JSON.stringify an object with Knockout JS variables

Question

Current scenario:

function Employee(data) {
var self = this;

// variables
this.Forename = ko.observable(data.Forename);
this.Surname = ko.observable(data.Surname);

this.Save = function () {
    var obj = JSON.stringify(self); // Without ko.observables, this works fine. self() doesn't work obviously.
    console.log(obj);
};
}

I think what I'm trying to do is pretty straight forward, get all the observable values without going through every single one of them, and creating a JSON string using the stringify function. This is easy to do without observables, is there a simple way to do it with them?

Richard Dalton · Accepted Answer · 2013-02-26 11:33:20Z

47

Knockout has a built in toJSON function to do exactly this:

var json = ko.toJSON(viewModel);

ko.toJSON — this produces a JSON string representing your view model’s data. Internally, it simply calls ko.toJS on your view model, and then uses the browser’s native JSON serializer on the result. Note: for this to work on older browsers that have no native JSON serializer (e.g., IE 7 or earlier), you must also reference the json2.js library.

edited Feb 26, 2013 at 11:33

answered Feb 26, 2013 at 11:24

Richard Dalton

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5 Comments

Chris Dixon Over a year ago

Actually, this is even better as it doesn't require another library. Awesome.

ebram khalil Over a year ago

i think you have first to convert the observable into normal JS object then call ko.toJSON on it.

Paul Manzotti Over a year ago

True, I tend to use the mapping one in case I need the greater flexibility of ignoring certain properties. Also, I can't see any reference in the mapping documentation about whether it needs json2.js to work in older browsers. If it doesn't, then that's obviously an advantage.

Richard Dalton Over a year ago

@PaulManzotti Just checked the source code and the mapping plugin uses ko.utils.stringifyJson which has the same requirements of a built in serializer.

Paul Manzotti Over a year ago

@RichardDalton Ah, cheers for looking into that, good to know.

ebram khalil · Accepted Answer · 2013-02-26 11:29:04Z

5

You can do this by 2 ways :

first:

      var json = ko.toJSON(ko.mapping.toJS(viewModel))

Second

      var json = JSON.stringify(ko.mapping.toJS(viewModel))

answered Feb 26, 2013 at 11:29

ebram khalil

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1 Comment

GôTô Over a year ago

And then ko.toJSON(ko.mapping.toJS($root), null, 2) :)

Paul Manzotti · Accepted Answer · 2013-02-26 11:19:21Z

3

Have you looked at the knockout mapping plugin?

var unmapped = ko.mapping.toJS(viewModel);

answered Feb 26, 2013 at 11:19

Paul Manzotti

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1 Comment

Chris Dixon Over a year ago

One of those "d'oh, why didn't I think of that?" moments! Cheers :)

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