Configure whether serializing empty array.

[Tobion]

The serializer currently allows to configure whether to serialize null values.
I think one more option is necessary: to configure whether to serialize empty arrays/strings. Otherwise it's a little incosistent that null values are not serialized but empty arrays are which is currently the case. But both basically mean the same: there is no information available.

So I'd suggest to add a method setSerializeEmpty which when passed false, will not serialize empty arrays (array()) and empty strings (''). So it does not have to do with the php empty() function because we want to serialize 0 and false.

[vkartaviy]

👍

[Tobion]

Also there is any inconsistency in serializing arrays:

@Serializer\Type("array<MyModel>")
public $attributes;

is serialized in JSON as empty array attributes: [] even though it's null.

Whereas @Serializer\Type("array") would not serialize the property because it's null.

[schmittjoh]

That seems like a bug. Are you sure this is the only difference?

[Tobion]

I haven't tried the deserialization but from serialization it seems to be the only difference.

[goetas]

Currently works for the XML visitor

serializer/src/JMS/Serializer/Annotation/XmlCollection.php

Line 41 in bb51b63

public $skipWhenEmpty = true;

[goetas]

fixed in #757