Using Json as an example for custom datatype can be misleading

[MolbioUnige]

Issue Description

Using Json as an example for the custom type might make people think that Cakephp doesn't handle json natively. I found it a bit confusing. Instead, having a section explaining how to use the native JsonType, like the EnumType, would be nice.

[LordSimal]

Isn't this enough? https://book.cakephp.org/4/en/orm/saving-data.html#saving-complex-types

[jamisonbryant]

I think what @MolbioUnige might be referring to is that Cake now ships with the JsonType, whereas I don't believe that was always the case. So, users might read these docs and create their own JsonType, not realizing that Cake already has one and their efforts were redundant. At $MYJOB we ran into this ourselves in a recent project.

I think documenting EnumType in place of JsonType (perhaps with a notice that JsonType is already part of Cake) is a good choice because many PHP8 users, myself included, are eager to see an example of its usage.

[LordSimal]

Then it would be best if we'd come up with another, not so straight forward example of a custom Database Type to replace the currently redundant JsonType

[MolbioUnige]

There is the PointType example already, and yes @LordSimal the saving complex type explanation is enough

[MolbioUnige]

A link "see Saving complex datatype" at some place along with @jamisonbryant suggestion about stating that Json is natively supported could be useful.

[dereuromark]

You can also invent a custom type, e.g. YearType or alike: https://github.com/dereuromark/cakephp-shim/blob/04aa7bac781475c94a023ee9f47e4bac3005d56c/src/Database/Type/YearType.php

[github-actions[bot]]

This issue is stale because it has been open for 120 days with no activity. Remove the stale label or comment or this will be closed in 15 days

[jamisonbryant]

@MolbioUnige would you like to make a docs PR to address this issue? I am happy to generate a quick custom Type class that you can use as an example.

[MolbioUnige]

@jamisonbryant Yes, of course

[jamisonbryant]

The YearType that @dereuromark linked above looks like a good candidate.

But if this is ambiguous, I can share my JsonCollectionType which just converts a flat JSON array into a CollectionInterface.

[MolbioUnige]

I just made a PR about this.

[dereuromark]

https://github.com/cakephp/docs/pull/8012