# Checked access: at

## Overview

The `#!cpp at()` member function performs checked access; that is, it returns a reference to the desired value if it exists and throws a [`basic_json::out_of_range` exception](../../home/exceptions.md#out-of-range) otherwise.

??? example

    Consider the following JSON value:
    
    ```json
    {
        "name": "Mary Smith",
        "age": 42,
        "hobbies": ["hiking", "reading"]
    }
    ```
    
    Assume the value is parsed to a `json` variable `j`.

    | expression | value |
    | ---------- | ----- |
    | `#!cpp j`  | `#!json {"name": "Mary Smith", "age": 42, "hobbies": ["hiking", "reading"]}` |
    | `#!cpp j.at("name")`  | `#!json "Mary Smith"` |
    | `#!cpp j.at("age")`  | `#!json 42` |
    | `#!cpp j.at("hobbies")`  | `#!json ["hiking", "reading"]` |
    | `#!cpp j.at("hobbies").at(0)`  | `#!json "hiking"` |
    | `#!cpp j.at("hobbies").at(1)`  | `#!json "reading"` |

The return value is a reference, so it can be modified by the original value.

??? example

    ```cpp
    j.at("name") = "John Smith";
    ```
    
    This code produces the following JSON value:
    
    ```json
    {
        "name": "John Smith",
        "age": 42,
        "hobbies": ["hiking", "reading"]
    }
    ```

When accessing an invalid index (i.e., an index greater than or equal to the array size) or the passed object key is non-existing, an exception is thrown.

??? example

    ```cpp
    j.at("hobbies").at(3) = "cooking";
    ```
    
    This code produces the following exception:
    
    ```
    [json.exception.out_of_range.401] array index 3 is out of range
    ```

## Notes


!!! failure "Exceptions"

    - `at` can only be used with objects (with a string argument) or with arrays (with a numeric argument). For other types, a [`basic_json::type_error`](../../home/exceptions.md#jsonexceptiontype_error304) is thrown.
    - [`basic_json::out_of_range` exception](../../home/exceptions.md#out-of-range) exceptions are thrown if the provided key is not found in an object or the provided index is invalid.

## Summary

| scenario                          | non-const value                                | const value                                    |
|-----------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
| access to existing object key     | reference to existing value is returned        | const reference to existing value is returned  |
| access to valid array index       | reference to existing value is returned        | const reference to existing value is returned  |
| access to non-existing object key | `basic_json::out_of_range` exception is thrown | `basic_json::out_of_range` exception is thrown |
| access to invalid array index     | `basic_json::out_of_range` exception is thrown | `basic_json::out_of_range` exception is thrown |
