diff --git a/flight/Engine.php b/flight/Engine.php
index 00bcbe1..c3e769e 100644
--- a/flight/Engine.php
+++ b/flight/Engine.php
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ use flight\net\Request;
 use flight\net\Response;
 use flight\net\Router;
 use flight\template\View;
+use flight\util\Json;
 use Throwable;
 use flight\net\Route;
 use Psr\Container\ContainerInterface;
@@ -522,11 +523,11 @@ class Engine
             // not doing much here, just setting the requestHandled flag to true
             $this->requestHandled = true;
 
-			// Allow filters to run
-			// This prevents multiple after events from being registered
-			$this->after('start', function () use ($self) {
-				$self->stop();
-			});
+            // Allow filters to run
+            // This prevents multiple after events from being registered
+            $this->after('start', function () use ($self) {
+                $self->stop();
+            });
         } else {
             // deregister the request and response objects and re-register them with new instances
             $this->unregister('request');
@@ -665,7 +666,7 @@ class Engine
             <h1>500 Internal Server Error</h1>
                 <h3>%s (%s)</h3>
                 <pre>%s</pre>
-            HTML,
+            HTML, // phpcs:ignore
             $e->getMessage(),
             $e->getCode(),
             $e->getTraceAsString()
@@ -906,9 +907,7 @@ class Engine
         ?string $charset = 'utf-8',
         int $option = 0
     ): void {
-        // add some default flags
-        $option |= JSON_UNESCAPED_SLASHES | JSON_THROW_ON_ERROR;
-        $json = $encode ? json_encode($data, $option) : $data;
+        $json = $encode ? Json::encode($data, $option) : $data;
 
         $this->response()
             ->status($code)
@@ -966,7 +965,7 @@ class Engine
         string $charset = 'utf-8',
         int $option = 0
     ): void {
-        $json = $encode ? json_encode($data, $option) : $data;
+        $json = $encode ? Json::encode($data, $option) : $data;
         $callback = $this->request()->query[$param];
 
         $this->response()
diff --git a/flight/commands/AiGenerateInstructionsCommand.php b/flight/commands/AiGenerateInstructionsCommand.php
index 096d32b..90dd7cb 100644
--- a/flight/commands/AiGenerateInstructionsCommand.php
+++ b/flight/commands/AiGenerateInstructionsCommand.php
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ class AiGenerateInstructionsCommand extends Command
 			$detailsText
 			Current instructions:
 			$context
-			EOT;
+			EOT; // phpcs:ignore
 
         // Read LLM creds
         $creds = json_decode(file_get_contents($runwayCredsFile), true);
diff --git a/flight/util/Json.php b/flight/util/Json.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2d5e8b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/flight/util/Json.php
@@ -0,0 +1,114 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace flight\util;
+
+use Exception;
+use JsonException;
+
+/**
+ * Json utility class for encoding and decoding JSON data.
+ *
+ * This class provides centralized JSON handling for the FlightPHP framework,
+ * with consistent error handling and default options.
+ */
+class Json
+{
+    /**
+     * Default JSON encoding options
+     */
+    public const DEFAULT_ENCODE_OPTIONS = JSON_UNESCAPED_SLASHES | JSON_THROW_ON_ERROR;
+
+    /**
+     * Default JSON decoding options
+     */
+    public const DEFAULT_DECODE_OPTIONS = JSON_THROW_ON_ERROR;
+
+    /**
+     * Encodes data to JSON string.
+     *
+     * @param mixed $data Data to encode
+     * @param int $options JSON encoding options (bitmask)
+     * @param int $depth Maximum depth
+     *
+     * @return string JSON encoded string
+     * @throws Exception If encoding fails
+     */
+    public static function encode($data, int $options = 0, int $depth = 512): string
+    {
+        $options = $options | self::DEFAULT_ENCODE_OPTIONS; // Ensure default options are applied
+        try {
+            return json_encode($data, $options, $depth);
+        } catch (JsonException $e) {
+            throw new JsonException('JSON encoding failed: ' . $e->getMessage(), $e->getCode(), $e);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Decodes JSON string to PHP data.
+     *
+     * @param string $json JSON string to decode
+     * @param bool $associative Whether to return associative arrays instead of objects
+     * @param int $depth Maximum decoding depth
+     * @param int $options JSON decoding options (bitmask)
+     *
+     * @return mixed Decoded data
+     * @throws Exception If decoding fails
+     */
+    public static function decode(string $json, bool $associative = false, int $depth = 512, int $options = self::DEFAULT_DECODE_OPTIONS)
+    {
+        $options = $options | self::DEFAULT_DECODE_OPTIONS; // Ensure default options are applied
+        try {
+            return json_decode($json, $associative, $depth, $options);
+        } catch (JsonException $e) {
+            throw new JsonException('JSON decoding failed: ' . $e->getMessage(), $e->getCode(), $e);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Checks if a string is valid JSON.
+     *
+     * @param string $json String to validate
+     *
+     * @return bool True if valid JSON, false otherwise
+     */
+    public static function isValid(string $json): bool
+    {
+        try {
+            json_decode($json, false, 512, JSON_THROW_ON_ERROR);
+            return true;
+        } catch (JsonException $e) {
+            return false;
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Gets the last JSON error message.
+     *
+     * @return string Error message or empty string if no error
+     */
+    public static function getLastError(): string
+    {
+        $error = json_last_error();
+        if ($error === JSON_ERROR_NONE) {
+            return '';
+        }
+        return json_last_error_msg();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Pretty prints JSON data.
+     *
+     * @param mixed $data Data to encode
+     * @param int $additionalOptions Additional options to merge with pretty print
+     *
+     * @return string Pretty formatted JSON string
+     * @throws Exception If encoding fails
+     */
+    public static function prettyPrint($data, int $additionalOptions = 0): string
+    {
+        $options = self::DEFAULT_ENCODE_OPTIONS | JSON_PRETTY_PRINT | $additionalOptions;
+        return self::encode($data, $options);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tests/EngineTest.php b/tests/EngineTest.php
index 07b8cfc..1b553ae 100644
--- a/tests/EngineTest.php
+++ b/tests/EngineTest.php
@@ -387,8 +387,9 @@ class EngineTest extends TestCase
 	public function testJsonWithDuplicateDefaultFlags()
 	{
 		$engine = new Engine();
+		$flags = JSON_HEX_TAG | JSON_HEX_TAG | JSON_UNESCAPED_SLASHES | JSON_UNESCAPED_UNICODE;
 		// utf8 emoji
-		$engine->json(['key1' => 'value1', 'key2' => 'value2', 'utf8_emoji' => '😀'], 201, true, '', JSON_HEX_TAG | JSON_HEX_TAG | JSON_UNESCAPED_SLASHES | JSON_UNESCAPED_UNICODE);
+		$engine->json(['key1' => 'value1', 'key2' => 'value2', 'utf8_emoji' => '😀'], 201, true, '', $flags);
 		$this->assertEquals('application/json', $engine->response()->headers()['Content-Type']);
 		$this->assertEquals(201, $engine->response()->status());
 		$this->assertEquals('{"key1":"value1","key2":"value2","utf8_emoji":"😀"}', $engine->response()->getBody());
diff --git a/tests/FlightTest.php b/tests/FlightTest.php
index 82a620b..5b0b516 100644
--- a/tests/FlightTest.php
+++ b/tests/FlightTest.php
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ class FlightTest extends TestCase
         <div>Hi</div>
         <input type="number" />
         <input type="number" />
-        html;
+        html; // phpcs:ignore
 
         $html = str_replace(["\n", "\r"], '', $html);
 
diff --git a/tests/JsonTest.php b/tests/JsonTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..af833fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/JsonTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,221 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace tests;
+
+use flight\util\Json;
+use PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase;
+use Exception;
+
+class JsonTest extends TestCase
+{
+    protected function setUp(): void
+    {
+        // Clear any previous JSON errors
+        json_encode(['clear' => 'error']);
+    }
+
+    // Test basic encoding
+    public function testEncode(): void
+    {
+        $data = ['name' => 'John', 'age' => 30];
+        $result = Json::encode($data);
+        $this->assertIsString($result);
+        $this->assertJson($result);
+    }
+
+    // Test encoding with custom options
+    public function testEncodeWithOptions(): void
+    {
+        $data = ['url' => 'https://example.com/path'];
+        $result = Json::encode($data, JSON_UNESCAPED_SLASHES);
+        $this->assertStringContainsString('https://example.com/path', $result);
+    }
+
+    // Test encoding with invalid data
+    public function testEncodeInvalidData(): void
+    {
+        $this->expectException(Exception::class);
+        $this->expectExceptionMessage('JSON encoding failed');
+
+        // Create a resource that cannot be encoded
+        $resource = fopen('php://memory', 'r');
+        Json::encode($resource);
+        fclose($resource);
+    }
+
+    // Test basic decoding
+    public function testDecode(): void
+    {
+        $json = '{"name":"John","age":30}';
+        $result = Json::decode($json);
+        $this->assertIsObject($result);
+        $this->assertEquals('John', $result->name);
+        $this->assertEquals(30, $result->age);
+    }
+
+    // Test decoding to associative array
+    public function testDecodeAssociative(): void
+    {
+        $json = '{"name":"John","age":30}';
+        $result = Json::decode($json, true);
+        $this->assertIsArray($result);
+        $this->assertEquals('John', $result['name']);
+        $this->assertEquals(30, $result['age']);
+    }
+
+    // Test decoding with custom depth
+    public function testDecodeWithDepth(): void
+    {
+        $json = '{"level1":{"level2":{"level3":"value"}}}';
+        $result = Json::decode($json, true, 512);
+        $this->assertEquals('value', $result['level1']['level2']['level3']);
+    }
+
+    // Test decoding invalid JSON
+    public function testDecodeInvalidJson(): void
+    {
+        $this->expectException(Exception::class);
+        $this->expectExceptionMessage('JSON decoding failed');
+
+        Json::decode('{"invalid": json}');
+    }
+
+    // Test JSON validation with valid JSON
+    public function testIsValidWithValidJson(): void
+    {
+        $validJson = '{"name":"John","age":30}';
+        $this->assertTrue(Json::isValid($validJson));
+    }
+
+    // Test JSON validation with invalid JSON
+    public function testIsValidWithInvalidJson(): void
+    {
+        $invalidJson = '{"invalid": json}';
+        $this->assertFalse(Json::isValid($invalidJson));
+    }
+
+    // Test JSON validation with empty string
+    public function testIsValidWithEmptyString(): void
+    {
+        $this->assertFalse(Json::isValid(''));
+    }
+
+    // Test pretty print functionality
+    public function testPrettyPrint(): void
+    {
+        $data = ['name' => 'John', 'age' => 30];
+        $result = Json::prettyPrint($data);
+        $this->assertStringContainsString("\n", $result);
+        $this->assertStringContainsString('    ', $result); // Should contain indentation
+    }
+
+    // Test pretty print with additional options
+    public function testPrettyPrintWithAdditionalOptions(): void
+    {
+        $data = ['html' => '<script>alert("test")</script>'];
+        $result = Json::prettyPrint($data, JSON_HEX_TAG);
+        $this->assertStringContainsString('\u003C', $result); // Should escape < character
+    }
+
+    // Test getLastError when no error
+    public function testGetLastErrorNoError(): void
+    {
+        // Perform a valid JSON operation first
+        Json::encode(['valid' => 'data']);
+        $this->assertEquals('', Json::getLastError());
+    }
+
+    // Test getLastError when there is an error
+    public function testGetLastErrorWithError(): void
+    {
+        // Trigger a JSON error by using json_decode directly with invalid JSON
+        // This bypasses our Json class exception handling to test getLastError()
+        json_decode('{"invalid": json}');
+
+        $errorMessage = Json::getLastError();
+        $this->assertNotEmpty($errorMessage);
+        $this->assertIsString($errorMessage);
+    }
+
+    // Test encoding arrays
+    public function testEncodeArray(): void
+    {
+        $data = [1, 2, 3, 'four'];
+        $result = Json::encode($data);
+        $this->assertEquals('[1,2,3,"four"]', $result);
+    }
+
+    // Test encoding null
+    public function testEncodeNull(): void
+    {
+        $result = Json::encode(null);
+        $this->assertEquals('null', $result);
+    }
+
+    // Test encoding boolean values
+    public function testEncodeBoolean(): void
+    {
+        $this->assertEquals('true', Json::encode(true));
+        $this->assertEquals('false', Json::encode(false));
+    }
+
+    // Test encoding strings
+    public function testEncodeString(): void
+    {
+        $result = Json::encode('Hello World');
+        $this->assertEquals('"Hello World"', $result);
+    }
+
+    // Test encoding numbers
+    public function testEncodeNumbers(): void
+    {
+        $this->assertEquals('42', Json::encode(42));
+        $this->assertEquals('3.14', Json::encode(3.14));
+    }
+
+    // Test decoding arrays
+    public function testDecodeArray(): void
+    {
+        $json = '[1,2,3,"four"]';
+        $result = Json::decode($json, true);
+        $this->assertEquals([1, 2, 3, 'four'], $result);
+    }
+
+    // Test decoding nested objects
+    public function testDecodeNestedObjects(): void
+    {
+        $json = '{"user":{"name":"John","profile":{"age":30}}}';
+        $result = Json::decode($json, true);
+        $this->assertEquals('John', $result['user']['name']);
+        $this->assertEquals(30, $result['user']['profile']['age']);
+    }
+
+    // Test default encoding options are applied
+    public function testDefaultEncodingOptions(): void
+    {
+        $data = ['url' => 'https://example.com/path'];
+        $result = Json::encode($data);
+        // Should not escape slashes due to JSON_UNESCAPED_SLASHES
+        $this->assertStringContainsString('https://example.com/path', $result);
+    }
+
+    // Test round trip encoding/decoding
+    public function testRoundTrip(): void
+    {
+        $original = [
+            'string' => 'test',
+            'number' => 42,
+            'boolean' => true,
+            'null' => null,
+            'array' => [1, 2, 3],
+            'object' => ['nested' => 'value']
+        ];
+
+        $encoded = Json::encode($original);
+        $decoded = Json::decode($encoded, true);
+
+        $this->assertEquals($original, $decoded);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tests/ViewTest.php b/tests/ViewTest.php
index 736d0b4..ddbf32b 100644
--- a/tests/ViewTest.php
+++ b/tests/ViewTest.php
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ class ViewTest extends TestCase
         <div>Hi</div>
         <input type="number" />
         <input type="number" />
-        html;
+        html; // phpcs:ignore
 
         // if windows replace \n with \r\n
         $html = str_replace(["\n", "\r"], '', $html);
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ class ViewTest extends TestCase
         $html = <<<'html'
         <div>qux</div>
         <div>bar</div>
-        html;
+        html; // phpcs:ignore
 
         $html = str_replace(["\n", "\r"], '', $html);
 
@@ -217,12 +217,12 @@ class ViewTest extends TestCase
         $html1 = <<<'html'
         <div>Hi</div>
         <div></div>
-        html;
+        html; // phpcs:ignore
 
         $html2 = <<<'html'
         <input type="number" />
         <input type="text" />
-        html;
+        html; // phpcs:ignore
 
         $html1 = str_replace(["\n", "\r"], '', $html1);
         $html2 = str_replace(["\n", "\r"], '', $html2);
diff --git a/tests/commands/RouteCommandTest.php b/tests/commands/RouteCommandTest.php
index b4f2291..7bcc123 100644
--- a/tests/commands/RouteCommandTest.php
+++ b/tests/commands/RouteCommandTest.php
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ PHP;
         | /put    | PUT       |       | No       | -              |
         | /patch  | PATCH     |       | No       | Bad Middleware |
         +---------+-----------+-------+----------+----------------+
-        output;
+        output; // phpcs:ignore
 
         $this->assertStringContainsString(
             $expected,
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ PHP;
         +---------+---------+-------+----------+------------+
         | /post   | POST    |       | No       | Closure    |
         +---------+---------+-------+----------+------------+
-        output;
+        output; // phpcs:ignore
 
         $this->assertStringContainsString(
             $expected,
diff --git a/tests/server/index.php b/tests/server/index.php
index a4cd289..bca95f7 100644
--- a/tests/server/index.php
+++ b/tests/server/index.php
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ Flight::map('error', function (Throwable $e) {
         <h1>500 Internal Server Error</h1>
             <h3>%s (%s)</h3>
             <pre style="border: 2px solid red; padding: 21px; background: lightgray; font-weight: bold;">%s</pre>
-        HTML,
+        HTML, // phpcs:ignore
         $e->getMessage(),
         $e->getCode(),
         str_replace(getenv('PWD'), '***CONFIDENTIAL***', $e->getTraceAsString())