Return JSON containing javascript functions from ASP.NET MVC

Question

I have a JSON-like data structure (which I don't want to change) that is currently generated by an .aspx file spitting out javascript. It looks like .NET ate jQuery for lunch, and then vomited...

I'd like to rewrite the entire thing to an MVC controller action that returns a JsonResult, basically by building up an anonymous object and pass it to return Json(data).

However, I can't figure out how to construct the C# object when some of the properties on the JSON object I want to build are actually JavaScript functions. How do I do that?

Example:

I want to create the following JSON-like object:

{
    id: 55, 
    name: 'john smith', 
    age: 32,
    dostuff: aPredefinedFunctionHandle,
    isOlderThan: function(other) { return age > other.age } 
}

You see that I want to be able to specify both function handles to JavaScript functions that I have defined elsewhere (in .js files, usually) and that I want to define new inline functions.

I know how to build part of that object in C#:

var data = new { id = 55, name = "john smith", age = 32 };
return Json(data);

Is there any good way to do also the rest of it?

JSON explicitly excludes functions because it isn't meant to be a JavaScript-only data structure (despite the JS in the name). So we should not include function name in JSON — Ajay Singh Beniwal
– Ajay Singh Beniwal, Commented Jun 20, 2012 at 12:16

VJAI · Accepted Answer · 2012-06-20 14:08:04Z

2

There is no built-in type in .NET that maps to javascript function. So you may have to create a custom type that represents a function and you have to do the serialization yourself.

Something like this..

public class JsFunction
{
   public string FunctionString{get; set;}
}

new
{
    id = 55, 
    name = 'john smith', 
    age = 32,
    dostuff = new JsFunction{ FunctionString = "aPredefinedFunctionHandle" },
    isOlderThan = new JsFunction{ FunctionString = "function(other) { return age > 
                    other.age" } 
}

On serialization you may have to check the type of the value and write the FunctionString directly into the response without double-quotes.

answered Jun 20, 2012 at 14:08

VJAI

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Comments

Ajay Singh Beniwal · Accepted Answer · 2012-06-20 12:18:16Z

0

JSON explicitly excludes functions because it isn't meant to be a JavaScript-only data structure (despite the JS in the name). So we should not include function name in JSON

answered Jun 20, 2012 at 12:18

Ajay Singh Beniwal

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1 Comment

Tomas Aschan Over a year ago

OK, I stand corrected. But then it's not JSON I want - just something "JSON-like"... so I still wonder how to accomplish what I am trying to do.

Paolo del Mundo · Accepted Answer · 2012-06-29 02:08:08Z

0

JSON excludes functions. It sounds like you want to encapsulate your data into a class. How about something like the following:

function Person(data) {
   this.id = data.id;
   this.name = data.name;
   this.age = data.age;
   this.isOlderThan = function(other) { return this.age > other.age };

}

edited Jun 29, 2012 at 2:08

answered Jun 20, 2012 at 13:39

Paolo del Mundo

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1 Comment

Paolo del Mundo Over a year ago

How is it invalid Javascript syntax?

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