Merge pull request #237 from helsing/issue_232_assert_empty_arrays

Fix for assert on empty arrays, issues #232 and #236

json-path-assert/README.md

@@ -80,3 +80,46 @@ Use typed matchers for specific JSON representations, if needed
 
     File json = ...
     assertThat(json, isJsonFile(withJsonPath("$..author")));
+
+---
+
+### Regarding the use of indefinite paths
+
+When using indefinite path expressions (e.g with wildcards '*'), the result will yield a list. Possibly an _empty_ list if no matching entries were found. If you want to assert that the list will actually contain something, make sure to express this explicitly, e.g checking for the size of the list.
+
+    // Given a JSON like this:
+    {
+      "items": []
+    }
+
+    // Both of these statements will succeed(!)
+    assertThat(json, hasJsonPath("$.items[*]"));
+    assertThat(json, hasJsonPath("$.items[*].name"));
+    
+    // Make sure to explicitly check for size if you want to catch this scenario as a failure
+    assertThat(json, hasJsonPath("$.items[*]", hasSize(greaterThan(0))));
+    
+    // However, checking for the existence of an array works fine, as is
+    assertThat(json, hasJsonPath("$.not_here[*]"));
+
+---
+
+### Regarding the use of null in JSON
+
+'null' is a valid JSON value. If such a value exist, the path is still considered to be a valid path.
+
+    // Given a JSON like this:
+    { "none": null }
+    
+    // All of these will succeed, since '$.none' is a valid path
+    assertThat(json, hasJsonPath("$.none"));
+    assertThat(json, isJson(withJsonPath("$.none")));
+    assertThat(json, hasJsonPath("$.none", nullValue()));
+    assertThat(json, isJson(withJsonPath("$.none", nullValue())));
+    
+    // But all of these will fail, since '$.not_there' is not a valid path
+    assertThat(json, hasJsonPath("$.not_there"));
+    assertThat(json, isJson(withJsonPath("$.not_there")));
+    assertThat(json, hasJsonPath("$.not_there", anything()));
+    assertThat(json, isJson(withJsonPath("$.not_there", anything())));
+

json-path-assert/src/main/java/com/jayway/jsonpath/matchers/JsonPathMatchers.java

@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ import com.jayway.jsonpath.ReadContext;
 import org.hamcrest.Matcher;
 
 import java.io.File;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
 
 import static org.hamcrest.Matchers.*;
 
@@ -17,11 +19,11 @@ public class JsonPathMatchers {
 
     public static Matcher<? super Object> hasJsonPath(String jsonPath) {
         return describedAs("has json path %0",
-                hasJsonPath(jsonPath, not(anyOf(nullValue(), empty()))),
+                isJson(withJsonPath(jsonPath)),
                 jsonPath);
     }
 
-    public static <T> Matcher<? super Object> hasJsonPath(final String jsonPath, final Matcher<T> resultMatcher) {
+    public static <T> Matcher<? super Object> hasJsonPath(String jsonPath, Matcher<T> resultMatcher) {
         return isJson(withJsonPath(jsonPath, resultMatcher));
     }
 
@@ -30,18 +32,18 @@ public class JsonPathMatchers {
     }
 
     public static Matcher<Object> isJson() {
-        return isJson(withJsonPath("$..*"));
+        return isJson(withJsonPath("$", anyOf(instanceOf(Map.class), instanceOf(List.class))));
     }
 
-    public static Matcher<Object> isJson(final Matcher<? super ReadContext> matcher) {
+    public static Matcher<Object> isJson(Matcher<? super ReadContext> matcher) {
         return new IsJson<Object>(matcher);
     }
 
-    public static Matcher<String> isJsonString(final Matcher<? super ReadContext> matcher) {
+    public static Matcher<String> isJsonString(Matcher<? super ReadContext> matcher) {
         return new IsJson<String>(matcher);
     }
 
-    public static Matcher<File> isJsonFile(final Matcher<? super ReadContext> matcher) {
+    public static Matcher<File> isJsonFile(Matcher<? super ReadContext> matcher) {
         return new IsJson<File>(matcher);
     }
 
@@ -51,7 +53,7 @@ public class JsonPathMatchers {
 
     public static Matcher<? super ReadContext> withJsonPath(JsonPath jsonPath) {
         return describedAs("with json path %0",
-                withJsonPath(jsonPath, not(anyOf(nullValue(), empty()))),
+                withJsonPath(jsonPath, anything()),
                 jsonPath.getPath());
     }
 
@@ -67,7 +69,7 @@ public class JsonPathMatchers {
         return withJsonPath(JsonPath.compile(jsonPath), resultMatcher);
     }
 
-    public static <T> Matcher<? super ReadContext> withJsonPath(final JsonPath jsonPath, final Matcher<T> resultMatcher) {
+    public static <T> Matcher<? super ReadContext> withJsonPath(JsonPath jsonPath, Matcher<T> resultMatcher) {
         return new WithJsonPath<T>(jsonPath, resultMatcher);
     }
 }

json-path-assert/src/main/java/com/jayway/jsonpath/matchers/WithoutJsonPath.java

@@ -6,8 +6,6 @@ import com.jayway.jsonpath.ReadContext;
 import org.hamcrest.Description;
 import org.hamcrest.TypeSafeDiagnosingMatcher;
 
-import static org.hamcrest.Matchers.empty;
-
 public class WithoutJsonPath extends TypeSafeDiagnosingMatcher<ReadContext> {
     private final JsonPath jsonPath;
 
@@ -23,7 +21,7 @@ public class WithoutJsonPath extends TypeSafeDiagnosingMatcher<ReadContext> {
                     .appendText(jsonPath.getPath())
                     .appendText(" was evaluated to ")
                     .appendValue(value);
-            return value == null || empty().matches(value);
+            return false;
         } catch (JsonPathException e) {
             return true;
         }

json-path-assert/src/test/java/com/jayway/jsonpath/matchers/HasNoJsonPathTest.java

@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+package com.jayway.jsonpath.matchers;
+
+import org.junit.Test;
+
+import static com.jayway.jsonpath.matchers.JsonPathMatchers.hasNoJsonPath;
+import static org.hamcrest.Matchers.*;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertThat;
+
+public class HasNoJsonPathTest {
+    private static final String JSON_STRING = "{" +
+            "\"name\": \"Jessie\"" +
+            "}";
+
+    @Test
+    public void shouldMatchMissingJsonPath() {
+        assertThat(JSON_STRING, hasNoJsonPath("$.not_there"));
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void shouldNotMatchExistingJsonPath() {
+        assertThat(JSON_STRING, not(hasNoJsonPath("$.name")));
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void shouldBeDescriptive() {
+        assertThat(hasNoJsonPath("$.name"),
+                hasToString(equalTo("is json without json path \"$['name']\"")));
+    }
+
+}

json-path-assert/src/test/java/com/jayway/jsonpath/matchers/IsJsonTest.java

@@ -20,8 +20,11 @@ import static org.hamcrest.Matchers.*;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertThat;
 
 public class IsJsonTest {
+    private static final String VALID_JSON = resource("example.json");
+    private static final String INVALID_JSON = "{ invalid-json }";
     private static final String BOOKS_JSON_STRING = resource("books.json");
     private static final File BOOKS_JSON_FILE = resourceAsFile("books.json");
+    private static final Object BOOKS_JSON_PARSED = parseJson(BOOKS_JSON_STRING);
 
     @BeforeClass
     public static void setupStrictJsonParsing() {
@@ -33,16 +36,52 @@ public class IsJsonTest {
         Configuration.setDefaults(null);
     }
 
+    @Test
+    public void shouldMatchOnEmptyJsonObject() {
+        assertThat("{}", isJson());
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void shouldMatchOnJsonObject() {
+        assertThat("{ \"hi\" : \"there\" }", isJson());
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void shouldMatchOnEmptyJsonArray() {
+        assertThat("[]", isJson());
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void shouldMatchOnJsonArray() {
+        assertThat("[\"hi\", \"there\"]", isJson());
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void shouldMatchValidJson() {
+        assertThat(VALID_JSON, isJson());
+        assertThat(BOOKS_JSON_STRING, isJson());
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void shouldNotMatchInvalidJson() {
+        assertThat(INVALID_JSON, not(isJson()));
+        assertThat(new Object(), not(isJson()));
+        assertThat(new Object[]{}, not(isJson()));
+        assertThat("hi there", not(isJson()));
+        assertThat(new Integer(42), not(isJson()));
+        assertThat(Boolean.TRUE, not(isJson()));
+        assertThat(false, not(isJson()));
+        assertThat(null, not(isJson()));
+    }
+
     @Test
     public void shouldMatchJsonObjectEvaluatedToTrue() {
-        Object parsedJson = parseJson(BOOKS_JSON_STRING);
-        assertThat(parsedJson, isJson(withPathEvaluatedTo(true)));
+        assertThat(BOOKS_JSON_PARSED, isJson(withPathEvaluatedTo(true)));
     }
 
     @Test
     public void shouldNotMatchJsonObjectEvaluatedToFalse() {
-        Object parsedJson = parseJson(BOOKS_JSON_STRING);
-        assertThat(parsedJson, not(isJson(withPathEvaluatedTo(false))));
+        assertThat(BOOKS_JSON_PARSED, not(isJson(withPathEvaluatedTo(false))));
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -65,6 +104,12 @@ public class IsJsonTest {
         assertThat(BOOKS_JSON_FILE, not(isJson(withPathEvaluatedTo(false))));
     }
 
+    @Test
+    public void shouldNotMatchNonExistingJsonFile() {
+        File nonExistingFile = new File("missing-file");
+        assertThat(nonExistingFile, not(isJson()));
+    }
+
     @Test
     public void shouldBeDescriptive() {
         Matcher<Object> matcher = isJson(withPathEvaluatedTo(true));

json-path-assert/src/test/java/com/jayway/jsonpath/matchers/JsonPathMatchersTest.java

@@ -7,8 +7,8 @@ import org.junit.BeforeClass;
 import org.junit.Test;
 
 import java.io.File;
-import java.nio.file.Paths;
-import java.util.Collection;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
 
 import static com.jayway.jsonpath.matchers.JsonPathMatchers.*;
 import static com.jayway.jsonpath.matchers.helpers.ResourceHelpers.resource;
@@ -17,8 +17,6 @@ import static org.hamcrest.Matchers.*;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertThat;
 
 public class JsonPathMatchersTest {
-
-    private static final String VALID_JSON = resource("example.json");
     private static final String BOOKS_JSON = resource("books.json");
     private static final String INVALID_JSON = "{ invalid-json }";
     private static final File BOOKS_JSON_FILE = resourceAsFile("books.json");
@@ -35,84 +33,164 @@ public class JsonPathMatchersTest {
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void shouldMatchValidJson() {
-        assertThat(VALID_JSON, isJson());
-        assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, isJson());
+    public void shouldMatchJsonPathToStringValue() {
+        final String json = "{\"name\": \"Jessie\"}";
+
+        assertThat(json, hasJsonPath("$.name"));
+        assertThat(json, isJson(withJsonPath("$.name")));
+        assertThat(json, hasJsonPath("$.name", equalTo("Jessie")));
+        assertThat(json, isJson(withJsonPath("$.name", equalTo("Jessie"))));
+
+        assertThat(json, not(hasJsonPath("$.name", equalTo("John"))));
+        assertThat(json, not(isJson(withJsonPath("$.name", equalTo("John")))));
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void shouldNotMatchInvalidJson() {
-        assertThat(INVALID_JSON, not(isJson()));
-        assertThat(new Object(), not(isJson()));
-        assertThat("{}", not(isJson()));
-        assertThat(null, not(isJson()));
+    public void shouldMatchJsonPathToIntegerValue() {
+        final String json = "{\"number\": 10}";
+
+        assertThat(json, hasJsonPath("$.number"));
+        assertThat(json, isJson(withJsonPath("$.number")));
+        assertThat(json, hasJsonPath("$.number", equalTo(10)));
+        assertThat(json, isJson(withJsonPath("$.number", equalTo(10))));
+
+        assertThat(json, not(hasJsonPath("$.number", equalTo(3))));
+        assertThat(json, not(isJson(withJsonPath("$.number", equalTo(3)))));
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void shouldMatchExistingJsonPath() {
-        assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, hasJsonPath("$.store.name"));
-        assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, hasJsonPath("$.store.book[2].title"));
-        assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, hasJsonPath("$.store.book[*].author"));
+    public void shouldMatchJsonPathToDoubleValue() {
+        final String json = "{\"price\": 19.95}";
+
+        assertThat(json, hasJsonPath("$.price"));
+        assertThat(json, isJson(withJsonPath("$.price")));
+        assertThat(json, hasJsonPath("$.price", equalTo(19.95)));
+        assertThat(json, isJson(withJsonPath("$.price", equalTo(19.95))));
+
+        assertThat(json, not(hasJsonPath("$.price", equalTo(3.3))));
+        assertThat(json, not(isJson(withJsonPath("$.price", equalTo(42)))));
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void shouldMatchExistingJsonPathAlternative() {
-        assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, isJson(withJsonPath("$.store.name")));
-        assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, isJson(withJsonPath("$.store.book[2].title")));
-        assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, isJson(withJsonPath("$.store.book[*].author")));
+    public void shouldMatchJsonPathToBooleanValue() {
+        final String json = "{\"flag\": false}";
+
+        assertThat(json, hasJsonPath("$.flag"));
+        assertThat(json, isJson(withJsonPath("$.flag")));
+        assertThat(json, hasJsonPath("$.flag", equalTo(false)));
+        assertThat(json, isJson(withJsonPath("$.flag", equalTo(false))));
+
+        assertThat(json, not(hasJsonPath("$.flag", equalTo(true))));
+        assertThat(json, not(isJson(withJsonPath("$.flag", equalTo(true)))));
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void shouldNotMatchInvalidJsonWithPath() {
-        assertThat(INVALID_JSON, not(hasJsonPath("$.path")));
-        assertThat(new Object(), not(hasJsonPath("$.path")));
-        assertThat("{}", not(hasJsonPath("$.path")));
-        assertThat(null, not(hasJsonPath("$.path")));
+    public void shouldMatchJsonPathToJsonObject() {
+        final String json = "{\"object\": { \"name\":\"Oscar\"}}";
+
+        assertThat(json, hasJsonPath("$.object"));
+        assertThat(json, isJson(withJsonPath("$.object")));
+        assertThat(json, hasJsonPath("$.object", instanceOf(Map.class)));
+        assertThat(json, isJson(withJsonPath("$.object", instanceOf(Map.class))));
+
+        assertThat(json, not(hasJsonPath("$.object", instanceOf(List.class))));
+        assertThat(json, not(isJson(withJsonPath("$.object", instanceOf(List.class)))));
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void shouldNotMatchInvalidJsonWithPathAndValue() {
-        assertThat(INVALID_JSON, not(hasJsonPath("$.path", anything())));
-        assertThat(new Object(), not(hasJsonPath("$.path", anything())));
-        assertThat(null, not(hasJsonPath("$.message", anything())));
+    public void shouldMatchJsonPathToEmptyJsonObject() {
+        final String json = "{\"empty_object\": {}}";
+
+        assertThat(json, hasJsonPath("$.empty_object"));
+        assertThat(json, isJson(withJsonPath("$.empty_object")));
+        assertThat(json, hasJsonPath("$.empty_object", instanceOf(Map.class)));
+        assertThat(json, isJson(withJsonPath("$.empty_object", instanceOf(Map.class))));
+
+        assertThat(json, not(hasJsonPath("$.empty_object", instanceOf(List.class))));
+        assertThat(json, not(isJson(withJsonPath("$.empty_object", instanceOf(List.class)))));
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void shouldNotMatchNonExistingJsonPath() {
-        assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, not(hasJsonPath("$.not_there")));
-        assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, not(hasJsonPath("$.store.book[5].title")));
-        assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, not(hasJsonPath("$.store.book[*].not_there")));
+    public void shouldMatchJsonPathToJsonArray() {
+        final String json = "{\"list\": [ \"one\",\"two\",\"three\"]}";
+
+        assertThat(json, hasJsonPath("$.list"));
+        assertThat(json, hasJsonPath("$.list[*]"));
+        assertThat(json, isJson(withJsonPath("$.list")));
+        assertThat(json, isJson(withJsonPath("$.list[*]")));
+        assertThat(json, hasJsonPath("$.list", contains("one", "two", "three")));
+        assertThat(json, isJson(withJsonPath("$.list", hasItem("two"))));
+
+        assertThat(json, not(hasJsonPath("$.list", hasSize(2))));
+        assertThat(json, not(isJson(withJsonPath("$.list", contains("four")))));
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void shouldNotMatchNonExistingJsonPathAlternative() {
-        assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, not(isJson(withJsonPath("$.not_there"))));
-        assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, not(isJson(withJsonPath("$.store.book[5].title"))));
-        assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, not(isJson(withJsonPath("$.store.book[*].not_there"))));
+    public void shouldMatchJsonPathToEmptyJsonArray() {
+        final String json = "{\"empty_list\": []}";
+
+        assertThat(json, hasJsonPath("$.empty_list"));
+        assertThat(json, hasJsonPath("$.empty_list[*]"));
+        assertThat(json, isJson(withJsonPath("$.empty_list")));
+        assertThat(json, isJson(withJsonPath("$.empty_list[*]")));
+        assertThat(json, hasJsonPath("$.empty_list", empty()));
+        assertThat(json, isJson(withJsonPath("$.empty_list", hasSize(0))));
+
+        assertThat(json, not(hasJsonPath("$.empty_list", hasSize(2))));
+        assertThat(json, not(isJson(withJsonPath("$.empty_list", contains("four")))));
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void shouldMatchJsonPathWithStringValue() {
-        assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, hasJsonPath("$.store.name", equalTo("Little Shop")));
-        assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, hasJsonPath("$.store.book[2].title", equalTo("Moby Dick")));
+    public void willMatchIndefiniteJsonPathsEvaluatedToEmptyLists() {
+        // This is just a test to demonstrate that indefinite paths
+        // will always match, regardless of result. This is because
+        // the evaluation of these expressions will return lists,
+        // even though they may be empty.
+        String json = "{\"items\": []}";
+        assertThat(json, hasJsonPath("$.items[*].name"));
+        assertThat(json, hasJsonPath("$.items[*]"));
+        assertThat(json, hasJsonPath("$.items[*]", hasSize(0)));
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void shouldMatchJsonPathWithIntegerValue() {
-        assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, hasJsonPath("$.expensive", equalTo(10)));
+    public void shouldMatchJsonPathToNullValue() {
+        final String json = "{\"none\": null}";
+
+        assertThat(json, hasJsonPath("$.none"));
+        assertThat(json, isJson(withJsonPath("$.none")));
+        assertThat(json, hasJsonPath("$.none", nullValue()));
+        assertThat(json, isJson(withJsonPath("$.none", nullValue())));
+
+        assertThat(json, not(hasJsonPath("$.none", equalTo("something"))));
+        assertThat(json, not(isJson(withJsonPath("$.none", empty()))));
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void shouldMatchJsonPathWithDoubleValue() {
-        assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, hasJsonPath("$.store.bicycle.price", equalTo(19.95)));
+    public void shouldNotMatchNonExistingJsonPath() {
+        final String json = "{}";
+
+        assertThat(json, not(hasJsonPath("$.not_there")));
+        assertThat(json, not(hasJsonPath("$.not_there", anything())));
+        assertThat(json, not(hasJsonPath("$.not_there[*]")));
+        assertThat(json, not(hasJsonPath("$.not_there[*]", anything())));
+        assertThat(json, not(isJson(withJsonPath("$.not_there"))));
+        assertThat(json, not(isJson(withJsonPath("$.not_there", anything()))));
+        assertThat(json, not(isJson(withJsonPath("$.not_there[*]"))));
+        assertThat(json, not(isJson(withJsonPath("$.not_there[*]", anything()))));
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void shouldMatchJsonPathWithCollectionValue() {
-        assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, hasJsonPath("$.store.book[*].author", instanceOf(Collection.class)));
-        assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, hasJsonPath("$.store.book[*].author", hasSize(4)));
-        assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, hasJsonPath("$.store.book[*].author", hasItem("Evelyn Waugh")));
-        assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, hasJsonPath("$..book[2].title", hasItem("Moby Dick")));
+    public void shouldNotMatchInvalidJsonWithPath() {
+        assertThat(INVALID_JSON, not(hasJsonPath("$.path")));
+        assertThat(new Object(), not(hasJsonPath("$.path")));
+        assertThat(null, not(hasJsonPath("$.path")));
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void shouldNotMatchInvalidJsonWithPathAndValue() {
+        assertThat(INVALID_JSON, not(hasJsonPath("$.path", anything())));
+        assertThat(new Object(), not(hasJsonPath("$.path", anything())));
+        assertThat(null, not(hasJsonPath("$.message", anything())));
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -122,7 +200,7 @@ public class JsonPathMatchersTest {
 
     @Test
     public void shouldNotMatchJsonPathOnNonExistingFile() {
-        File nonExistingFile = Paths.get("missing-file").toFile();
+        File nonExistingFile = new File("missing-file");
         assertThat(nonExistingFile, not(hasJsonPath("$..*", anything())));
     }
 
@@ -131,14 +209,4 @@ public class JsonPathMatchersTest {
         Object json = Configuration.defaultConfiguration().jsonProvider().parse(BOOKS_JSON);
         assertThat(json, hasJsonPath("$.store.name", equalTo("Little Shop")));
     }
-
-    @Test
-    public void shouldMatchMissingJsonPath() {
-        assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, hasNoJsonPath("$.not_there"));
-    }
-
-    @Test
-    public void shouldNotMatchExistingJsonPath() {
-        assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, not(hasNoJsonPath("$.store.name")));
-    }
 }

json-path-assert/src/test/java/com/jayway/jsonpath/matchers/WithJsonPathTest.java

@@ -9,10 +9,10 @@ import org.hamcrest.StringDescription;
 import org.junit.Test;
 
 import java.util.Collection;
+import java.util.List;
 
 import static com.jayway.jsonpath.JsonPath.compile;
 import static com.jayway.jsonpath.matchers.JsonPathMatchers.withJsonPath;
-import static com.jayway.jsonpath.matchers.JsonPathMatchers.withoutJsonPath;
 import static com.jayway.jsonpath.matchers.helpers.ResourceHelpers.resource;
 import static org.hamcrest.Matchers.*;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertThat;
@@ -40,34 +40,14 @@ public class WithJsonPathTest {
     public void shouldNotMatchNonExistingJsonPath() {
         assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, not(withJsonPath(compile("$.not_there"))));
         assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, not(withJsonPath(compile("$.store.book[5].title"))));
-        assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, not(withJsonPath(compile("$.store.book[*].not_there"))));
+        assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, not(withJsonPath(compile("$.store.book[1].not_there"))));
     }
 
     @Test
     public void shouldNotMatchNonExistingStringJsonPath() {
         assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, not(withJsonPath("$.not_there")));
         assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, not(withJsonPath("$.store.book[5].title")));
-        assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, not(withJsonPath("$.store.book[*].not_there")));
-    }
-
-    @Test
-    public void shouldMatchNonExistingJsonPath() {
-        assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, withoutJsonPath(compile("$.not_there")));
-    }
-
-    @Test
-    public void shouldMatchNonExistingStringJsonPath() {
-        assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, withoutJsonPath("$.not_there"));
-    }
-
-    @Test
-    public void shouldNotMatchExistingCompiledJsonPath() {
-        assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, not(withoutJsonPath(compile("$.store.name"))));
-    }
-
-    @Test
-    public void shouldNotMatchExistingStringJsonPath() {
-        assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, not(withoutJsonPath("$.store.name")));
+        assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, not(withJsonPath("$.store.book[1].not_there")));
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -92,7 +72,7 @@ public class WithJsonPathTest {
 
     @Test
     public void shouldMatchJsonPathEvaluatedToCollectionValue() {
-        assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, withJsonPath(compile("$.store.book[*].author"), instanceOf(Collection.class)));
+        assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, withJsonPath(compile("$.store.book[*].author"), instanceOf(List.class)));
         assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, withJsonPath(compile("$.store.book[*].author"), hasSize(4)));
         assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, withJsonPath(compile("$.store.book[*].author"), hasItem("Evelyn Waugh")));
         assertThat(BOOKS_JSON, withJsonPath(compile("$..book[2].title"), hasItem("Moby Dick")));

json-path-assert/src/test/java/com/jayway/jsonpath/matchers/WithoutJsonPathTest.java

@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+package com.jayway.jsonpath.matchers;
+
+import com.jayway.jsonpath.JsonPath;
+import com.jayway.jsonpath.ReadContext;
+import org.junit.Test;
+
+import static com.jayway.jsonpath.JsonPath.compile;
+import static com.jayway.jsonpath.matchers.JsonPathMatchers.withoutJsonPath;
+import static org.hamcrest.Matchers.*;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertThat;
+
+public class WithoutJsonPathTest {
+    private static final String JSON_STRING = "{" +
+            "\"name\": \"Jessie\"," +
+            "\"flag\": false," +
+            "\"empty_array\": []," +
+            "\"empty_object\": {}," +
+            "\"none\": null" +
+            "}";
+    private static final ReadContext JSON = JsonPath.parse(JSON_STRING);
+
+    @Test
+    public void shouldMatchNonExistingJsonPath() {
+        assertThat(JSON, withoutJsonPath(compile("$.not_there")));
+        assertThat(JSON, withoutJsonPath("$.not_there"));
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void shouldNotMatchExistingJsonPath() {
+        assertThat(JSON, not(withoutJsonPath(compile("$.name"))));
+        assertThat(JSON, not(withoutJsonPath("$.name")));
+        assertThat(JSON, not(withoutJsonPath("$.flag")));
+        assertThat(JSON, not(withoutJsonPath("$.empty_array")));
+        assertThat(JSON, not(withoutJsonPath("$.empty_object")));
+        assertThat(JSON, not(withoutJsonPath("$.none")));
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void shouldBeDescriptive() {
+        assertThat(withoutJsonPath("$.name"),
+                hasToString(equalTo("without json path \"$['name']\"")));
+    }
+
+}

json-path-assert/src/test/java/com/jayway/jsonpath/matchers/helpers/ResourceHelpers.java

@@ -4,11 +4,8 @@ import org.apache.commons.io.IOUtils;
 
 import java.io.File;
 import java.io.IOException;
-import java.net.URI;
 import java.net.URISyntaxException;
 import java.net.URL;
-import java.nio.file.Path;
-import java.nio.file.Paths;
 
 import static java.lang.ClassLoader.getSystemResource;
 import static java.lang.ClassLoader.getSystemResourceAsStream;
@@ -18,18 +15,16 @@ public class ResourceHelpers {
         try {
             return IOUtils.toString(getSystemResourceAsStream(resource));
         } catch (IOException e) {
-            throw new AssertionError("Resource not found", e);
+            throw new AssertionError("Resource not found: " + e.getMessage());
         }
     }
 
     public static File resourceAsFile(String resource) {
         try {
             URL systemResource = getSystemResource(resource);
-            URI uri = systemResource.toURI();
-            Path path = Paths.get(uri);
-            return path.toFile();
+            return new File(systemResource.toURI());
         } catch (URISyntaxException e) {
-            throw new AssertionError("URI syntax error", e);
+            throw new AssertionError("URI syntax error:" + e.getMessage());
         }
     }
 }

json-path-assert/src/test/resources/books.json

@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 {
   "store": {
     "name": "Little Shop",
+    "none": null,
+    "switch": true,
+    "magazine": [],
+    "truck": {},
     "book": [
       {
         "category": "reference",