Nested object JSON serialization in WebAPI

Question

I am using .NET 4.0, MVC 4, Web API. I have following data structure:

Dictionary<Actor, Int32> TopActorToMovieCount = new Dictionary<Actor, Int32>(10);

And following entry in WebApiConfig:

config.Formatters.JsonFormatter.SupportedMediaTypes.Add(new MediaTypeHeaderValue("text/html"));

In my Controller, I am returning TopActorToMovieCount this way:

    [HttpGet]
    public HttpResponseMessage HighestMovies()
    {            
        return Request.CreateResponse(HttpStatusCode.OK, MvcApplication.TopActorToMovieCount);
    }

But the JSON output it is giving is:

{"api.Models.Actor":137,"api.Models.Actor":125,"api.Models.Actor":99,"api.Models.Actor":96,"api.Models.Actor":83,"api.Models.Actor":82,"api.Models.Actor":81,"api.Models.Actor":79,"....

Why it is not giving JSON structure for object of Actor?

I am sure that I am missing something, bout couldn't figure out. I tried adding following, but it didn't work:

config.Formatters.JsonFormatter.SupportedMediaTypes.Add(new MediaTypeHeaderValue("application/json"));

PS: When I switch to XML output, it works fine.

Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 12:06:13Z

1

See similar question here: Not ableTo Serialize Dictionary with Complex key using Json.net

In this case, you are using "Actor" as the Key of your dictionary. Dictionary stores key/value pairs. So when creating the JSON response, it interprets the "Actor" as a key which is converted to a string, and the "Int32" as the value thus giving you

{"api.Models.Actor":137} or {key:value}

because

Actor.ToString() would result in "api.Models.Actor"

Here's a link to the definition of Dictionary: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/xfhwa508(v=vs.110).aspx

edited May 23, 2017 at 12:06

CommunityBot

11 silver badge

answered Sep 5, 2015 at 15:35

vanmeter-t

638 bronze badges

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

1 Comment

Arry Over a year ago

But in that case, if I just serialize List<Actor> that should also give me api.Models.Actor, because .toString() will come in picture in this case as well. But serialization of List<Actor> gives me proper result.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Nested object JSON serialization in WebAPI

1 Answer 1

1 Comment

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related