JSON Deserialization with an array of polymorphic objects

Question

I\'m having a problem with JSON Deserialization involving an array of polymorphic objects. I\'ve tried the solutions for serialization documented here and here which work great

Answer 1

Use this JsonKnownTypes, similar way to do that:

[JsonConverter(typeof(JsonKnownTypeConverter<BaseClass>))]
[JsonKnownType(typeof(Base), "base")]
[JsonKnownType(typeof(Derived), "derived")]
public class Base
{
    public string Name;
}
public class Derived : Base
{
    public string Something;
}

Now when you serialize object in json will be add "$type" with "base" and "derived" value and it will be use for deserialize

Serialized list example:

[
    {"Name":"some name", "$type":"base"},
    {"Name":"some name", "Something":"something", "$type":"derived"}
]

Answer 2

You have not added any settings upon deserialization. You need to apply settings with TypeNameHandling set to Object or All.

Like this:

JsonConvert.DeserializeObject(
    returnedStringFromClient, 
    typeof(Scoresheet), 
    new JsonSerializerSettings 
    { 
        TypeNameHandling = TypeNameHandling.Objects 
    });

Documentation: TypeNameHandling setting