JSON.parse array nested element not working

Question

I am getting this error message:

SyntaxError: JSON.parse: expected ',' or ']' after array element at line 4 column 18 of the JSON data.

I think it is because I have an object within an array, and maybe that is not allowed. But I need confirmation of this from experienced developers. Can you put objects in arrays in json?

HTML

<div id="ex1"><h2>Example 1</h2><p></p><h4>results:</h4></div>

Javascript

var message;

  (function loadAjax()
    { var request;
        if (window.XMLHttpRequest)
            {
                request = new XMLHttpRequest();
            }
     else{

         request = new ActiveXObject('Microsoft,XMLHTTP');
     }

     request.open('GET','human.json');

     request.onreadystatechange = function()
     {
         if(request.readyState == 4 && request.status == 200)
             {

                 message = request.responseText;
                 var obj = JSON.parse(message);
                 var text = obj.job[0].hospital;
                 attach('ex1',text,'p');
             }
     }

     request.send();

    })();

JSON

{
  "sex":{"male":{"fname":["Michael","Tom"]} ,"female":{"fname":["Alice","Katie"]}},
  "age":[16,80],
  "job":["medical":{"hospital": "doctor"}, "education":{"school":"teacher"} ]
}

Your job property contains invalid assotiative-like array with object-like keys such as medical and education. An example of a valid array is the property with the age key. The job property should probably contain an object instead of array. — Marat Tanalin
– Marat Tanalin, Commented May 4, 2016 at 16:33
You just posted this elsewhere. Why not keep them in the same question? stackoverflow.com/questions/37017756/… — Wes Foster
– Wes Foster, Commented May 4, 2016 at 16:34
@Wes Foster, this is actually different question concerning an array that I have in json. But, I didn't know you can continue to add on to a previous question that you have made — black_yurizan
– black_yurizan, Commented May 4, 2016 at 16:36
@EatPeanutButter Yes, I am. Is there a better way to build it? — black_yurizan
– black_yurizan, Commented May 4, 2016 at 16:37

Wes Foster · Accepted Answer · 2016-05-04 16:42:50Z

3

This is incorrect:

"job":["medical":{"hospital": "doctor"}, "education":{"school":"teacher"} ]

This is correct:

"job": {"medical": {"hospital": "doctor"}, "education": {"school": "teacher"} }

Notice I changed the [] to {}

Square brackets are used for arrays (many individual items). Example:

{ "my_array": [1, 2, "three"] }      <-- Notice that the items in square brackets
                                         so not assign a value such as "key": "value"

Curlies are used for associative entries (many "key": "value" items). Example:

{ "my_association": { "dogs": "rule", "cats": "drool" } }

Please refer to JSON.org to learn more about the proper syntax for JSON.

edited May 4, 2016 at 16:42

answered May 4, 2016 at 16:37

Wes Foster

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3 Comments

black_yurizan Over a year ago

Quick question, are you allowed to do the array that I had in objects or is it bad syntax in JSON and javascript objects?

Wes Foster Over a year ago

Both are technically the same, they are a Hash. The big different is that with associative entries, you are assigning a name to the key. With normal arrays (in square brackets), you are not assigning a name to the key.

Bekim Bacaj Over a year ago

"job":[{"medical":{"hospital":"doctor"}},{"education":{"school":"teacher"}}] is what the op was originally after, but he simply forgot to wrap them key-value pairs in {}.

Marat Tanalin · Accepted Answer · 2016-05-04 20:41:27Z

0

Your job property contains an invalid associative-like array with object-like keys such as medical and education. An example of a valid array is the property with the age key. The job property should probably contain an object instead of array.

JavaScript array is just a list of values (["foo", "bar"]) without explicit keys. If you need a key:value pairs, use an object ({"a" : "foo", "b" : "bar"}).

By the way, it generally makes sense to generate JSON automatically (not manually), e. g. using PHP’s built-in function json_encode(), so that the resulting JSON code is guaranteedly valid.

answered May 4, 2016 at 20:41

Marat Tanalin

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Comments

Bekim Bacaj · Accepted Answer · 2016-05-04 21:41:06Z

0

You will need to correct your:

{
  "sex":{"male":{"fname":["Michael","Tom"]} ,"female":{"fname":["Alice","Katie"]}},
  "age":[16,80],
  "job":["medical":{"hospital": "doctor"}, "education":{"school":"teacher"} ]
}

to:

{
  "sex":{"male":{"mname":["Michael","Tom"]},"female":{"fname":["Alice","Katie"]}},
  "age":[16,80],
  "job":[{"medical":{"hospital":"doctor"}},{"education":{"school":"teacher"}}]
}

in case you really want to preserve your original idea of structure & access.

answered May 4, 2016 at 21:41

Bekim Bacaj

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