c# - Serialize a container of enums as strings using JSON.net

Question

You can serialize an enum field in an WebAPI model as a string by adding an attribute:

enum Size
{
    Small,
    Medium,
    Large
}

class Example1
{
    [Newtonsoft.Json.JsonConverter(typeof(Newtonsoft.Json.Converters.StringEnumConverter))]
    Size Size { get; set; }
}

This will serialize to this JSON:

{
  "Size": "Medium"
}

How can I accomplish the same for a collections of enums?

class Example2
{
    IList<Size> Sizes { get; set; }
}

I want to serialize to this JSON:

{
  "Sizes":
  [
    "Medium",
    "Large"
  ]
}

Answer 1

You need to use JsonPropertyAttribute.ItemConverterType property:

class Example2
{
    [JsonProperty (ItemConverterType = typeof(StringEnumConverter))]
    public IList<Size> Sizes { get; set; }
}