= current and current <= 0x9f))
+                        {
+                            add(current);
+                            get();
+                            if (JSON_LIKELY(0x80 <= current and current <= 0xbf))
+                            {
+                                add(current);
+                                continue;
+                            }
+                        }
+
+                        error_message = "invalid string: ill-formed UTF-8 byte";
+                        return token_type::parse_error;
+                    }
+
+                    // U+10000..U+3FFFF F0 90..BF 80..BF 80..BF
+                    case 0xf0:
+                    {
+                        add(current);
+                        get();
+                        if (JSON_LIKELY(0x90 <= current and current <= 0xbf))
+                        {
+                            add(current);
+                            get();
+                            if (JSON_LIKELY(0x80 <= current and current <= 0xbf))
+                            {
+                                add(current);
+                                get();
+                                if (JSON_LIKELY(0x80 <= current and current <= 0xbf))
+                                {
+                                    add(current);
+                                    continue;
+                                }
+                            }
+                        }
+
+                        error_message = "invalid string: ill-formed UTF-8 byte";
+                        return token_type::parse_error;
+                    }
+
+                    // U+40000..U+FFFFF F1..F3 80..BF 80..BF 80..BF
+                    case 0xf1:
+                    case 0xf2:
+                    case 0xf3:
+                    {
+                        add(current);
+                        get();
+                        if (JSON_LIKELY(0x80 <= current and current <= 0xbf))
+                        {
+                            add(current);
+                            get();
+                            if (JSON_LIKELY(0x80 <= current and current <= 0xbf))
+                            {
+                                add(current);
+                                get();
+                                if (JSON_LIKELY(0x80 <= current and current <= 0xbf))
+                                {
+                                    add(current);
+                                    continue;
+                                }
+                            }
+                        }
+
+                        error_message = "invalid string: ill-formed UTF-8 byte";
+                        return token_type::parse_error;
+                    }
+
+                    // U+100000..U+10FFFF F4 80..8F 80..BF 80..BF
+                    case 0xf4:
+                    {
+                        add(current);
+                        get();
+                        if (JSON_LIKELY(0x80 <= current and current <= 0x8f))
+                        {
+                            add(current);
+                            get();
+                            if (JSON_LIKELY(0x80 <= current and current <= 0xbf))
+                            {
+                                add(current);
+                                get();
+                                if (JSON_LIKELY(0x80 <= current and current <= 0xbf))
+                                {
+                                    add(current);
+                                    continue;
+                                }
+                            }
+                        }
+
+                        error_message = "invalid string: ill-formed UTF-8 byte";
+                        return token_type::parse_error;
+                    }
+
+                    // remaining bytes (80..C1 and F5..FF) are ill-formed
+                    default:
+                    {
+                        error_message = "invalid string: ill-formed UTF-8 byte";
+                        return token_type::parse_error;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        static void strtof(float& f, const char* str, char** endptr) noexcept
+        {
+            f = std::strtof(str, endptr);
+        }
+
+        static void strtof(double& f, const char* str, char** endptr) noexcept
+        {
+            f = std::strtod(str, endptr);
+        }
+
+        static void strtof(long double& f, const char* str, char** endptr) noexcept
+        {
+            f = std::strtold(str, endptr);
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief scan a number literal
+
+        This function scans a string according to Sect. 6 of RFC 7159.
+
+        The function is realized with a deterministic finite state machine
+        derived from the grammar described in RFC 7159. Starting in state
+        "init", the input is read and used to determined the next state. Only
+        state "done" accepts the number. State "error" is a trap state to model
+        errors. In the table below, "anything" means any character but the ones
+        listed before.
+
+        state    | 0        | 1-9      | e E      | +       | -       | .        | anything
+        ---------|----------|----------|----------|---------|---------|----------|-----------
+        init     | zero     | any1     | [error]  | [error] | minus   | [error]  | [error]
+        minus    | zero     | any1     | [error]  | [error] | [error] | [error]  | [error]
+        zero     | done     | done     | exponent | done    | done    | decimal1 | done
+        any1     | any1     | any1     | exponent | done    | done    | decimal1 | done
+        decimal1 | decimal2 | [error]  | [error]  | [error] | [error] | [error]  | [error]
+        decimal2 | decimal2 | decimal2 | exponent | done    | done    | done     | done
+        exponent | any2     | any2     | [error]  | sign    | sign    | [error]  | [error]
+        sign     | any2     | any2     | [error]  | [error] | [error] | [error]  | [error]
+        any2     | any2     | any2     | done     | done    | done    | done     | done
+
+        The state machine is realized with one label per state (prefixed with
+        "scan_number_") and `goto` statements between them. The state machine
+        contains cycles, but any cycle can be left when EOF is read. Therefore,
+        the function is guaranteed to terminate.
+
+        During scanning, the read bytes are stored in yytext. This string is
+        then converted to a signed integer, an unsigned integer, or a
+        floating-point number.
+
+        @return token_type::value_unsigned, token_type::value_integer, or
+                token_type::value_float if number could be successfully scanned,
+                token_type::parse_error otherwise
+
+        @note The scanner is independent of the current locale. Internally, the
+              locale's decimal point is used instead of `.` to work with the
+              locale-dependent converters.
+        */
+        token_type scan_number()
+        {
+            // reset yytext to store the number's bytes
+            reset();
+
+            // the type of the parsed number; initially set to unsigned; will be
+            // changed if minus sign, decimal point or exponent is read
+            token_type number_type = token_type::value_unsigned;
+
+            // state (init): we just found out we need to scan a number
+            switch (current)
+            {
+                case '-':
+                {
+                    add(current);
+                    goto scan_number_minus;
+                }
+
+                case '0':
+                {
+                    add(current);
+                    goto scan_number_zero;
+                }
+
+                case '1':
+                case '2':
+                case '3':
+                case '4':
+                case '5':
+                case '6':
+                case '7':
+                case '8':
+                case '9':
+                {
+                    add(current);
+                    goto scan_number_any1;
+                }
+
+                default:
+                {
+                    // all other characters are rejected outside scan_number()
+                    assert(false);  // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+                }
+            }
+
+scan_number_minus:
+            // state: we just parsed a leading minus sign
+            number_type = token_type::value_integer;
+            switch (get())
+            {
+                case '0':
+                {
+                    add(current);
+                    goto scan_number_zero;
+                }
+
+                case '1':
+                case '2':
+                case '3':
+                case '4':
+                case '5':
+                case '6':
+                case '7':
+                case '8':
+                case '9':
+                {
+                    add(current);
+                    goto scan_number_any1;
+                }
+
+                default:
+                {
+                    error_message = "invalid number; expected digit after '-'";
+                    return token_type::parse_error;
+                }
+            }
+
+scan_number_zero:
+            // state: we just parse a zero (maybe with a leading minus sign)
+            switch (get())
+            {
+                case '.':
+                {
+                    add(decimal_point_char);
+                    goto scan_number_decimal1;
+                }
+
+                case 'e':
+                case 'E':
+                {
+                    add(current);
+                    goto scan_number_exponent;
+                }
+
+                default:
+                {
+                    goto scan_number_done;
+                }
+            }
+
+scan_number_any1:
+            // state: we just parsed a number 0-9 (maybe with a leading minus sign)
+            switch (get())
+            {
+                case '0':
+                case '1':
+                case '2':
+                case '3':
+                case '4':
+                case '5':
+                case '6':
+                case '7':
+                case '8':
+                case '9':
+                {
+                    add(current);
+                    goto scan_number_any1;
+                }
+
+                case '.':
+                {
+                    add(decimal_point_char);
+                    goto scan_number_decimal1;
+                }
+
+                case 'e':
+                case 'E':
+                {
+                    add(current);
+                    goto scan_number_exponent;
+                }
+
+                default:
+                {
+                    goto scan_number_done;
+                }
+            }
+
+scan_number_decimal1:
+            // state: we just parsed a decimal point
+            number_type = token_type::value_float;
+            switch (get())
+            {
+                case '0':
+                case '1':
+                case '2':
+                case '3':
+                case '4':
+                case '5':
+                case '6':
+                case '7':
+                case '8':
+                case '9':
+                {
+                    add(current);
+                    goto scan_number_decimal2;
+                }
+
+                default:
+                {
+                    error_message = "invalid number; expected digit after '.'";
+                    return token_type::parse_error;
+                }
+            }
+
+scan_number_decimal2:
+            // we just parsed at least one number after a decimal point
+            switch (get())
+            {
+                case '0':
+                case '1':
+                case '2':
+                case '3':
+                case '4':
+                case '5':
+                case '6':
+                case '7':
+                case '8':
+                case '9':
+                {
+                    add(current);
+                    goto scan_number_decimal2;
+                }
+
+                case 'e':
+                case 'E':
+                {
+                    add(current);
+                    goto scan_number_exponent;
+                }
+
+                default:
+                {
+                    goto scan_number_done;
+                }
+            }
+
+scan_number_exponent:
+            // we just parsed an exponent
+            number_type = token_type::value_float;
+            switch (get())
+            {
+                case '+':
+                case '-':
+                {
+                    add(current);
+                    goto scan_number_sign;
+                }
+
+                case '0':
+                case '1':
+                case '2':
+                case '3':
+                case '4':
+                case '5':
+                case '6':
+                case '7':
+                case '8':
+                case '9':
+                {
+                    add(current);
+                    goto scan_number_any2;
+                }
+
+                default:
+                {
+                    error_message = "invalid number; expected '+', '-', or digit after exponent";
+                    return token_type::parse_error;
+                }
+            }
+
+scan_number_sign:
+            // we just parsed an exponent sign
+            switch (get())
+            {
+                case '0':
+                case '1':
+                case '2':
+                case '3':
+                case '4':
+                case '5':
+                case '6':
+                case '7':
+                case '8':
+                case '9':
+                {
+                    add(current);
+                    goto scan_number_any2;
+                }
+
+                default:
+                {
+                    error_message = "invalid number; expected digit after exponent sign";
+                    return token_type::parse_error;
+                }
+            }
+
+scan_number_any2:
+            // we just parsed a number after the exponent or exponent sign
+            switch (get())
+            {
+                case '0':
+                case '1':
+                case '2':
+                case '3':
+                case '4':
+                case '5':
+                case '6':
+                case '7':
+                case '8':
+                case '9':
+                {
+                    add(current);
+                    goto scan_number_any2;
+                }
+
+                default:
+                {
+                    goto scan_number_done;
+                }
+            }
+
+scan_number_done:
+            // unget the character after the number (we only read it to know
+            // that we are done scanning a number)
+            --chars_read;
+            next_unget = true;
+
+            // terminate token
+            add('\0');
+            --yylen;
+
+            // try to parse integers first and fall back to floats
+            if (number_type == token_type::value_unsigned)
+            {
+                char* endptr = nullptr;
+                errno = 0;
+                const auto x = std::strtoull(yytext.data(), &endptr, 10);
+
+                // we checked the number format before
+                assert(endptr == yytext.data() + yylen);
+
+                if (errno == 0)
+                {
+                    value_unsigned = static_cast<number_unsigned_t>(x);
+                    if (value_unsigned == x)
+                    {
+                        return token_type::value_unsigned;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            else if (number_type == token_type::value_integer)
+            {
+                char* endptr = nullptr;
+                errno = 0;
+                const auto x = std::strtoll(yytext.data(), &endptr, 10);
+
+                // we checked the number format before
+                assert(endptr == yytext.data() + yylen);
+
+                if (errno == 0)
+                {
+                    value_integer = static_cast<number_integer_t>(x);
+                    if (value_integer == x)
+                    {
+                        return token_type::value_integer;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
+            // this code is reached if we parse a floating-point number or if
+            // an integer conversion above failed
+            strtof(value_float, yytext.data(), nullptr);
+            return token_type::value_float;
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @param[in] literal_text  the literal text to expect
+        @param[in] length        the length of the passed literal text
+        @param[in] return_type   the token type to return on success
+        */
+        token_type scan_literal(const char* literal_text, const size_t length,
+                                token_type return_type)
+        {
+            assert(current == literal_text[0]);
+            for (size_t i = 1; i < length; ++i)
+            {
+                if (JSON_UNLIKELY(get() != literal_text[i]))
+                {
+                    error_message = "invalid literal";
+                    return token_type::parse_error;
+                }
+            }
+            return return_type;
+        }
+
+        /////////////////////
+        // input management
+        /////////////////////
+
+        /// reset yytext
+        void reset() noexcept
+        {
+            yylen = 0;
+            start_pos = chars_read - 1;
+        }
+
+        /// get a character from the input
+        int get()
+        {
+            ++chars_read;
+            return next_unget
+                   ? (next_unget = false, current)
+                   : (current = ia->get_character());
+        }
+
+        /// add a character to yytext
+        void add(int c)
+        {
+            // resize yytext if necessary; this condition is deemed unlikely,
+            // because we start with a 1024-byte buffer
+            if (JSON_UNLIKELY((yylen + 1 > yytext.capacity())))
+            {
+                yytext.resize(2 * yytext.capacity(), '\0');
+            }
+            assert(yylen < yytext.size());
+            yytext[yylen++] = static_cast<char>(c);
+        }
+
+      public:
+        /////////////////////
+        // value getters
+        /////////////////////
+
+        /// return integer value
+        constexpr number_integer_t get_number_integer() const noexcept
+        {
+            return value_integer;
+        }
+
+        /// return unsigned integer value
+        constexpr number_unsigned_t get_number_unsigned() const noexcept
+        {
+            return value_unsigned;
+        }
+
+        /// return floating-point value
+        constexpr number_float_t get_number_float() const noexcept
+        {
+            return value_float;
+        }
+
+        /// return string value
+        const std::string get_string()
+        {
+            // yytext cannot be returned as char*, because it may contain a
+            // null byte (parsed as "\u0000")
+            return std::string(yytext.data(), yylen);
+        }
+
+        /////////////////////
+        // diagnostics
+        /////////////////////
+
+        /// return position of last read token
+        constexpr size_t get_position() const noexcept
+        {
+            return chars_read;
+        }
+
+        /// return the last read token (for errors only)
+        std::string get_token_string() const
+        {
+            // get the raw byte sequence of the last token
+            std::string s = ia->read(start_pos, chars_read - start_pos);
+
+            // escape control characters
+            std::string result;
+            for (auto c : s)
+            {
+                if (c == '\0' or c == std::char_traits<char>::eof())
+                {
+                    // ignore EOF
+                    continue;
+                }
+                else if ('\x00' <= c and c <= '\x1f')
+                {
+                    // escape control characters
+                    std::stringstream ss;
+                    ss << "<U+" << std::setw(4) << std::uppercase << std::setfill('0') << std::hex << static_cast<int>(c) << ">";
+                    result += ss.str();
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    // add character as is
+                    result.append(1, c);
+                }
+            }
+
+            return result;
+        }
+
+        /// return syntax error message
+        constexpr const char* get_error_message() const noexcept
+        {
+            return error_message;
+        }
+
+        /////////////////////
+        // actual scanner
+        /////////////////////
+
+        token_type scan()
+        {
+            // read next character and ignore whitespace
+            do
+            {
+                get();
+            }
+            while (current == ' ' or current == '\t' or current == '\n' or current == '\r');
+
+            switch (current)
+            {
+                // structural characters
+                case '[':
+                    return token_type::begin_array;
+                case ']':
+                    return token_type::end_array;
+                case '{':
+                    return token_type::begin_object;
+                case '}':
+                    return token_type::end_object;
+                case ':':
+                    return token_type::name_separator;
+                case ',':
+                    return token_type::value_separator;
+
+                // literals
+                case 't':
+                    return scan_literal("true", 4, token_type::literal_true);
+                case 'f':
+                    return scan_literal("false", 5, token_type::literal_false);
+                case 'n':
+                    return scan_literal("null", 4, token_type::literal_null);
+
+                // string
+                case '\"':
+                    return scan_string();
+
+                // number
+                case '-':
+                case '0':
+                case '1':
+                case '2':
+                case '3':
+                case '4':
+                case '5':
+                case '6':
+                case '7':
+                case '8':
+                case '9':
+                    return scan_number();
+
+                // end of input (the null byte is needed when parsing from
+                // string literals)
+                case '\0':
+                case std::char_traits<char>::eof():
+                    return token_type::end_of_input;
+
+                // error
+                default:
+                    error_message = "invalid literal";
+                    return token_type::parse_error;
+            }
+        }
+
+      private:
+        /// input adapter
+        input_adapter_t ia = nullptr;
+
+        /// the current character
+        int current = std::char_traits<char>::eof();
+
+        /// whether get() should return the last character again
+        bool next_unget = false;
+
+        /// the number of characters read
+        size_t chars_read = 0;
+        /// the start position of the current token
+        size_t start_pos = 0;
+
+        /// buffer for variable-length tokens (numbers, strings)
+        std::vector<char> yytext = std::vector<char>(1024, '\0');
+        /// current index in yytext
+        size_t yylen = 0;
+
+        /// a description of occurred lexer errors
+        const char* error_message = "";
+
+        // number values
+        number_integer_t value_integer = 0;
+        number_unsigned_t value_unsigned = 0;
+        number_float_t value_float = 0;
+
+        /// the decimal point
+        const char decimal_point_char = '.';
+    };
+
+    /*!
+    @brief syntax analysis
+
+    This class implements a recursive decent parser.
+    */
+    class parser
+    {
+      public:
+        /// a parser reading from an input adapter
+        explicit parser(input_adapter_t adapter,
+                        const parser_callback_t cb = nullptr)
+            : callback(cb), m_lexer(adapter)
+        {}
+
+        /*!
+        @brief public parser interface
+
+        @param[in] strict  whether to expect the last token to be EOF
+        @return parsed JSON value
+
+        @throw parse_error.101 in case of an unexpected token
+        @throw parse_error.102 if to_unicode fails or surrogate error
+        @throw parse_error.103 if to_unicode fails
+        */
+        basic_json parse(const bool strict = true)
+        {
+            // read first token
+            get_token();
+
+            basic_json result = parse_internal(true);
+            result.assert_invariant();
+
+            if (strict)
+            {
+                get_token();
+                expect(lexer::token_type::end_of_input);
+            }
+
+            // return parser result and replace it with null in case the
+            // top-level value was discarded by the callback function
+            return result.is_discarded() ? basic_json() : std::move(result);
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief public accept interface
+
+        @param[in] strict  whether to expect the last token to be EOF
+        @return whether the input is a proper JSON text
+        */
+        bool accept(const bool strict = true)
+        {
+            // read first token
+            get_token();
+
+            if (not accept_internal())
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            if (strict and get_token() != lexer::token_type::end_of_input)
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            return true;
+        }
+
+      private:
+        /*!
+        @brief the actual parser
+        @throw parse_error.101 in case of an unexpected token
+        @throw parse_error.102 if to_unicode fails or surrogate error
+        @throw parse_error.103 if to_unicode fails
+        */
+        basic_json parse_internal(bool keep)
+        {
+            auto result = basic_json(value_t::discarded);
+
+            switch (last_token)
+            {
+                case lexer::token_type::begin_object:
+                {
+                    if (keep and (not callback
+                                  or ((keep = callback(depth++, parse_event_t::object_start, result)) != 0)))
+                    {
+                        // explicitly set result to object to cope with {}
+                        result.m_type = value_t::object;
+                        result.m_value = value_t::object;
+                    }
+
+                    // read next token
+                    get_token();
+
+                    // closing } -> we are done
+                    if (last_token == lexer::token_type::end_object)
+                    {
+                        if (keep and callback and not callback(--depth, parse_event_t::object_end, result))
+                        {
+                            result = basic_json(value_t::discarded);
+                        }
+                        return result;
+                    }
+
+                    // parse values
+                    while (true)
+                    {
+                        // store key
+                        expect(lexer::token_type::value_string);
+                        const auto key = m_lexer.get_string();
+
+                        bool keep_tag = false;
+                        if (keep)
+                        {
+                            if (callback)
+                            {
+                                basic_json k(key);
+                                keep_tag = callback(depth, parse_event_t::key, k);
+                            }
+                            else
+                            {
+                                keep_tag = true;
+                            }
+                        }
+
+                        // parse separator (:)
+                        get_token();
+                        expect(lexer::token_type::name_separator);
+
+                        // parse and add value
+                        get_token();
+                        auto value = parse_internal(keep);
+                        if (keep and keep_tag and not value.is_discarded())
+                        {
+                            result[key] = std::move(value);
+                        }
+
+                        // comma -> next value
+                        get_token();
+                        if (last_token == lexer::token_type::value_separator)
+                        {
+                            get_token();
+                            continue;
+                        }
+
+                        // closing }
+                        expect(lexer::token_type::end_object);
+                        break;
+                    }
+
+                    if (keep and callback and not callback(--depth, parse_event_t::object_end, result))
+                    {
+                        result = basic_json(value_t::discarded);
+                    }
+
+                    return result;
+                }
+
+                case lexer::token_type::begin_array:
+                {
+                    if (keep and (not callback
+                                  or ((keep = callback(depth++, parse_event_t::array_start, result)) != 0)))
+                    {
+                        // explicitly set result to object to cope with []
+                        result.m_type = value_t::array;
+                        result.m_value = value_t::array;
+                    }
+
+                    // read next token
+                    get_token();
+
+                    // closing ] -> we are done
+                    if (last_token == lexer::token_type::end_array)
+                    {
+                        if (callback and not callback(--depth, parse_event_t::array_end, result))
+                        {
+                            result = basic_json(value_t::discarded);
+                        }
+                        return result;
+                    }
+
+                    // parse values
+                    while (true)
+                    {
+                        // parse value
+                        auto value = parse_internal(keep);
+                        if (keep and not value.is_discarded())
+                        {
+                            result.push_back(std::move(value));
+                        }
+
+                        // comma -> next value
+                        get_token();
+                        if (last_token == lexer::token_type::value_separator)
+                        {
+                            get_token();
+                            continue;
+                        }
+
+                        // closing ]
+                        expect(lexer::token_type::end_array);
+                        break;
+                    }
+
+                    if (keep and callback and not callback(--depth, parse_event_t::array_end, result))
+                    {
+                        result = basic_json(value_t::discarded);
+                    }
+
+                    return result;
+                }
+
+                case lexer::token_type::literal_null:
+                {
+                    result.m_type = value_t::null;
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case lexer::token_type::value_string:
+                {
+                    result = basic_json(m_lexer.get_string());
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case lexer::token_type::literal_true:
+                {
+                    result.m_type = value_t::boolean;
+                    result.m_value = true;
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case lexer::token_type::literal_false:
+                {
+                    result.m_type = value_t::boolean;
+                    result.m_value = false;
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case lexer::token_type::value_unsigned:
+                {
+                    result.m_type = value_t::number_unsigned;
+                    result.m_value = m_lexer.get_number_unsigned();
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case lexer::token_type::value_integer:
+                {
+                    result.m_type = value_t::number_integer;
+                    result.m_value = m_lexer.get_number_integer();
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case lexer::token_type::value_float:
+                {
+                    result.m_type = value_t::number_float;
+                    result.m_value = m_lexer.get_number_float();
+
+                    // throw in case of infinity or NAN
+                    if (JSON_UNLIKELY(not std::isfinite(result.m_value.number_float)))
+                    {
+                        JSON_THROW(out_of_range::create(406, "number overflow parsing '" + m_lexer.get_token_string() + "'"));
+                    }
+
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case lexer::token_type::parse_error:
+                {
+                    // using "uninitialized" to avoid "expected" message
+                    expect(lexer::token_type::uninitialized);
+                    break;  // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+                }
+
+                default:
+                {
+                    // the last token was unexpected; we expected a value
+                    expect(lexer::token_type::literal_or_value);
+                    break;  // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+                }
+            }
+
+            if (keep and callback and not callback(depth, parse_event_t::value, result))
+            {
+                result = basic_json(value_t::discarded);
+            }
+            return result;
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief the acutal acceptor
+
+        @invariant 1. The last token is not yet processed. Therefore, the
+                      caller of this function must make sure a token has
+                      been read.
+                   2. When this function returns, the last token is processed.
+                      That is, the last read character was already considered.
+
+        This invariant makes sure that no token needs to be "unput".
+        */
+        bool accept_internal()
+        {
+            switch (last_token)
+            {
+                case lexer::token_type::begin_object:
+                {
+                    // read next token
+                    get_token();
+
+                    // closing } -> we are done
+                    if (last_token == lexer::token_type::end_object)
+                    {
+                        return true;
+                    }
+
+                    // parse values
+                    while (true)
+                    {
+                        // parse key
+                        if (last_token != lexer::token_type::value_string)
+                        {
+                            return false;
+                        }
+
+                        // parse separator (:)
+                        get_token();
+                        if (last_token != lexer::token_type::name_separator)
+                        {
+                            return false;
+                        }
+
+                        // parse value
+                        get_token();
+                        if (not accept_internal())
+                        {
+                            return false;
+                        }
+
+                        // comma -> next value
+                        get_token();
+                        if (last_token == lexer::token_type::value_separator)
+                        {
+                            get_token();
+                            continue;
+                        }
+
+                        // closing }
+                        if (last_token != lexer::token_type::end_object)
+                        {
+                            return false;
+                        }
+
+                        return true;
+                    }
+                }
+
+                case lexer::token_type::begin_array:
+                {
+                    // read next token
+                    get_token();
+
+                    // closing ] -> we are done
+                    if (last_token == lexer::token_type::end_array)
+                    {
+                        return true;
+                    }
+
+                    // parse values
+                    while (true)
+                    {
+                        // parse value
+                        if (not accept_internal())
+                        {
+                            return false;
+                        }
+
+                        // comma -> next value
+                        get_token();
+                        if (last_token == lexer::token_type::value_separator)
+                        {
+                            get_token();
+                            continue;
+                        }
+
+                        // closing ]
+                        if (last_token != lexer::token_type::end_array)
+                        {
+                            return false;
+                        }
+
+                        return true;
+                    }
+                }
+
+                case lexer::token_type::literal_false:
+                case lexer::token_type::literal_null:
+                case lexer::token_type::literal_true:
+                case lexer::token_type::value_float:
+                case lexer::token_type::value_integer:
+                case lexer::token_type::value_string:
+                case lexer::token_type::value_unsigned:
+                {
+                    return true;
+                }
+
+                default:
+                {
+                    // the last token was unexpected
+                    return false;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        /// get next token from lexer
+        typename lexer::token_type get_token()
+        {
+            return (last_token = m_lexer.scan());
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @throw parse_error.101 if expected token did not occur
+        */
+        void expect(typename lexer::token_type t)
+        {
+            if (JSON_UNLIKELY(t != last_token))
+            {
+                errored = true;
+                expected = t;
+                throw_exception();
+            }
+        }
+
+        [[noreturn]] void throw_exception() const
+        {
+            std::string error_msg = "syntax error - ";
+            if (last_token == lexer::token_type::parse_error)
+            {
+                error_msg += std::string(m_lexer.get_error_message()) + "; last read: '" + m_lexer.get_token_string() + "'";
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                error_msg += "unexpected " + std::string(lexer::token_type_name(last_token));
+            }
+
+            if (expected != lexer::token_type::uninitialized)
+            {
+                error_msg += "; expected " + std::string(lexer::token_type_name(expected));
+            }
+
+            JSON_THROW(parse_error::create(101, m_lexer.get_position(), error_msg));
+        }
+
+      private:
+        /// current level of recursion
+        int depth = 0;
+        /// callback function
+        const parser_callback_t callback = nullptr;
+        /// the type of the last read token
+        typename lexer::token_type last_token = lexer::token_type::uninitialized;
+        /// the lexer
+        lexer m_lexer;
+        /// whether a syntax error occurred
+        bool errored = false;
+        /// possible reason for the syntax error
+        typename lexer::token_type expected = lexer::token_type::uninitialized;
+    };
+
+  public:
+    /*!
+    @brief JSON Pointer
+
+    A JSON pointer defines a string syntax for identifying a specific value
+    within a JSON document. It can be used with functions `at` and
+    `operator[]`. Furthermore, JSON pointers are the base for JSON patches.
+
+    @sa [RFC 6901](https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6901)
+
+    @since version 2.0.0
+    */
+    class json_pointer
+    {
+        /// allow basic_json to access private members
+        friend class basic_json;
+
+      public:
+        /*!
+        @brief create JSON pointer
+
+        Create a JSON pointer according to the syntax described in
+        [Section 3 of RFC6901](https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6901#section-3).
+
+        @param[in] s  string representing the JSON pointer; if omitted, the
+                      empty string is assumed which references the whole JSON
+                      value
+
+        @throw parse_error.107 if the given JSON pointer @a s is nonempty and
+        does not begin with a slash (`/`); see example below
+
+        @throw parse_error.108 if a tilde (`~`) in the given JSON pointer @a s
+        is not followed by `0` (representing `~`) or `1` (representing `/`);
+        see example below
+
+        @liveexample{The example shows the construction several valid JSON
+        pointers as well as the exceptional behavior.,json_pointer}
+
+        @since version 2.0.0
+        */
+        explicit json_pointer(const std::string& s = "")
+            : reference_tokens(split(s))
+        {}
+
+        /*!
+        @brief return a string representation of the JSON pointer
+
+        @invariant For each JSON pointer `ptr`, it holds:
+        @code {.cpp}
+        ptr == json_pointer(ptr.to_string());
+        @endcode
+
+        @return a string representation of the JSON pointer
+
+        @liveexample{The example shows the result of `to_string`.,
+        json_pointer__to_string}
+
+        @since version 2.0.0
+        */
+        std::string to_string() const noexcept
+        {
+            return std::accumulate(reference_tokens.begin(),
+                                   reference_tokens.end(), std::string{},
+                                   [](const std::string & a, const std::string & b)
+            {
+                return a + "/" + escape(b);
+            });
+        }
+
+        /// @copydoc to_string()
+        operator std::string() const
+        {
+            return to_string();
+        }
+
+      private:
+        /*!
+        @brief remove and return last reference pointer
+        @throw out_of_range.405 if JSON pointer has no parent
+        */
+        std::string pop_back()
+        {
+            if (is_root())
+            {
+                JSON_THROW(out_of_range::create(405, "JSON pointer has no parent"));
+            }
+
+            auto last = reference_tokens.back();
+            reference_tokens.pop_back();
+            return last;
+        }
+
+        /// return whether pointer points to the root document
+        bool is_root() const
+        {
+            return reference_tokens.empty();
+        }
+
+        json_pointer top() const
+        {
+            if (is_root())
+            {
+                JSON_THROW(out_of_range::create(405, "JSON pointer has no parent"));
+            }
+
+            json_pointer result = *this;
+            result.reference_tokens = {reference_tokens[0]};
+            return result;
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief create and return a reference to the pointed to value
+
+        @complexity Linear in the number of reference tokens.
+
+        @throw parse_error.109 if array index is not a number
+        @throw type_error.313 if value cannot be unflattened
+        */
+        reference get_and_create(reference j) const
+        {
+            pointer result = &j;
+
+            // in case no reference tokens exist, return a reference to the
+            // JSON value j which will be overwritten by a primitive value
+            for (const auto& reference_token : reference_tokens)
+            {
+                switch (result->m_type)
+                {
+                    case value_t::null:
+                    {
+                        if (reference_token == "0")
+                        {
+                            // start a new array if reference token is 0
+                            result = &result->operator[](0);
+                        }
+                        else
+                        {
+                            // start a new object otherwise
+                            result = &result->operator[](reference_token);
+                        }
+                        break;
+                    }
+
+                    case value_t::object:
+                    {
+                        // create an entry in the object
+                        result = &result->operator[](reference_token);
+                        break;
+                    }
+
+                    case value_t::array:
+                    {
+                        // create an entry in the array
+                        JSON_TRY
+                        {
+                            result = &result->operator[](static_cast<size_type>(std::stoi(reference_token)));
+                        }
+                        JSON_CATCH (std::invalid_argument&)
+                        {
+                            JSON_THROW(parse_error::create(109, 0, "array index '" + reference_token + "' is not a number"));
+                        }
+                        break;
+                    }
+
+                    /*
+                    The following code is only reached if there exists a
+                    reference token _and_ the current value is primitive. In
+                    this case, we have an error situation, because primitive
+                    values may only occur as single value; that is, with an
+                    empty list of reference tokens.
+                    */
+                    default:
+                    {
+                        JSON_THROW(type_error::create(313, "invalid value to unflatten"));
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
+            return *result;
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief return a reference to the pointed to value
+
+        @note This version does not throw if a value is not present, but tries
+        to create nested values instead. For instance, calling this function
+        with pointer `"/this/that"` on a null value is equivalent to calling
+        `operator[]("this").operator[]("that")` on that value, effectively
+        changing the null value to an object.
+
+        @param[in] ptr  a JSON value
+
+        @return reference to the JSON value pointed to by the JSON pointer
+
+        @complexity Linear in the length of the JSON pointer.
+
+        @throw parse_error.106   if an array index begins with '0'
+        @throw parse_error.109   if an array index was not a number
+        @throw out_of_range.404  if the JSON pointer can not be resolved
+        */
+        reference get_unchecked(pointer ptr) const
+        {
+            for (const auto& reference_token : reference_tokens)
+            {
+                // convert null values to arrays or objects before continuing
+                if (ptr->m_type == value_t::null)
+                {
+                    // check if reference token is a number
+                    const bool nums = std::all_of(reference_token.begin(),
+                                                  reference_token.end(),
+                                                  [](const char x)
+                    {
+                        return (x >= '0' and x <= '9');
+                    });
+
+                    // change value to array for numbers or "-" or to object
+                    // otherwise
+                    if (nums or reference_token == "-")
+                    {
+                        *ptr = value_t::array;
+                    }
+                    else
+                    {
+                        *ptr = value_t::object;
+                    }
+                }
+
+                switch (ptr->m_type)
+                {
+                    case value_t::object:
+                    {
+                        // use unchecked object access
+                        ptr = &ptr->operator[](reference_token);
+                        break;
+                    }
+
+                    case value_t::array:
+                    {
+                        // error condition (cf. RFC 6901, Sect. 4)
+                        if (reference_token.size() > 1 and reference_token[0] == '0')
+                        {
+                            JSON_THROW(parse_error::create(106, 0, "array index '" + reference_token + "' must not begin with '0'"));
+                        }
+
+                        if (reference_token == "-")
+                        {
+                            // explicitly treat "-" as index beyond the end
+                            ptr = &ptr->operator[](ptr->m_value.array->size());
+                        }
+                        else
+                        {
+                            // convert array index to number; unchecked access
+                            JSON_TRY
+                            {
+                                ptr = &ptr->operator[](static_cast<size_type>(std::stoi(reference_token)));
+                            }
+                            JSON_CATCH (std::invalid_argument&)
+                            {
+                                JSON_THROW(parse_error::create(109, 0, "array index '" + reference_token + "' is not a number"));
+                            }
+                        }
+                        break;
+                    }
+
+                    default:
+                    {
+                        JSON_THROW(out_of_range::create(404, "unresolved reference token '" + reference_token + "'"));
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
+            return *ptr;
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @throw parse_error.106   if an array index begins with '0'
+        @throw parse_error.109   if an array index was not a number
+        @throw out_of_range.402  if the array index '-' is used
+        @throw out_of_range.404  if the JSON pointer can not be resolved
+        */
+        reference get_checked(pointer ptr) const
+        {
+            for (const auto& reference_token : reference_tokens)
+            {
+                switch (ptr->m_type)
+                {
+                    case value_t::object:
+                    {
+                        // note: at performs range check
+                        ptr = &ptr->at(reference_token);
+                        break;
+                    }
+
+                    case value_t::array:
+                    {
+                        if (reference_token == "-")
+                        {
+                            // "-" always fails the range check
+                            JSON_THROW(out_of_range::create(402, "array index '-' (" +
+                                                            std::to_string(ptr->m_value.array->size()) +
+                                                            ") is out of range"));
+                        }
+
+                        // error condition (cf. RFC 6901, Sect. 4)
+                        if (reference_token.size() > 1 and reference_token[0] == '0')
+                        {
+                            JSON_THROW(parse_error::create(106, 0, "array index '" + reference_token + "' must not begin with '0'"));
+                        }
+
+                        // note: at performs range check
+                        JSON_TRY
+                        {
+                            ptr = &ptr->at(static_cast<size_type>(std::stoi(reference_token)));
+                        }
+                        JSON_CATCH (std::invalid_argument&)
+                        {
+                            JSON_THROW(parse_error::create(109, 0, "array index '" + reference_token + "' is not a number"));
+                        }
+                        break;
+                    }
+
+                    default:
+                    {
+                        JSON_THROW(out_of_range::create(404, "unresolved reference token '" + reference_token + "'"));
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
+            return *ptr;
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief return a const reference to the pointed to value
+
+        @param[in] ptr  a JSON value
+
+        @return const reference to the JSON value pointed to by the JSON
+                pointer
+
+        @throw parse_error.106   if an array index begins with '0'
+        @throw parse_error.109   if an array index was not a number
+        @throw out_of_range.402  if the array index '-' is used
+        @throw out_of_range.404  if the JSON pointer can not be resolved
+        */
+        const_reference get_unchecked(const_pointer ptr) const
+        {
+            for (const auto& reference_token : reference_tokens)
+            {
+                switch (ptr->m_type)
+                {
+                    case value_t::object:
+                    {
+                        // use unchecked object access
+                        ptr = &ptr->operator[](reference_token);
+                        break;
+                    }
+
+                    case value_t::array:
+                    {
+                        if (reference_token == "-")
+                        {
+                            // "-" cannot be used for const access
+                            JSON_THROW(out_of_range::create(402, "array index '-' (" +
+                                                            std::to_string(ptr->m_value.array->size()) +
+                                                            ") is out of range"));
+                        }
+
+                        // error condition (cf. RFC 6901, Sect. 4)
+                        if (reference_token.size() > 1 and reference_token[0] == '0')
+                        {
+                            JSON_THROW(parse_error::create(106, 0, "array index '" + reference_token + "' must not begin with '0'"));
+                        }
+
+                        // use unchecked array access
+                        JSON_TRY
+                        {
+                            ptr = &ptr->operator[](static_cast<size_type>(std::stoi(reference_token)));
+                        }
+                        JSON_CATCH (std::invalid_argument&)
+                        {
+                            JSON_THROW(parse_error::create(109, 0, "array index '" + reference_token + "' is not a number"));
+                        }
+                        break;
+                    }
+
+                    default:
+                    {
+                        JSON_THROW(out_of_range::create(404, "unresolved reference token '" + reference_token + "'"));
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
+            return *ptr;
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @throw parse_error.106   if an array index begins with '0'
+        @throw parse_error.109   if an array index was not a number
+        @throw out_of_range.402  if the array index '-' is used
+        @throw out_of_range.404  if the JSON pointer can not be resolved
+        */
+        const_reference get_checked(const_pointer ptr) const
+        {
+            for (const auto& reference_token : reference_tokens)
+            {
+                switch (ptr->m_type)
+                {
+                    case value_t::object:
+                    {
+                        // note: at performs range check
+                        ptr = &ptr->at(reference_token);
+                        break;
+                    }
+
+                    case value_t::array:
+                    {
+                        if (reference_token == "-")
+                        {
+                            // "-" always fails the range check
+                            JSON_THROW(out_of_range::create(402, "array index '-' (" +
+                                                            std::to_string(ptr->m_value.array->size()) +
+                                                            ") is out of range"));
+                        }
+
+                        // error condition (cf. RFC 6901, Sect. 4)
+                        if (reference_token.size() > 1 and reference_token[0] == '0')
+                        {
+                            JSON_THROW(parse_error::create(106, 0, "array index '" + reference_token + "' must not begin with '0'"));
+                        }
+
+                        // note: at performs range check
+                        JSON_TRY
+                        {
+                            ptr = &ptr->at(static_cast<size_type>(std::stoi(reference_token)));
+                        }
+                        JSON_CATCH (std::invalid_argument&)
+                        {
+                            JSON_THROW(parse_error::create(109, 0, "array index '" + reference_token + "' is not a number"));
+                        }
+                        break;
+                    }
+
+                    default:
+                    {
+                        JSON_THROW(out_of_range::create(404, "unresolved reference token '" + reference_token + "'"));
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
+            return *ptr;
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief split the string input to reference tokens
+
+        @note This function is only called by the json_pointer constructor.
+              All exceptions below are documented there.
+
+        @throw parse_error.107  if the pointer is not empty or begins with '/'
+        @throw parse_error.108  if character '~' is not followed by '0' or '1'
+        */
+        static std::vector<std::string> split(const std::string& reference_string)
+        {
+            std::vector<std::string> result;
+
+            // special case: empty reference string -> no reference tokens
+            if (reference_string.empty())
+            {
+                return result;
+            }
+
+            // check if nonempty reference string begins with slash
+            if (reference_string[0] != '/')
+            {
+                JSON_THROW(parse_error::create(107, 1, "JSON pointer must be empty or begin with '/' - was: '" + reference_string + "'"));
+            }
+
+            // extract the reference tokens:
+            // - slash: position of the last read slash (or end of string)
+            // - start: position after the previous slash
+            for (
+                // search for the first slash after the first character
+                size_t slash = reference_string.find_first_of('/', 1),
+                // set the beginning of the first reference token
+                start = 1;
+                // we can stop if start == string::npos+1 = 0
+                start != 0;
+                // set the beginning of the next reference token
+                // (will eventually be 0 if slash == std::string::npos)
+                start = slash + 1,
+                // find next slash
+                slash = reference_string.find_first_of('/', start))
+            {
+                // use the text between the beginning of the reference token
+                // (start) and the last slash (slash).
+                auto reference_token = reference_string.substr(start, slash - start);
+
+                // check reference tokens are properly escaped
+                for (size_t pos = reference_token.find_first_of('~');
+                        pos != std::string::npos;
+                        pos = reference_token.find_first_of('~', pos + 1))
+                {
+                    assert(reference_token[pos] == '~');
+
+                    // ~ must be followed by 0 or 1
+                    if (pos == reference_token.size() - 1 or
+                            (reference_token[pos + 1] != '0' and
+                             reference_token[pos + 1] != '1'))
+                    {
+                        JSON_THROW(parse_error::create(108, 0, "escape character '~' must be followed with '0' or '1'"));
+                    }
+                }
+
+                // finally, store the reference token
+                unescape(reference_token);
+                result.push_back(reference_token);
+            }
+
+            return result;
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @brief replace all occurrences of a substring by another string
+
+        @param[in,out] s  the string to manipulate; changed so that all
+                          occurrences of @a f are replaced with @a t
+        @param[in]     f  the substring to replace with @a t
+        @param[in]     t  the string to replace @a f
+
+        @pre The search string @a f must not be empty. **This precondition is
+             enforced with an assertion.**
+
+        @since version 2.0.0
+        */
+        static void replace_substring(std::string& s,
+                                      const std::string& f,
+                                      const std::string& t)
+        {
+            assert(not f.empty());
+
+            for (
+                size_t pos = s.find(f);         // find first occurrence of f
+                pos != std::string::npos;       // make sure f was found
+                s.replace(pos, f.size(), t),    // replace with t
+                pos = s.find(f, pos + t.size()) // find next occurrence of f
+            );
+        }
+
+        /// escape tilde and slash
+        static std::string escape(std::string s)
+        {
+            // escape "~"" to "~0" and "/" to "~1"
+            replace_substring(s, "~", "~0");
+            replace_substring(s, "/", "~1");
+            return s;
+        }
+
+        /// unescape tilde and slash
+        static void unescape(std::string& s)
+        {
+            // first transform any occurrence of the sequence '~1' to '/'
+            replace_substring(s, "~1", "/");
+            // then transform any occurrence of the sequence '~0' to '~'
+            replace_substring(s, "~0", "~");
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @param[in] reference_string  the reference string to the current value
+        @param[in] value             the value to consider
+        @param[in,out] result        the result object to insert values to
+
+        @note Empty objects or arrays are flattened to `null`.
+        */
+        static void flatten(const std::string& reference_string,
+                            const basic_json& value,
+                            basic_json& result)
+        {
+            switch (value.m_type)
+            {
+                case value_t::array:
+                {
+                    if (value.m_value.array->empty())
+                    {
+                        // flatten empty array as null
+                        result[reference_string] = nullptr;
+                    }
+                    else
+                    {
+                        // iterate array and use index as reference string
+                        for (size_t i = 0; i < value.m_value.array->size(); ++i)
+                        {
+                            flatten(reference_string + "/" + std::to_string(i),
+                                    value.m_value.array->operator[](i), result);
+                        }
+                    }
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case value_t::object:
+                {
+                    if (value.m_value.object->empty())
+                    {
+                        // flatten empty object as null
+                        result[reference_string] = nullptr;
+                    }
+                    else
+                    {
+                        // iterate object and use keys as reference string
+                        for (const auto& element : *value.m_value.object)
+                        {
+                            flatten(reference_string + "/" + escape(element.first),
+                                    element.second, result);
+                        }
+                    }
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                default:
+                {
+                    // add primitive value with its reference string
+                    result[reference_string] = value;
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        /*!
+        @param[in] value  flattened JSON
+
+        @return unflattened JSON
+
+        @throw parse_error.109 if array index is not a number
+        @throw type_error.314  if value is not an object
+        @throw type_error.315  if object values are not primitive
+        @throw type_error.313  if value cannot be unflattened
+        */
+        static basic_json unflatten(const basic_json& value)
+        {
+            if (not value.is_object())
+            {
+                JSON_THROW(type_error::create(314, "only objects can be unflattened"));
+            }
+
+            basic_json result;
+
+            // iterate the JSON object values
+            for (const auto& element : *value.m_value.object)
+            {
+                if (not element.second.is_primitive())
+                {
+                    JSON_THROW(type_error::create(315, "values in object must be primitive"));
+                }
+
+                // assign value to reference pointed to by JSON pointer; Note
+                // that if the JSON pointer is "" (i.e., points to the whole
+                // value), function get_and_create returns a reference to
+                // result itself. An assignment will then create a primitive
+                // value.
+                json_pointer(element.first).get_and_create(result) = element.second;
+            }
+
+            return result;
+        }
+
+        friend bool operator==(json_pointer const& lhs,
+                               json_pointer const& rhs) noexcept
+        {
+            return lhs.reference_tokens == rhs.reference_tokens;
+        }
+
+        friend bool operator!=(json_pointer const& lhs,
+                               json_pointer const& rhs) noexcept
+        {
+            return !(lhs == rhs);
+        }
+
+        /// the reference tokens
+        std::vector<std::string> reference_tokens {};
+    };
+
+    //////////////////////////
+    // JSON Pointer support //
+    //////////////////////////
+
+    /// @name JSON Pointer functions
+    /// @{
+
+    /*!
+    @brief access specified element via JSON Pointer
+
+    Uses a JSON pointer to retrieve a reference to the respective JSON value.
+    No bound checking is performed. Similar to @ref operator[](const typename
+    object_t::key_type&), `null` values are created in arrays and objects if
+    necessary.
+
+    In particular:
+    - If the JSON pointer points to an object key that does not exist, it
+      is created an filled with a `null` value before a reference to it
+      is returned.
+    - If the JSON pointer points to an array index that does not exist, it
+      is created an filled with a `null` value before a reference to it
+      is returned. All indices between the current maximum and the given
+      index are also filled with `null`.
+    - The special value `-` is treated as a synonym for the index past the
+      end.
+
+    @param[in] ptr  a JSON pointer
+
+    @return reference to the element pointed to by @a ptr
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @throw parse_error.106   if an array index begins with '0'
+    @throw parse_error.109   if an array index was not a number
+    @throw out_of_range.404  if the JSON pointer can not be resolved
+
+    @liveexample{The behavior is shown in the example.,operatorjson_pointer}
+
+    @since version 2.0.0
+    */
+    reference operator[](const json_pointer& ptr)
+    {
+        return ptr.get_unchecked(this);
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief access specified element via JSON Pointer
+
+    Uses a JSON pointer to retrieve a reference to the respective JSON value.
+    No bound checking is performed. The function does not change the JSON
+    value; no `null` values are created. In particular, the the special value
+    `-` yields an exception.
+
+    @param[in] ptr  JSON pointer to the desired element
+
+    @return const reference to the element pointed to by @a ptr
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @throw parse_error.106   if an array index begins with '0'
+    @throw parse_error.109   if an array index was not a number
+    @throw out_of_range.402  if the array index '-' is used
+    @throw out_of_range.404  if the JSON pointer can not be resolved
+
+    @liveexample{The behavior is shown in the example.,operatorjson_pointer_const}
+
+    @since version 2.0.0
+    */
+    const_reference operator[](const json_pointer& ptr) const
+    {
+        return ptr.get_unchecked(this);
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief access specified element via JSON Pointer
+
+    Returns a reference to the element at with specified JSON pointer @a ptr,
+    with bounds checking.
+
+    @param[in] ptr  JSON pointer to the desired element
+
+    @return reference to the element pointed to by @a ptr
+
+    @throw parse_error.106 if an array index in the passed JSON pointer @a ptr
+    begins with '0'. See example below.
+
+    @throw parse_error.109 if an array index in the passed JSON pointer @a ptr
+    is not a number. See example below.
+
+    @throw out_of_range.401 if an array index in the passed JSON pointer @a ptr
+    is out of range. See example below.
+
+    @throw out_of_range.402 if the array index '-' is used in the passed JSON
+    pointer @a ptr. As `at` provides checked access (and no elements are
+    implicitly inserted), the index '-' is always invalid. See example below.
+
+    @throw out_of_range.404 if the JSON pointer @a ptr can not be resolved.
+    See example below.
+
+    @exceptionsafety Strong guarantee: if an exception is thrown, there are no
+    changes in the JSON value.
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @since version 2.0.0
+
+    @liveexample{The behavior is shown in the example.,at_json_pointer}
+    */
+    reference at(const json_pointer& ptr)
+    {
+        return ptr.get_checked(this);
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief access specified element via JSON Pointer
+
+    Returns a const reference to the element at with specified JSON pointer @a
+    ptr, with bounds checking.
+
+    @param[in] ptr  JSON pointer to the desired element
+
+    @return reference to the element pointed to by @a ptr
+
+    @throw parse_error.106 if an array index in the passed JSON pointer @a ptr
+    begins with '0'. See example below.
+
+    @throw parse_error.109 if an array index in the passed JSON pointer @a ptr
+    is not a number. See example below.
+
+    @throw out_of_range.401 if an array index in the passed JSON pointer @a ptr
+    is out of range. See example below.
+
+    @throw out_of_range.402 if the array index '-' is used in the passed JSON
+    pointer @a ptr. As `at` provides checked access (and no elements are
+    implicitly inserted), the index '-' is always invalid. See example below.
+
+    @throw out_of_range.404 if the JSON pointer @a ptr can not be resolved.
+    See example below.
+
+    @exceptionsafety Strong guarantee: if an exception is thrown, there are no
+    changes in the JSON value.
+
+    @complexity Constant.
+
+    @since version 2.0.0
+
+    @liveexample{The behavior is shown in the example.,at_json_pointer_const}
+    */
+    const_reference at(const json_pointer& ptr) const
+    {
+        return ptr.get_checked(this);
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief return flattened JSON value
+
+    The function creates a JSON object whose keys are JSON pointers (see [RFC
+    6901](https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6901)) and whose values are all
+    primitive. The original JSON value can be restored using the @ref
+    unflatten() function.
+
+    @return an object that maps JSON pointers to primitive values
+
+    @note Empty objects and arrays are flattened to `null` and will not be
+          reconstructed correctly by the @ref unflatten() function.
+
+    @complexity Linear in the size the JSON value.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code shows how a JSON object is flattened to an
+    object whose keys consist of JSON pointers.,flatten}
+
+    @sa @ref unflatten() for the reverse function
+
+    @since version 2.0.0
+    */
+    basic_json flatten() const
+    {
+        basic_json result(value_t::object);
+        json_pointer::flatten("", *this, result);
+        return result;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief unflatten a previously flattened JSON value
+
+    The function restores the arbitrary nesting of a JSON value that has been
+    flattened before using the @ref flatten() function. The JSON value must
+    meet certain constraints:
+    1. The value must be an object.
+    2. The keys must be JSON pointers (see
+       [RFC 6901](https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6901))
+    3. The mapped values must be primitive JSON types.
+
+    @return the original JSON from a flattened version
+
+    @note Empty objects and arrays are flattened by @ref flatten() to `null`
+          values and can not unflattened to their original type. Apart from
+          this example, for a JSON value `j`, the following is always true:
+          `j == j.flatten().unflatten()`.
+
+    @complexity Linear in the size the JSON value.
+
+    @throw type_error.314  if value is not an object
+    @throw type_error.315  if object values are not primitive
+
+    @liveexample{The following code shows how a flattened JSON object is
+    unflattened into the original nested JSON object.,unflatten}
+
+    @sa @ref flatten() for the reverse function
+
+    @since version 2.0.0
+    */
+    basic_json unflatten() const
+    {
+        return json_pointer::unflatten(*this);
+    }
+
+    /// @}
+
+    //////////////////////////
+    // JSON Patch functions //
+    //////////////////////////
+
+    /// @name JSON Patch functions
+    /// @{
+
+    /*!
+    @brief applies a JSON patch
+
+    [JSON Patch](http://jsonpatch.com) defines a JSON document structure for
+    expressing a sequence of operations to apply to a JSON) document. With
+    this function, a JSON Patch is applied to the current JSON value by
+    executing all operations from the patch.
+
+    @param[in] json_patch  JSON patch document
+    @return patched document
+
+    @note The application of a patch is atomic: Either all operations succeed
+          and the patched document is returned or an exception is thrown. In
+          any case, the original value is not changed: the patch is applied
+          to a copy of the value.
+
+    @throw parse_error.104 if the JSON patch does not consist of an array of
+    objects
+
+    @throw parse_error.105 if the JSON patch is malformed (e.g., mandatory
+    attributes are missing); example: `"operation add must have member path"`
+
+    @throw out_of_range.401 if an array index is out of range.
+
+    @throw out_of_range.403 if a JSON pointer inside the patch could not be
+    resolved successfully in the current JSON value; example: `"key baz not
+    found"`
+
+    @throw out_of_range.405 if JSON pointer has no parent ("add", "remove",
+    "move")
+
+    @throw other_error.501 if "test" operation was unsuccessful
+
+    @complexity Linear in the size of the JSON value and the length of the
+    JSON patch. As usually only a fraction of the JSON value is affected by
+    the patch, the complexity can usually be neglected.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code shows how a JSON patch is applied to a
+    value.,patch}
+
+    @sa @ref diff -- create a JSON patch by comparing two JSON values
+
+    @sa [RFC 6902 (JSON Patch)](https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6902)
+    @sa [RFC 6901 (JSON Pointer)](https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6901)
+
+    @since version 2.0.0
+    */
+    basic_json patch(const basic_json& json_patch) const
+    {
+        // make a working copy to apply the patch to
+        basic_json result = *this;
+
+        // the valid JSON Patch operations
+        enum class patch_operations {add, remove, replace, move, copy, test, invalid};
+
+        const auto get_op = [](const std::string & op)
+        {
+            if (op == "add")
+            {
+                return patch_operations::add;
+            }
+            if (op == "remove")
+            {
+                return patch_operations::remove;
+            }
+            if (op == "replace")
+            {
+                return patch_operations::replace;
+            }
+            if (op == "move")
+            {
+                return patch_operations::move;
+            }
+            if (op == "copy")
+            {
+                return patch_operations::copy;
+            }
+            if (op == "test")
+            {
+                return patch_operations::test;
+            }
+
+            return patch_operations::invalid;
+        };
+
+        // wrapper for "add" operation; add value at ptr
+        const auto operation_add = [&result](json_pointer & ptr, basic_json val)
+        {
+            // adding to the root of the target document means replacing it
+            if (ptr.is_root())
+            {
+                result = val;
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                // make sure the top element of the pointer exists
+                json_pointer top_pointer = ptr.top();
+                if (top_pointer != ptr)
+                {
+                    result.at(top_pointer);
+                }
+
+                // get reference to parent of JSON pointer ptr
+                const auto last_path = ptr.pop_back();
+                basic_json& parent = result[ptr];
+
+                switch (parent.m_type)
+                {
+                    case value_t::null:
+                    case value_t::object:
+                    {
+                        // use operator[] to add value
+                        parent[last_path] = val;
+                        break;
+                    }
+
+                    case value_t::array:
+                    {
+                        if (last_path == "-")
+                        {
+                            // special case: append to back
+                            parent.push_back(val);
+                        }
+                        else
+                        {
+                            const auto idx = std::stoi(last_path);
+                            if (static_cast<size_type>(idx) > parent.size())
+                            {
+                                // avoid undefined behavior
+                                JSON_THROW(out_of_range::create(401, "array index " + std::to_string(idx) + " is out of range"));
+                            }
+                            else
+                            {
+                                // default case: insert add offset
+                                parent.insert(parent.begin() + static_cast<difference_type>(idx), val);
+                            }
+                        }
+                        break;
+                    }
+
+                    default:
+                    {
+                        // if there exists a parent it cannot be primitive
+                        assert(false);  // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        };
+
+        // wrapper for "remove" operation; remove value at ptr
+        const auto operation_remove = [&result](json_pointer & ptr)
+        {
+            // get reference to parent of JSON pointer ptr
+            const auto last_path = ptr.pop_back();
+            basic_json& parent = result.at(ptr);
+
+            // remove child
+            if (parent.is_object())
+            {
+                // perform range check
+                auto it = parent.find(last_path);
+                if (it != parent.end())
+                {
+                    parent.erase(it);
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    JSON_THROW(out_of_range::create(403, "key '" + last_path + "' not found"));
+                }
+            }
+            else if (parent.is_array())
+            {
+                // note erase performs range check
+                parent.erase(static_cast<size_type>(std::stoi(last_path)));
+            }
+        };
+
+        // type check: top level value must be an array
+        if (not json_patch.is_array())
+        {
+            JSON_THROW(parse_error::create(104, 0, "JSON patch must be an array of objects"));
+        }
+
+        // iterate and apply the operations
+        for (const auto& val : json_patch)
+        {
+            // wrapper to get a value for an operation
+            const auto get_value = [&val](const std::string & op,
+                                          const std::string & member,
+                                          bool string_type) -> basic_json&
+            {
+                // find value
+                auto it = val.m_value.object->find(member);
+
+                // context-sensitive error message
+                const auto error_msg = (op == "op") ? "operation" : "operation '" + op + "'";
+
+                // check if desired value is present
+                if (it == val.m_value.object->end())
+                {
+                    JSON_THROW(parse_error::create(105, 0, error_msg + " must have member '" + member + "'"));
+                }
+
+                // check if result is of type string
+                if (string_type and not it->second.is_string())
+                {
+                    JSON_THROW(parse_error::create(105, 0, error_msg + " must have string member '" + member + "'"));
+                }
+
+                // no error: return value
+                return it->second;
+            };
+
+            // type check: every element of the array must be an object
+            if (not val.is_object())
+            {
+                JSON_THROW(parse_error::create(104, 0, "JSON patch must be an array of objects"));
+            }
+
+            // collect mandatory members
+            const std::string op = get_value("op", "op", true);
+            const std::string path = get_value(op, "path", true);
+            json_pointer ptr(path);
+
+            switch (get_op(op))
+            {
+                case patch_operations::add:
+                {
+                    operation_add(ptr, get_value("add", "value", false));
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case patch_operations::remove:
+                {
+                    operation_remove(ptr);
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case patch_operations::replace:
+                {
+                    // the "path" location must exist - use at()
+                    result.at(ptr) = get_value("replace", "value", false);
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case patch_operations::move:
+                {
+                    const std::string from_path = get_value("move", "from", true);
+                    json_pointer from_ptr(from_path);
+
+                    // the "from" location must exist - use at()
+                    basic_json v = result.at(from_ptr);
+
+                    // The move operation is functionally identical to a
+                    // "remove" operation on the "from" location, followed
+                    // immediately by an "add" operation at the target
+                    // location with the value that was just removed.
+                    operation_remove(from_ptr);
+                    operation_add(ptr, v);
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case patch_operations::copy:
+                {
+                    const std::string from_path = get_value("copy", "from", true);
+                    const json_pointer from_ptr(from_path);
+
+                    // the "from" location must exist - use at()
+                    result[ptr] = result.at(from_ptr);
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case patch_operations::test:
+                {
+                    bool success = false;
+                    JSON_TRY
+                    {
+                        // check if "value" matches the one at "path"
+                        // the "path" location must exist - use at()
+                        success = (result.at(ptr) == get_value("test", "value", false));
+                    }
+                    JSON_CATCH (out_of_range&)
+                    {
+                        // ignore out of range errors: success remains false
+                    }
+
+                    // throw an exception if test fails
+                    if (not success)
+                    {
+                        JSON_THROW(other_error::create(501, "unsuccessful: " + val.dump()));
+                    }
+
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case patch_operations::invalid:
+                {
+                    // op must be "add", "remove", "replace", "move", "copy", or
+                    // "test"
+                    JSON_THROW(parse_error::create(105, 0, "operation value '" + op + "' is invalid"));
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        return result;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief creates a diff as a JSON patch
+
+    Creates a [JSON Patch](http://jsonpatch.com) so that value @a source can
+    be changed into the value @a target by calling @ref patch function.
+
+    @invariant For two JSON values @a source and @a target, the following code
+    yields always `true`:
+    @code {.cpp}
+    source.patch(diff(source, target)) == target;
+    @endcode
+
+    @note Currently, only `remove`, `add`, and `replace` operations are
+          generated.
+
+    @param[in] source  JSON value to compare from
+    @param[in] target  JSON value to compare against
+    @param[in] path    helper value to create JSON pointers
+
+    @return a JSON patch to convert the @a source to @a target
+
+    @complexity Linear in the lengths of @a source and @a target.
+
+    @liveexample{The following code shows how a JSON patch is created as a
+    diff for two JSON values.,diff}
+
+    @sa @ref patch -- apply a JSON patch
+
+    @sa [RFC 6902 (JSON Patch)](https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6902)
+
+    @since version 2.0.0
+    */
+    static basic_json diff(const basic_json& source,
+                           const basic_json& target,
+                           const std::string& path = "")
+    {
+        // the patch
+        basic_json result(value_t::array);
+
+        // if the values are the same, return empty patch
+        if (source == target)
+        {
+            return result;
+        }
+
+        if (source.type() != target.type())
+        {
+            // different types: replace value
+            result.push_back(
+            {
+                {"op", "replace"},
+                {"path", path},
+                {"value", target}
+            });
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            switch (source.type())
+            {
+                case value_t::array:
+                {
+                    // first pass: traverse common elements
+                    size_t i = 0;
+                    while (i < source.size() and i < target.size())
+                    {
+                        // recursive call to compare array values at index i
+                        auto temp_diff = diff(source[i], target[i], path + "/" + std::to_string(i));
+                        result.insert(result.end(), temp_diff.begin(), temp_diff.end());
+                        ++i;
+                    }
+
+                    // i now reached the end of at least one array
+                    // in a second pass, traverse the remaining elements
+
+                    // remove my remaining elements
+                    const auto end_index = static_cast<difference_type>(result.size());
+                    while (i < source.size())
+                    {
+                        // add operations in reverse order to avoid invalid
+                        // indices
+                        result.insert(result.begin() + end_index, object(
+                        {
+                            {"op", "remove"},
+                            {"path", path + "/" + std::to_string(i)}
+                        }));
+                        ++i;
+                    }
+
+                    // add other remaining elements
+                    while (i < target.size())
+                    {
+                        result.push_back(
+                        {
+                            {"op", "add"},
+                            {"path", path + "/" + std::to_string(i)},
+                            {"value", target[i]}
+                        });
+                        ++i;
+                    }
+
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                case value_t::object:
+                {
+                    // first pass: traverse this object's elements
+                    for (auto it = source.begin(); it != source.end(); ++it)
+                    {
+                        // escape the key name to be used in a JSON patch
+                        const auto key = json_pointer::escape(it.key());
+
+                        if (target.find(it.key()) != target.end())
+                        {
+                            // recursive call to compare object values at key it
+                            auto temp_diff = diff(it.value(), target[it.key()], path + "/" + key);
+                            result.insert(result.end(), temp_diff.begin(), temp_diff.end());
+                        }
+                        else
+                        {
+                            // found a key that is not in o -> remove it
+                            result.push_back(object(
+                            {
+                                {"op", "remove"},
+                                {"path", path + "/" + key}
+                            }));
+                        }
+                    }
+
+                    // second pass: traverse other object's elements
+                    for (auto it = target.begin(); it != target.end(); ++it)
+                    {
+                        if (source.find(it.key()) == source.end())
+                        {
+                            // found a key that is not in this -> add it
+                            const auto key = json_pointer::escape(it.key());
+                            result.push_back(
+                            {
+                                {"op", "add"},
+                                {"path", path + "/" + key},
+                                {"value", it.value()}
+                            });
+                        }
+                    }
+
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                default:
+                {
+                    // both primitive type: replace value
+                    result.push_back(
+                    {
+                        {"op", "replace"},
+                        {"path", path},
+                        {"value", target}
+                    });
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        return result;
+    }
+
+    /// @}
+};
+
+/////////////
+// presets //
+/////////////
+
+/*!
+@brief default JSON class
+
+This type is the default specialization of the @ref basic_json class which
+uses the standard template types.
+
+@since version 1.0.0
+*/
+using json = basic_json<>;
+} // namespace nlohmann
+
+
+///////////////////////
+// nonmember support //
+///////////////////////
+
+// specialization of std::swap, and std::hash
+namespace std
+{
+/*!
+@brief exchanges the values of two JSON objects
+
+@since version 1.0.0
+*/
+template<>
+inline void swap(nlohmann::json& j1,
+                 nlohmann::json& j2) noexcept(
+                     is_nothrow_move_constructible<nlohmann::json>::value and
+                     is_nothrow_move_assignable<nlohmann::json>::value
+                 )
+{
+    j1.swap(j2);
+}
+
+/// hash value for JSON objects
+template<>
+struct hash<nlohmann::json>
+{
+    /*!
+    @brief return a hash value for a JSON object
+
+    @since version 1.0.0
+    */
+    std::size_t operator()(const nlohmann::json& j) const
+    {
+        // a naive hashing via the string representation
+        const auto& h = hash<nlohmann::json::string_t>();
+        return h(j.dump());
+    }
+};
+
+/// specialization for std::less<value_t>
+template <>
+struct less<::nlohmann::detail::value_t>
+{
+    /*!
+    @brief compare two value_t enum values
+    @since version 3.0.0
+    */
+    bool operator()(nlohmann::detail::value_t lhs,
+                    nlohmann::detail::value_t rhs) const noexcept
+    {
+        return nlohmann::detail::operator<(lhs, rhs);
+    }
+};
+
+} // namespace std
+
+/*!
+@brief user-defined string literal for JSON values
+
+This operator implements a user-defined string literal for JSON objects. It
+can be used by adding `"_json"` to a string literal and returns a JSON object
+if no parse error occurred.
+
+@param[in] s  a string representation of a JSON object
+@param[in] n  the length of string @a s
+@return a JSON object
+
+@since version 1.0.0
+*/
+inline nlohmann::json operator "" _json(const char* s, std::size_t n)
+{
+    return nlohmann::json::parse(s, s + n);
+}
+
+/*!
+@brief user-defined string literal for JSON pointer
+
+This operator implements a user-defined string literal for JSON Pointers. It
+can be used by adding `"_json_pointer"` to a string literal and returns a JSON pointer
+object if no parse error occurred.
+
+@param[in] s  a string representation of a JSON Pointer
+@param[in] n  the length of string @a s
+@return a JSON pointer object
+
+@since version 2.0.0
+*/
+inline nlohmann::json::json_pointer operator "" _json_pointer(const char* s, std::size_t n)
+{
+    return nlohmann::json::json_pointer(std::string(s, n));
+}
+
+// restore GCC/clang diagnostic settings
+#if defined(__clang__) || defined(__GNUC__) || defined(__GNUG__)
+    #pragma GCC diagnostic pop
+#endif
+#if defined(__clang__)
+    #pragma GCC diagnostic pop
+#endif
+
+// clean up
+#undef JSON_CATCH
+#undef JSON_THROW
+#undef JSON_TRY
+#undef JSON_LIKELY
+#undef JSON_UNLIKELY
+#undef JSON_DEPRECATED
+
+#endif