json_encode produce JSON_ERROR_UTF8 from MSSQL-SELECT

Question

I have an annoying problem with a database query to mssql. If the result contains special characters like the german \'ä\', I cannot use json_encode to get the resu

Answer 1

Before you JSON encode, use utf8_encode() around the string.

Answer 2

You can just set this in your connection also:

$result = sqlsrv_connect($hostname, array(
    'UID' => $username,
    'PWD' => $password,
    'Database' => $database,
    "CharacterSet" => "UTF-8"   // <---- here the magic happens 
));

For me, this is the easer way.