Deserialize anonymous type with System.Text.Json

Question

I am updating some apps for .NET Core 3.x, and as part of that I'm trying to move from Json.NET to the new System.Text.Json classes. With Json.NET, I could deserialize an anonymous type like so:

var token = JsonConvert.DeserializeAnonymousType(jsonStr, new { token = "" }).token;

Is there an equivalent method in the new namespace?

Answer 1

As of .Net 5.0, deserialization of immutable types -- and thus anonymous types -- is supported by System.Text.Json. From How to use immutable types and non-public accessors with System.Text.Json:

System.Text.Json can use a parameterized constructor, which makes it possible to deserialize an immutable class or struct. For a class, if the only constructor is a parameterized one, that constructor will be used.

As anonymous types have exactly one constructor, they can now be deserialized successfully. To do so, define a helper method like so:

public static partial class JsonSerializerExtensions
{
    public static T? DeserializeAnonymousType<T>(string json, T anonymousTypeObject, JsonSerializerOptions? options = default)
        => JsonSerializer.Deserialize<T>(json, options);

    public static ValueTask<TValue?> DeserializeAnonymousTypeAsync<TValue>(Stream stream, TValue anonymousTypeObject, JsonSerializerOptions? options = default, CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
        => JsonSerializer.DeserializeAsync<TValue>(stream, options, cancellationToken); // Method to deserialize from a stream added for completeness
}

And now you can do:

var token = JsonSerializerExtensions.DeserializeAnonymousType(jsonStr, new { token = "" }).token;

Demo fiddle here.

Answer 2

Please try this library I wrote as an extension to System.Text.Json to offer missing features: https://github.com/dahomey-technologies/Dahomey.Json.

You will find support for anonymous types.

Setup json extensions by calling on JsonSerializerOptions the extension method SetupExtensions defined in the namespace Dahomey.Json:

JsonSerializerOptions options = new JsonSerializerOptions();
options.SetupExtensions();

Then serialize your class with the JsonSerializerExtensions static type:

var token = JsonSerializerExtensions.DeserializeAnonymousType(jsonStr, new { token = "" }, options).token;