Java convert String that looks like an Array into a String Array or String ArrayList

Question

I have a String that looks like an Array:

["944", "The name", "Hi, hi", 1, 6, 0, false, "the date"]

NOTE: The above is wrapped in ", like a String would be. So the integers and boolean are in this String and those like "944" are also in the String, a String in a String if you will.

How do I take that and make it a Java String Array or ArrayList of Strings?

@ThomasJunk, That wouldn't work. In the example above, That would split up the 3rd element, "Hi, hi". But yes, I forgot I have Gson in this project. Got it done. — David
– David, Commented Dec 26, 2014 at 0:47
@David yes, you are right: split by comma has to go first ;) — Thomas Junk
– Thomas Junk, Commented Dec 26, 2014 at 16:11

David · Accepted Answer · 2014-12-26 00:48:29Z

4

I solved it using Gson.

Type listType = new TypeToken<List<String>>() {}.getType();
List<String> postData = new Gson().fromJson(stringThatLooksLikeArray, listType);

answered Dec 26, 2014 at 0:48

David

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2 Comments

Sergey Kalinichenko Over a year ago

This is the only solution that pays proper attention to doublequotes when splitting the string.

David Over a year ago

I figure most running into what I ran into are doing some form of data transfer (most likely through JSON), so using Gson in any type of project like that offers these great short solutions.

Bohemian · Accepted Answer · 2014-12-26 01:39:08Z

1

Trim the head and tail of non-data then split:

String[] parts = str.replaceAll("^\\[|\\]$", "").split(",(?=(([^\"]*\"){2})*[^\"]*$)");

The look ahead assets that the comma being split on is not within a quote pair.

edited Dec 26, 2014 at 1:39

answered Dec 26, 2014 at 0:47

Bohemian♦

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3 Comments

aioobe Over a year ago

"Hi, hi" gets split up.

Bohemian Over a year ago

@aioobe no, it doesn't

aioobe Over a year ago

It did at the time I wrote the comment. Looks good now. (But you might want to trim the parts.)

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