Difference between JSON.stringify and JSON.parse

Question

I have been confused over when to use these two parsing methods.

After I echo my json_encoded data and retrieve it back via ajax, I often run into confusion about when I should use JSON.stringify and JSON.parse.

I get [object,object] in my console.log when parsed and a JavaScript object when stringified.

$.ajax({ url: "demo_test.txt", success: function(data) {          console.log(JSON.stringify(data))                      /* OR */          console.log(JSON.parse(data))         //this is what I am unsure about?     } }); 

Answer 1

JSON.stringify turns a JavaScript object into JSON text and stores that JSON text in a string, eg:

var my_object = { key_1: "some text", key_2: true, key_3: 5 };  var object_as_string = JSON.stringify(my_object);   // "{"key_1":"some text","key_2":true,"key_3":5}"    typeof(object_as_string);   // "string"   

JSON.parse turns a string of JSON text into a JavaScript object, eg:

var object_as_string_as_object = JSON.parse(object_as_string);   // {key_1: "some text", key_2: true, key_3: 5}   typeof(object_as_string_as_object);   // "object"  

Answer 2

JSON.parse() is for "parsing" something that was received as JSON.
JSON.stringify() is to create a JSON string out of an object/array.