Decode Html-encoded characters during Json deserialization

Question

I’m using Json.net to deserialize json data received by Web API call. Some fields often have html-encoded characters like " or & How can I have this characters automatically decoded during deserialization?

I came to 2 possible solutions:

1. Calling System.Web.HttpUtility.HtmlDecode() in property setter like:

   public string Title
   {
       set
       {
           title = System.Web.HttpUtility.HtmlDecode(value);
       }
   }
   

2. Writing custom JsonConverter that calls System.Web.HttpUtility.HtmlDecode() in ReadJson() method:

   public class HtmlEncodingConverter : Newtonsoft.Json.JsonConverter
   {
       public override bool CanConvert(Type objectType)
       {
           return objectType == typeof(String);
       }
   
       public override object ReadJson(JsonReader reader, Type objectType, object existingValue, JsonSerializer serializer)
       {
           return System.Web.HttpUtility.HtmlDecode((string)reader.Value);
       }
   
       public override void WriteJson(JsonWriter writer, object value, JsonSerializer serializer)
       {
           writer.WriteRawValue(System.Web.HttpUtility.HtmlEncode((string)value));
       }
   }
   

But is there any built-in solution that allows to perform html-decoding during json deserialization without additional code?

Answer 1

System.Net.WebUtility.HtmlDecode()

or

HttpUtility.HtmlDecode()

is the way to go, nothing built in regarding the JsonSerializer.