PowerBuilder

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).

PowerBuilder

integer li_rc
integer li_Success
string ls_StrJsonArray
oleobject loo_JsonA
string ls_StrJsonObj
oleobject loo_JsonO

li_Success = 0

// 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:
ls_StrJsonArray = "[ { ~"name~": ~"Bill~" }, { ~"name~": ~"Ted~" } ]"

// Load it into a JSON array.
loo_JsonA = create oleobject
li_rc = loo_JsonA.ConnectToNewObject("Chilkat.JsonArray")
if li_rc < 0 then
    destroy loo_JsonA
    MessageBox("Error","Connecting to COM object failed")
    return
end if
li_Success = loo_JsonA.Load(ls_StrJsonArray)
Write-Debug "number of array elements: " + string(loo_JsonA.Size)

// This is an object containing an array:
ls_StrJsonObj = "{ ~"characters~": [ ~"Bill~", ~"Ted~" ] }"

// Load it into a JSON object.
loo_JsonO = create oleobject
li_rc = loo_JsonO.ConnectToNewObject("Chilkat.JsonObject")

li_Success = loo_JsonO.Load(ls_StrJsonObj)
Write-Debug "number of object members: " + string(loo_JsonO.Size)


destroy loo_JsonA
destroy loo_JsonO