<?php
$schema = <<<HERE
{
"properties": {
"foo": {"$ref": "#"}
},
"additionalProperties": false
}
HERE;
$schema = json_decode($schema);
// unset the ref
unset($schema->properties->foo);
// replace it with a closure that returns the schema when accessed.
$schema->properties->foo = function () use ($schema) { return $schema; };
// If you find a closure, it's a lazy proxy. Execute it to get the value.
$ref = $schema->properties->foo;
$referencedValue = $ref();
// You would stop recursing if 1.) you run out of nested data or 2.) you reach the max depth.
var_dump($referencedValue);
Warning: PHP Startup: Unable to load dynamic library 'sodium.so' (tried: /usr/lib/php/8.3.5/modules/sodium.so (libsodium.so.23: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory), /usr/lib/php/8.3.5/modules/sodium.so.so (/usr/lib/php/8.3.5/modules/sodium.so.so: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory)) in Unknown on line 0
Warning: Undefined variable $ref in /in/IMBsC on line 6
object(stdClass)#3 (2) {
["properties"]=>
object(stdClass)#2 (1) {
["foo"]=>
object(Closure)#1 (1) {
["static"]=>
array(1) {
["schema"]=>
*RECURSION*
}
}
}
["additionalProperties"]=>
bool(false)
}