Parsing multi-level JSON with JSON.NET

Question

Recently I need to parse JSON object like this:

{
   "method":"someMehtod",
   "content":{"oneObject":"can be a very complicated object"},
   "somotherthing":"someOtherValue"
}

into C# with Newtonsoft JSON.NET. I know it is very common to create a new class or classes for the purpose but this is highly unwelcome choice to my current situation since it is considered unnecessary to my superior (and I don't want there to be too many classes like this either). Is there anything that resembles JAVA's JSONObject class in C# world I can use to query multiple level json without making new class?

Tell your superior: 1. It is better to have classes since they are strongly typed. 2. What is the problem with having classes or many of them? 3. You do not need to write the classes manually--see this answer 4. Once you deserialize you will want to process or do something with data, so working with objects of type object will be buggy. — CodingYoshi
– CodingYoshi, Commented Nov 4, 2017 at 15:46

Nasreddine · Accepted Answer · 2017-11-04 15:32:36Z

6

You can use JSON.Net's JObject. Here's an example:

var jsonString = "{\"method\":\"someMehtod\",   \"content\":{\"oneObject\":\"can be a very complicated object\"},   \"somotherthing\":\"someOtherValue\"}";
var obj = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<JObject>(jsonString);
Console.WriteLine(obj["content"]["oneObject"]); // will print "can be a very complicated object"

dotnet fiddle demo available here

edited Nov 4, 2017 at 15:32

answered Nov 4, 2017 at 15:26

Nasreddine

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pcdev · Accepted Answer · 2017-11-04 15:23:19Z

0

Take a look at the JsonConvert.DeserializeAnonymousType method. Define an anonymous type inline to define the expected structure and pass it in as a parameter. No new classes required, but I suspect if your superior is against creating new classes (really??) then they'll be against anonymous types too...

https://www.newtonsoft.com/json/help/html/DeserializeAnonymousType.htm

answered Nov 4, 2017 at 15:23

pcdev

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4 Comments

Yogesh H Shenoy Over a year ago

still need to create class of the same structure

HarryTheF Over a year ago

Not sure if I can persuade him for this. Creating a class for this is a reasonable option but this adds up the complexity. And since there's only one place this structure will be used. (We are writing small app.)

jdmneon Over a year ago

wtools.io will do it for you

jdmneon Over a year ago

create a class structure out of it, it has to be VALID JSON though, not all JSON being passed around on the internet meets the standard some people add their own little custom extensions for convenience

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