A strict JSON column must always contains valid JSON

Author: PowerKiKi

src/DBAL/Types/LocalizedType.php

@@ -15,9 +15,7 @@
  * PHP values are expected to be an array of localized values indexed by language. The array
  * might be empty, but it can never be null or empty string.
  *
- * For convenience of DB operation the DB value might be null or an empty string, in which case
- * the PHP value will be an empty array. This allows for easy INSERT/UPDATE, and save two bytes
- * in case of empty array.
+ * DB values are constrained by the database, so they must always be valid JSON, such as the minimal data `{}`.
  */
 final class LocalizedType extends JsonType
 {
@@ -51,7 +49,7 @@ public function convertToDatabaseValue(mixed $value, AbstractPlatform $platform)
         }
 
         if (!$value) {
-            return '';
+            return '{}';
         }
 
         try {

tests/DBAL/Types/LocalizedTypeTest.php

@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ public function testConvertToPHPValue(): void
     public function testConvertToDatabaseValue(): void
     {
         self::assertSame('{"fr":"foo"}', $this->type->convertToDatabaseValue(['fr' => 'foo'], $this->platform));
-        self::assertSame('', $this->type->convertToDatabaseValue([], $this->platform), 'micro-optimization of an empty array into an empty string to save two bytes');
+        self::assertSame('{}', $this->type->convertToDatabaseValue([], $this->platform), 'empty should still be valid JSON');
     }
 
     public function testConvertToDatabaseValueWillThrowIfNull(): void