Online PHP editor | refs for MA7ND

<?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->properties);