How to use a JSON file in javascript

Question

First off, I am a newcomer to the Javascript realm. I have a JSON file, such as the following:

{"markers": [
  {
   "abbreviation": "SPA",
   "latitude":-13.32,
   "longitude":-89.99,
   "markerImage": "flags/us.png",
   "information": "South Pole",
  },

.... lots more of these in between ....

{
   "abbreviation": "ALE",
   "latitude":-62.5,
   "longitude":82.5,
   "markerImage": "flags/us.png",
   "information": "Alert",
  },
] }

I have been doing a lot of research as to how I can bring this file back into my script only to find ways to encode strings into JSON files. Basically, I want to read this file through javascript, something like this... (I know this isn't how you code)

object data = filename.json  
document.write(data.markers.abbreviation[1])

Can someone please give me clear instruction on how to go about doing this. Remember, I am a newcomer and need specifics since I'm not up to par with the javascript jargon.

Raynos · Accepted Answer · 2011-01-28 13:06:43Z

48

First you need a handle on a file. You need to get it somehow either through ajax or through server-side behaviour.

You need to tell use where the file is. How you plan to get it and what serverside code your using.

Once you have you can use JSON.parse(string) on it. You can include the json2.js file if you need to support older browsers.

If you use jQuery you can also try jQuery.parseJSON for parsing instead.

An option for remotely getting json would be using jQuery.getJSON

To load it you can either use JSONP or some kind of library with ajax functionality like jQuery.ajax or Ajax.Request. It can be done in raw javascript but that's just ugly and re-inventing the wheel.

$.getJSON("document.json", function(data) {
    console.log(data);
    // data is a JavaScript object now. Handle it as such

});

edited Jan 28, 2011 at 13:06

answered Jan 28, 2011 at 12:35

Raynos

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14 Comments

Stephan Over a year ago

Well, like I said, I just started learning javascript, this is all totally new to me - I'm trying to base if off my experiences with programming in java. Raynos, would you be kind enough to write some example code. Say if you had a JSON file called 'document'. What would you do to read that file back into javascript?

Raynos Over a year ago

Are you running a server? Is the file located on a server?

Stephan Over a year ago

No, this is just a small project I am doing, its all contained with a directory on my desktop and it will not be published to the internet.

Stephan Over a year ago

Raynos, I have a file call grndstats.json which was formatted using java. Now I am using javascript, try to read that file it with no such luck so I can use it to play points on google maps.

Stephan Over a year ago

Raynos, would you be so kinda to write the line of code for it. I have the jQuery.js in the same directory as my browser and json file. Would it be something like, var data = $.getJSON(grndstats.json);

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