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#

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:
string strJsonArray = "[ { \"name\": \"Bill\" }, { \"name\": \"Ted\" } ]";

// Load it into a JSON array.
Chilkat.JsonArray jsonA = new Chilkat.JsonArray();
success = jsonA.Load(strJsonArray);
Debug.WriteLine("number of array elements: " + Convert.ToString(jsonA.Size));

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

// Load it into a JSON object.
Chilkat.JsonObject jsonO = new Chilkat.JsonObject();
success = jsonO.Load(strJsonObj);
Debug.WriteLine("number of object members: " + Convert.ToString(jsonO.Size));