* You do not need to add serializers or deserializers for STL types like `std::vector`: the library already implements these.
## Simplify your life with macros
If you just want to serialize/deserialize some structs, the `to_json`/`from_json` functions can be a lot of boilerplate.
There are two macros to make your life easier as long as you (1) want to use a JSON object as serialization and (2) want to use the member variable names as object keys in that object:
-`NLOHMANN_DEFINE_TYPE_NON_INTRUSIVE(name, member1, member2, ...)` is to be defined inside of the namespace of the class/struct to create code for.
-`NLOHMANN_DEFINE_TYPE_INTRUSIVE(name, member1, member2, ...)` is to be defined inside of the class/struct to create code for. This macro can also access private members.
In both macros, the first parameter is the name of the class/struct, and all remaining parameters name the members.
??? example
The `to_json`/`from_json` functions for the `person` struct above can be created with:
Some aspects of the library can be configured by defining preprocessor macros before including the `json.hpp` header.
## `JSON_CATCH_USER(exception)`
This macro overrides `#!cpp catch` calls inside the library. The argument is the type of the exception to catch. As of version 3.8.0, the library only catches `std::out_of_range` exceptions internally to rethrow them as [`json::out_of_range`](../home/exceptions.md#out-of-range) exceptions. The macro is always followed by a scope.
See [Switch off exceptions](../home/exceptions.md#switch-off-exceptions) for an example.
## `JSON_NOEXCEPTION`
Exceptions can be switched off by defining the symbol `JSON_NOEXCEPTION`.
When defining `JSON_NOEXCEPTION`, `#!cpp try` is replaced by `#!cpp if (true)`,
`#!cpp catch` is replaced by `#!cpp if (false)`, and `#!cpp throw` is replaced by `#!cpp std::abort()`.
The same effect is achieved by setting the compiler flag `-fno-exceptions`.
## `JSON_SKIP_UNSUPPORTED_COMPILER_CHECK`
When defined, the library will not create a compile error when a known unsupported compiler is detected. This allows to use the library with compilers that do not fully support C++11 and may only work if unsupported features are not used.
## `JSON_THROW_USER(exception)`
This macro overrides `#!cpp throw` calls inside the library. The argument is the exception to be thrown. Note that `JSON_THROW_USER` should leave the current scope (e.g., by throwing or aborting), as continuing after it may yield undefined behavior.
See [Switch off exceptions](../home/exceptions.md#switch-off-exceptions) for an example.
## `JSON_TRY_USER`
This macro overrides `#!cpp try` calls inside the library. It has no arguments and is always followed by a scope.
See [Switch off exceptions](../home/exceptions.md#switch-off-exceptions) for an example.
This macro can be used to simplify the serialization/deserialization of types if (1) want to use a JSON object as serialization and (2) want to use the member variable names as object keys in that object.
The macro is to be defined inside of the class/struct to create code for. Unlike [`NLOHMANN_DEFINE_TYPE_NON_INTRUSIVE`](#nlohmann_define_type_non_intrusivetype-member), it can access private members.
The first parameter is the name of the class/struct, and all remaining parameters name the members.
See [Simplify your life with macros](arbitrary_types.md#simplify-your-life-with-macros) for an example.
This macro can be used to simplify the serialization/deserialization of types if (1) want to use a JSON object as serialization and (2) want to use the member variable names as object keys in that object.
The macro is to be defined inside of the namespace of the class/struct to create code for. Private members cannot be accessed. Use [`NLOHMANN_DEFINE_TYPE_INTRUSIVE`](#nlohmann_define_type_intrusivetype-member) in these scenarios.
The first parameter is the name of the class/struct, and all remaining parameters name the members.
See [Simplify your life with macros](arbitrary_types.md#simplify-your-life-with-macros) for an example.
## `NLOHMANN_JSON_SERIALIZE_ENUM(type, ...)`
This macro simplifies the serialization/deserialization of enum types. See [Specializing enum conversion](enum_conversion.md) for more information.