Json.Net Deserialize an object dynamically?

Question

I am trying to deserialize an object using Json.Net. I have a simple object called MyObject that holds a serialized object in MyObject.Body. I am storing the class type in MyObject.ClassType. I do not want to write a giant switch statement to figure out what type to deserialize to. Can I do this dynamically?

string value = "fullClassName";
switch (value)
{
    case "Cat":
        var cat = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<Cat>(myObject.Body);
        break;
    case "Dog":
        var dog = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<Dog>(myObject.Body);
        break;
}


public class MyObject
{
    public string Body { get; set; }
    public string ClassType { get; set; }
}    


var myAnimal = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<1of10TypesOfObjects> (myObject.Body);

You can use reflection to get type if you can make sure the "fullClassName" will match your class name. — Kenneth Tsai
– Kenneth Tsai, Commented Sep 22, 2017 at 14:58
I'm not familiar with reflection could you be a bit more specific? — Princess
– Princess, Commented Sep 22, 2017 at 14:59

Dustin Kingen · Accepted Answer · 2017-09-22 15:14:39Z

2

You can do that with:

JsonConvert.DeserializeObject(string value, Type type)

This will deserialize the JSON using the type information rather than a generic type parameter.

var myObjects = new List<MyObject>
{
    new MyObject
    {
        ClassType = typeof(Cat).FullName,
        Body = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(new Cat { Fluffiness = 10 })
    },
    new MyObject
    {
        ClassType = typeof(Dog).FullName,
        Body = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(new Dog { Loudness = 3 })
    }
};

List<object> objects =
    myObjects
        .Select(myObject =>
            JsonConvert.DeserializeObject(
            myObject.Body,
            typeof(Cat).Assembly.GetType(myObject.ClassType)))
        .ToList();

See:

JsonConvert.DeserializeObject

answered Sep 22, 2017 at 15:14

Dustin Kingen

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Comments

Kenneth Tsai · Accepted Answer · 2017-09-22 15:26:49Z

1

I put my answer on.

string typeName = "ConsoleApplication1.Cat";
var type = Type.GetType(typeName);
var myObject = new MyObject {Body = "{ Color: 'red' }"};

var res = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject(myObject.Body, type);

Please make sure the type name string must be a fullname, which included the namespace. Eg. "ConsoleApplication1.Cat". And you must need to do some exception handling to avoid the type not found if someone enter the wrong typeName.

answered Sep 22, 2017 at 15:26

Kenneth Tsai

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Comments

tuq · Accepted Answer · 2017-09-22 15:09:44Z

Sure, you can do it. Please make sure the serialized string is corresponding to the type you try to de-serialize. For example:

class Dog
{
    public string Name { get; set; }
}

class Cat
{
    public string Type { get; set; }
}
class Program
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        Dog dog = new Dog { Name = "My Dog" };
        string strDog = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(dog);

        Cat cat = new Cat { Type = "My Cat" };
        string strCat = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(cat);

        var dog2 = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<Dog>(strDog);
        var cat2 = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<Cat>(strCat);
        Console.WriteLine(cat2.Type); 
        Console.WriteLine(dog2.Name);          

    }
}

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