How to map JSON to C# Objects

Question

I am having issues with understanding how to make this happen.

Basically we have an API, the user sends a JSON of the format: (excuse the code if not perfect but yo

Answer 1

You can use Json.NET to deserialize your json string as (with some modifications to your classes)

var yourObject =  JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<Root>(jsonstring);


public class Root
{
    public Profile[] Profile;
}

public class Profile
{
    public string Name { get; set; }
    public string Last { get; set; }
    public Client Client { get; set; }
    public DateTime Date { get; set; }
}

public class Client
{
    public int ClientId;
    public string Product;
    public string Message;
}

Answer 2

Easiest way I know is to use JSON.Net by newtonsoft. To make it easier to understand, I always make matching classes in C# with the same name. Then its easier to deserialize it. As an example, if it is an array of objects in js, it will map to a list of object with the same names in C#. As for the date time, its a bit tricky. Id do the client side validation and Datetime.tryParse in the serverside, itll take care of the dashes or slashes.

var serializer = new JavaScriptSerializer();
List<abc> abcList = serializer.Deserialize<List<abc>>(PassedInJsonString);

Answer 3

DataContractJsonSerializer does the job, but it uses more sophisticated format for DateTime serialization.

Answer 4

You can use a JSON library for this, for example Newtonsoft.Json which is free. It will map json to your types automatically.

Sample:

    public static T Deserialize<T>(string json)
    {
        Newtonsoft.Json.JsonSerializer s = new JsonSerializer();
        return s.Deserialize<T>(new JsonTextReader(new StringReader(json)));
    }

There is also a NuGet package available.