parse an array as a Json string using DataContract

Question

How can I parse the elements of an array in a Json string using DataContractJsonSerializer? The syntax is:

{
   "array":[
 {
  "elementsProperies":"SomeLiteral"
 }
 ]
}

Answer 1

I suggest using Json.net.

In it you would just call:

var jsonObj = JObject.Parse(yourjsonstring);

var elPropertyValue = (string)jsonObj.SelectToken("array[0].elementsProperies");

to get the "SomeLiteral".

Answer 2

You wouldn't necessarily "parse" a json string using DataContractJsonSerializer, but you can deserialize it into an object or list of objects using this. Here is a simple way to deserialize it to a list of objects if this is what you're after.

First you need to have an object type you plan on deserializing to:

[DataContract]
public class MyElement
{
    [DataMember(Name="elementsProperties")] // this must match the json property name
    public string ElementsProperties { get; set; }
}

You can then use something like the following method to deserialize your json string to a list of objects

private List<MyElement> ReadToObject(string json)
{
    var deserializedElements = new List<MyElement>();
    using(var ms = new MemoryStream(Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(json)))
    {
        var ser = new DataContractJsonSerializer(deserializedElements.GetType());
        deserializedElements = ser.ReadObject(ms) as List<MyElement>;
    }
    return deserializedUsers;
}