*/
    protected JsonUtil() {
    }

    /**
     * Escapes a value as Json string.
     *
     * @param value input
     * @return escaped string.
     */
    public static String escape(final String value) {
        if (value == null) {
            return null;
        }

        char c;
        final int len = value.length();
        final StringBuilder buf = new StringBuilder(len * 2);