C++

Understanding JSON Array vs JSON Object

See more JSON Examples

This example explains the difference between a JSON Array and a JSON Object. A JSON Array begins with "[" and ends with "]", whereas a JSON Object begins with "{" and ends with "}".

Elements contained in a JSON array are accessed by index, whereas elements in a JSON object are typically accessed by name (but can also be accessed by index).

C++

#include <CkJsonArray.h>
#include <CkJsonObject.h>

void ChilkatSample(void)
    {
    bool success = false;

    // A JSON array should be loaded into a Chilkat JSON array,
    // whereas a JSON object should be loaded into a Chilkat JSON object.

    // A JSON array may contain objects, and a JSON object may contains arrays, but
    // it is the top-level (outermost) element that defines whether the JSON
    // document is an array or an object.
    // An array begins and ends with "[" ... "]"
    // An object begins and ends with "{" ... "}"

    // For example, an array containing 2 objects:
    const char *strJsonArray = "[ { \"name\": \"Bill\" }, { \"name\": \"Ted\" } ]";

    // Load it into a JSON array.
    CkJsonArray jsonA;
    success = jsonA.Load(strJsonArray);
    std::cout << "number of array elements: " << jsonA.get_Size() << "\r\n";

    // This is an object containing an array:
    const char *strJsonObj = "{ \"characters\": [ \"Bill\", \"Ted\" ] }";

    // Load it into a JSON object.
    CkJsonObject jsonO;
    success = jsonO.Load(strJsonObj);
    std::cout << "number of object members: " << jsonO.get_Size() << "\r\n";
    }