Dart

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).

Dart

import 'package:chilkat/chilkat.dart';

void main() {
  // 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:
  final strJsonArray = '[ { "name": "Bill" }, { "name": "Ted" } ]';

  // Load it into a JSON array.
  final jsonA = CkJsonArray();
  jsonA.load(strJsonArray);
  print('number of array elements: ${jsonA.size}');

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

  // Load it into a JSON object.
  final jsonO = CkJsonObject();
  jsonO.load(strJsonObj);
  print('number of object members: ${jsonO.size}');
}