see #38467 too

So we have 2 PRs for the same issue, this one and #38467 . While this here changes $result->rules to an empty array when it is null, the other one leaves it as it is and just doesn't try to decode it. I'm not sure what's better, but I tend to think the other PR is better.

Most simple solution:

$result->rules = json_decode($result->rules ?? '{}');

since $result->rules is expected to be an array afterwards.

And non of the solutions documents why this value could be empty.

I have tested this item ✅ successfully on 4be4e9d

And non of the solutions documents why this value could be empty.

It is null because when we create a new level, getItem() method from AdminModel just return an object of that item with all fields from that table set to null. For reference :

• https://github.com/joomla/joomla-cms/blob/4.2-dev/administrator/components/com_users/src/Model/LevelModel.php#L155
• https://github.com/joomla/joomla-cms/blob/4.2-dev/libraries/src/MVC/Model/AdminModel.php#L970
• https://github.com/joomla/joomla-cms/blob/4.2-dev/libraries/src/Table/Table.php#L198

I have tested this item ✅ successfully on 4be4e9d

RTC

Thanks, everybody