Swift

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).

Swift

func chilkatTest() {
    var success: Bool = 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:
    var strJsonArray: String? = "[ { \"name\": \"Bill\" }, { \"name\": \"Ted\" } ]"

    // Load it into a JSON array.
    let jsonA = CkoJsonArray()!
    success = jsonA.load(jsonArray: strJsonArray)
    print("number of array elements: \(jsonA.size.intValue)")

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

    // Load it into a JSON object.
    let jsonO = CkoJsonObject()!
    success = jsonO.load(json: strJsonObj)
    print("number of object members: \(jsonO.size.intValue)")

}