diff --git a/dataext/optional.go b/dataext/optional.go
index 1f33ab4..b0af247 100644
--- a/dataext/optional.go
+++ b/dataext/optional.go
@@ -10,6 +10,14 @@ type JsonOpt[T any] struct {
 	value T
 }
 
+func NewJsonOpt[T any](v T) JsonOpt[T] {
+	return JsonOpt[T]{isSet: true, value: v}
+}
+
+func EmptyJsonOpt[T any]() JsonOpt[T] {
+	return JsonOpt[T]{isSet: false}
+}
+
 // MarshalJSON returns m as the JSON encoding of m.
 func (m JsonOpt[T]) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
 	if !m.isSet {
diff --git a/goextVersion.go b/goextVersion.go
index ddee908..e9acaa5 100644
--- a/goextVersion.go
+++ b/goextVersion.go
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 package goext
 
-const GoextVersion = "0.0.541"
+const GoextVersion = "0.0.542"
 
-const GoextVersionTimestamp = "2024-11-05T14:38:42+0100"
+const GoextVersionTimestamp = "2024-11-07T13:13:12+0100"