C# Dynamically create JSON with nested objects from array of strings

Question

So I have adynamic array of strings like:

["a","b","c,"d"]

or

["x","y","z"]

The array is dynamic and can have variable number of strings.

I want to create a nested json object, in the same position order of the items.

End result would be:

{
   "a":{
      "b":{
         "c":{
            "d":{
            }
         }
      }
   }
}

or

{
   "x":{
      "y":{
         "z":{
         }
      }
   }
}

What have you tried so far? Also, what return type do you expect? String? Dictionary? Something else? — srk
– srk, Commented Jan 29, 2021 at 16:40

xanatos · Accepted Answer · 2021-01-29 16:41:47Z

3

You can compose JObject to obtain what you want:

var strs = new string[] { "a", "b", "c", "d" };

JObject jo = new JObject();
JObject parent = jo;

for (int i = 0; i < strs.Length; i++)
{
    var jo2 = new JObject();
    parent[strs[i]] = jo2;
    parent = jo2;
}

// Your final json object is jo
Console.WriteLine(jo);

// string version
string json = jo.ToString(); // or jo.ToString(Formatting.None)

answered Jan 29, 2021 at 16:41

xanatos

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6 Comments

user2653271 Over a year ago

Thank you very much! works like a charm. can you explain how "jo2" has the same reference (it seems like that) as "parent" ?

xanatos Over a year ago

@user2653271 No, jo2 is always a reference to the innermost created object. jo is the most external parent, and parent is the previous parent.

user2653271 Over a year ago

Sorry for the ignorance.. I just don't understand how jo2 gets the reference for the innermost object if jo2 is on the right side of the equal sign? in lines: var jo2 = new JObject(); parent[strs[i]] = jo2; I can see in debug what you explained, but still, i don't get it...

xanatos Over a year ago

@user2653271 In the cycle you are creating objects for outside to inside. jo2 is the current object you are creating, and you are adding it to its parent. By this definition, in each cycle jo2 is the innermost object you created.

user2653271 Over a year ago

In the first iteration, after the line parent[strs[i]] = jo2; the values of both parent[strs[i]] and jo2 is: {"Module": {}} I expected jo2 to remain new JObject...

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