How do I deserialize an array of JSON objects to a C# anonymous type?

Question

I have no problem deserializing a single json object

string json = @"{'Name':'Mike'}";

to a C# anonymous type:

var definition = new { Name = ""};
var result = JsonConvert.DeserializeAnonymousType(json, definition);

But when I have an array:

string jsonArray = @"[{'Name':'Mike'}, {'Name':'Ben'}, {'Name':'Razvigor'}]";

I am stuck.

How can it be done?

Answer 1

The solution is:

string json = @"[{'Name':'Mike'}, {'Name':'Ben'}, {'Name':'Razvigor'}]";

var definition = new[] { new { Name = "" } };

var result = JsonConvert.DeserializeAnonymousType(json, definition);

Of course, since result is an array, you'll access individual records like so:

string firstResult = result[0].Name;

You can also call .ToList() and similar methods on it.

Answer 2

You can deserialize to dynamic object by this.

dynamic result = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject(jsonArray);

Answer 3

One approach is to put an identifier in your JSON array string.

This code worked for me:

var typeExample = new { names = new[] { new { Name = "" } } };
string jsonArray = @"{ names: [{'Name':'Mike'}, {'Name':'Ben'}, {'Name':'Razvigor'}]}";

var result = JsonConvert.DeserializeAnonymousType(jsonArray, typeExample);