SQLite’s JSON functions and operators are now enabled by default, starting from SQLite 3.38.0 (released on 22 February 2022).

So in SQLite 3.38.0 and later, the JSON functions and operators are now built ins.

Prior to SQLite 3.38.0, you would need to use the -DSQLITE_ENABLE_JSON1 compile-time option to enable JSON support. Now (starting with SQLite 3.38.0), it’s no longer necessary to use that compile-time option to enable JSON support. JSON is on by default.

How to Disable JSON Functions & Operators

JSON support went from being opt-in with SQLite version 3.37.2 and earlier to opt-out with SQLite version 3.38.0 and later.

If you don’t want the JSON functions and operators to be enabled, you’ll need to explicitly omit them from the build. SQLite has a new option for doing this.

To disable the JSON interface, use the new -DSQLITE_OMIT_JSON compile-time option. This option omits the JSON SQL functions and operators from the build.