Is there a direct way to go from POCO to JsonNode?

Question

I want to create a JsonNode corresponding to a C# object (a POCO).

One way to do this would be to:

string json = JsonSerializer.Serialize(poco); JsonNode? jsonNode = JsonNode.Parse(json);

Is there a better way to do this?

What are you trying to achieve here? Not sure why you'd want to go from an object with a concrete type and definite structure to something that doesn't. Either way, did you try JsonSerializer.SerializeToNode? — phuzi
– phuzi, Commented Oct 10, 2024 at 13:00
@phuzi I need to manipulate the JSON DOM before doing other stuff, hence the need for JsonNode. I haven't tried SerializeToNode because the documentation makes it sound like it is only for single values, not for a whole POCO. — markvgti
– markvgti, Commented Oct 10, 2024 at 13:08

gecapo · Accepted Answer · 2024-10-10 13:16:14Z

You can use the JsonSerializer.SerializeToNode method, which directly serializes the object to a JsonNode:

JsonNode? jsonNode = JsonSerializer.SerializeToNode(poco);

This way, you skip the overhead of serializing to a string first, making it a bit more efficient.

Edit example:

using System.Text.Json; using System.Text.Json.Nodes; var poco = new { Name = "John Doe", Age = 30 }; JsonNode? jsonNode = JsonSerializer.SerializeToNode(poco); Console.WriteLine(jsonNode);

Documentation: JsonSerializer.SerializeToNode

It looks like it still serializes / deserializes under the hood, but it does use a cached buffer
Documentation makes it seem like it only works for simple values (e.g., an int, or decimal or string). Can it work for a complex/free-form POCO (multiple properties, perhaps nested objects, lists of objects etc.)?
From one of the overloads you could see that a type can be passed as a parameter, should work with other types. public static System.Text.Json.Nodes.JsonNode? SerializeToNode (object? value, Type inputType, System.Text.Json.JsonSerializerOptions? options = default);

Magnus · Accepted Answer · 2024-10-10 12:59:09Z

3

How about JsonSerializer.SerializeToNode

JsonNode? node = JsonSerializer.SerializeToNode(poco);

answered Oct 10, 2024 at 12:59

Magnus

47.3k8 gold badges88 silver badges128 bronze badges

2 Comments

markvgti Over a year ago

Documentation makes it seem like it only works for simple values (e.g., an int, or decimal or string). Can it work for a complex/free-form POCO (multiple properties, perhaps nested objects, lists of objects etc.)?

Magnus Over a year ago

@markvgti Works fine.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Is there a direct way to go from POCO to JsonNode?

2 Answers 2

3 Comments

2 Comments

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

3 Comments

2 Comments

Related