Add json() function

docs/reference/schemas/config/functions/json.md

@@ -0,0 +1,232 @@
+---
+description: Reference for the 'json' DSC configuration document function
+ms.date:     10/11/2025
+ms.topic:    reference
+title:       json
+---
+
+## Synopsis
+
+Converts a valid JSON string into a JSON data type.
+
+## Syntax
+
+```Syntax
+json(arg1)
+```
+
+## Description
+
+The `json()` function parses a JSON string and returns the corresponding JSON data type.
+
+- The string must be a properly formatted JSON string.
+- Returns the parsed JSON value (object, array, string, number, boolean, or null).
+
+This function is useful for converting JSON strings received from external sources or
+stored as configuration into usable data structures.
+
+## Examples
+
+### Example 1 - Parse JSON object
+
+This example parses a JSON string containing an object into a usable object data type.
+
+```yaml
+# json.example.1.dsc.config.yaml
+$schema: https://aka.ms/dsc/schemas/v3/bundled/config/document.json
+resources:
+- name: Echo
+  type: Microsoft.DSC.Debug/Echo
+  properties:
+    output: "[json('{\"name\":\"John\",\"age\":30}')]"
+```
+
+```bash
+dsc config get --file json.example.1.dsc.config.yaml
+```
+
+```yaml
+results:
+- name: Echo
+  type: Microsoft.DSC.Debug/Echo
+  result:
+    actualState:
+      output:
+        name: John
+        age: 30
+messages: []
+hadErrors: false
+```
+
+### Example 2 - Parse JSON array
+
+This example parses a JSON string containing an array using [`json()`][00] and then
+uses [`length()`][01] to count the elements.
+
+```yaml
+# json.example.2.dsc.config.yaml
+$schema: https://aka.ms/dsc/schemas/v3/bundled/config/document.json
+resources:
+- name: Echo
+  type: Microsoft.DSC.Debug/Echo
+  properties:
+    output: "[length(json('[1,2,3,4,5]'))]"
+```
+
+```bash
+dsc config get --file json.example.2.dsc.config.yaml
+```
+
+```yaml
+results:
+- name: Echo
+  type: Microsoft.DSC.Debug/Echo
+  result:
+    actualState:
+      output: 5
+messages: []
+hadErrors: false
+```
+
+### Example 3 - Parse nested JSON structure
+
+This example parses a JSON string with nested objects and arrays, then accesses nested
+properties using array indexing and property access.
+
+```yaml
+# json.example.3.dsc.config.yaml
+$schema: https://aka.ms/dsc/schemas/v3/bundled/config/document.json
+resources:
+- name: Echo
+  type: Microsoft.DSC.Debug/Echo
+  properties:
+    output: "[json('{\"users\":[{\"name\":\"Alice\"},{\"name\":\"Bob\"}]}').users[0].name]"
+```
+
+```bash
+dsc config get --file json.example.3.dsc.config.yaml
+```
+
+```yaml
+results:
+- name: Echo
+  type: Microsoft.DSC.Debug/Echo
+  result:
+    actualState:
+      output: Alice
+messages: []
+hadErrors: false
+```
+
+### Example 4 - Parse JSON with whitespace
+
+This example shows that `json()` handles JSON strings with extra whitespace.
+
+```yaml
+# json.example.4.dsc.config.yaml
+$schema: https://aka.ms/dsc/schemas/v3/bundled/config/document.json
+resources:
+- name: Echo
+  type: Microsoft.DSC.Debug/Echo
+  properties:
+    output: "[json('  { \"key\" : \"value\" }  ').key]"
+```
+
+```bash
+dsc config get --file json.example.4.dsc.config.yaml
+```
+
+```yaml
+results:
+- name: Echo
+  type: Microsoft.DSC.Debug/Echo
+  result:
+    actualState:
+      output: value
+messages: []
+hadErrors: false
+```
+
+### Example 5 - Parse primitive JSON values
+
+This example demonstrates parsing different primitive JSON values including strings,
+numbers, and booleans.
+
+```yaml
+# json.example.5.dsc.config.yaml
+$schema: https://aka.ms/dsc/schemas/v3/bundled/config/document.json
+resources:
+- name: Echo string
+  type: Microsoft.DSC.Debug/Echo
+  properties:
+    output: "[json('\"hello\"')]"
+- name: Echo number
+  type: Microsoft.DSC.Debug/Echo
+  properties:
+    output: "[json('42')]"
+- name: Echo boolean
+  type: Microsoft.DSC.Debug/Echo
+  properties:
+    output: "[json('true')]"
+```
+
+```bash
+dsc config get --file json.example.5.dsc.config.yaml
+```
+
+```yaml
+results:
+- name: Echo string
+  type: Microsoft.DSC.Debug/Echo
+  result:
+    actualState:
+      output: hello
+- name: Echo number
+  type: Microsoft.DSC.Debug/Echo
+  result:
+    actualState:
+      output: 42
+- name: Echo boolean
+  type: Microsoft.DSC.Debug/Echo
+  result:
+    actualState:
+      output: true
+messages: []
+hadErrors: false
+```
+
+## Parameters
+
+### arg1
+
+The JSON string to parse. Must be a properly formatted JSON string.
+
+```yaml
+Type:     string
+Required: true
+Position: 1
+```
+
+## Output
+
+Returns the parsed JSON value. The type depends on the JSON content:
+
+- Object for JSON objects
+- Array for JSON arrays
+- String for JSON strings
+- Number for JSON numbers
+- Boolean for JSON booleans
+- Null for JSON null
+
+```yaml
+Type: object | array | string | number | boolean | null
+```
+
+## Related functions
+
+- [`length()`][00] - Returns the length of an array or object
+- [`string()`][01] - Converts values to strings
+
+<!-- Link reference definitions -->
+[00]: ./length.md
+[01]: ./string.md

dsc/tests/dsc_functions.tests.ps1

@@ -1060,4 +1060,60 @@ Describe 'tests for function expressions' {
     $out = $config_yaml | dsc config get -f - | ConvertFrom-Json
     $out.results[0].result.actualState.output | Should -BeExactly $expected
   }
+
+  It 'json() works: <accessor>' -TestCases @(
+    @{ data = @{ name = 'John'; age = 30 }; accessor = '.name'; expected = 'John' }
+    @{ data = @{ name = 'John'; age = 30 }; accessor = '.age'; expected = 30 }
+    @{ data = @(1,2,3); accessor = '[0]'; expected = 1 }
+    @{ data = @(1,2,3); accessor = '[2]'; expected = 3 }
+    @{ data = 'hello'; accessor = ''; expected = 'hello' }
+    @{ data = 42; accessor = ''; expected = 42 }
+    @{ data = $true; accessor = ''; expected = $true }
+    @{ data = $false; accessor = ''; expected = $false }
+    @{ data = $null; accessor = ''; expected = $null }
+    @{ data = @{ users = @( @{ name = 'Alice' }, @{ name = 'Bob' } ) }; accessor = '.users[0].name'; expected = 'Alice' }
+    @{ data = @{ users = @( @{ name = 'Alice' }, @{ name = 'Bob' } ) }; accessor = '.users[1].name'; expected = 'Bob' }
+    @{ data = @{ key = 'value' }; accessor = '.key'; expected = 'value' }
+    @{ data = @{ nested = @{ value = 123 } }; accessor = '.nested.value'; expected = 123 }
+  ) {
+    param($data, $accessor, $expected)
+
+    $jsonString = ConvertTo-Json -Compress -InputObject $data
+    $expression = "[json(''$($jsonString)'')$accessor]"
+
+    $config_yaml = @"
+            `$schema: https://aka.ms/dsc/schemas/v3/bundled/config/document.json
+            resources:
+            - name: Echo
+              type: Microsoft.DSC.Debug/Echo
+              properties:
+                output: '$expression'
+"@
+    $out = $config_yaml | dsc config get -f - | ConvertFrom-Json
+    $out.results[0].result.actualState.output | Should -Be $expected
+  }
+
+  It 'json() error handling: <expression>' -TestCases @(
+    @{ expression = "[json('not valid json')]" }
+    @{ expression = "[json('{""key"":""value""')]" }
+    @{ expression = "[json('')]" }
+    @{ expression = "[json('{incomplete')]" }
+    @{ expression = "[json('[1,2,')]" }
+  ) {
+    param($expression)
+
+    $escapedExpression = $expression -replace "'", "''"
+    $config_yaml = @"
+            `$schema: https://aka.ms/dsc/schemas/v3/bundled/config/document.json
+            resources:
+            - name: Echo
+              type: Microsoft.DSC.Debug/Echo
+              properties:
+                output: '$escapedExpression'
+"@
+    $null = dsc -l trace config get -i $config_yaml 2>$TestDrive/error.log
+    $LASTEXITCODE | Should -Not -Be 0
+    $errorContent = Get-Content $TestDrive/error.log -Raw
+    $errorContent | Should -Match ([regex]::Escape('Invalid JSON string'))
+  }
 }

lib/dsc-lib/locales/en-us.toml

@@ -384,6 +384,10 @@ invalidNullElement = "Array elements cannot be null"
 invalidArrayElement = "Array elements cannot be arrays"
 invalidObjectElement = "Array elements cannot be objects"
 
+[functions.json]
+description = "Converts a valid JSON string into a JSON data type"
+invalidJson = "Invalid JSON string"
+
 [functions.lastIndexOf]
 description = "Returns the index of the last occurrence of an item in an array"
 invoked = "lastIndexOf function"