JSON to object using C# JavaScriptSerializer

Question

I'm trying to create a list of Movies from a JSON-string fetched from an API (testing with a string-variable so far). My Movie-class:

private string title { get; set; }
private int year { get; set; }
private string releaseDate { get; set; }

public override String ToString()
{
    return title + " (" + year + "): " + releaseDate;
}

The code below however does not insert anything into the Movie-objects. A little time ago it created 2 objects (which is right because it's 2 movies in the JSON-string), but with no content what-so-ever. Now I'm stuck with nothing, the code does not create any objects.

string json = "{\"movies\": [{\"title\": \"Something\",\"year\": \"1999\",\"releaseDate\": \"1234\"},{\"title\": \"Something2\",\"year\": \"1992\",\"releaseDate\": \"1235\"}]}";

List<Movie> movieList = new JavaScriptSerializer().Deserialize<List<Movie>>(json);

It's obvious that I'm quite new to this, but I can't seem to find a solution to my problem elsewhere 'cause either it's not the same issue as I have or I can't find the difference between my code and the solution.

What am I missing here? Does the variable-names have to be the same in the Movie-class as in the JSON-string?

EDIT: I finally found my second problem here. Turns out it's wrong to write private when you use auto properties. Also see { get; set; } syntax.

Did you try like this? string json = "[{\"title\": \"Something\",\"year\": \"1999\",\"releaseDate\": \"1234\"},{\"title\": \"Something2\",\"year\": \"1992\",\"releaseDate\": \"1235\"}]"; — Pankaj Kapare
– Pankaj Kapare, Commented Jan 21, 2015 at 0:16
Not exactly like that, but I did try with only one movie with {}. — PWL
– PWL, Commented Jan 21, 2015 at 0:21

Jason Goemaat · Accepted Answer · 2015-01-21 08:14:27Z

2

Your JSON is an object that contains a "movies" property that is an array:

{
    movies: [
        {
            "title": "Something"
        },
        {
            "title": "Something Else"
        }
    ]
}

To deserialize it, you need an object with a "movies" property like this:

class MoviesObject {
    public List<Movie> movies { get; set; }
}

List<Movie> movieList = new JavaScriptSerializer().
    Deserialize<MoviesObject>(json).movies;

edited Jan 21, 2015 at 8:14

answered Jan 21, 2015 at 0:17

Jason Goemaat

29.3k15 gold badges89 silver badges119 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

2 Comments

PWL Over a year ago

So I need an object that contains the outer list like in the JSON as well? Thanks so far, I have now 2 empty objects again. My output: (0): (0):

Aron Over a year ago

You shouldn't be using fields for your JSON DTOs. You should NEVER have public fields. Use properties instead.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

JSON to object using C# JavaScriptSerializer

1 Answer 1

2 Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

2 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related