C# JSON custom serialization

Question

Is there a way/library that will allow me to customize JSON serialization similar to GSON custom serializers?

Here is what I'm trying to get:

this object: KeyValuePair("Age",10) myAge

will normally get serialized like

"myAge": { "Key": "Age", "Value": 10 }

whilst I want it to serialize like: "Age": 10 instead. Any ideas?

Answer 1

First i suggest to use newton json dll.

Second your need create custom JsonConverter for KeyValuePair like this:

  public class PairConverter : JsonConverter
  {
    public override bool CanConvert(Type objectType)
    {
       return objectType == typeof(KeyValuePair<string, int>);
    }

    public override object ReadJson(JsonReader reader, Type objectType, object existingValue, JsonSerializer serializer)
    {
      throw new NotImplementedException();
    }

    public override void WriteJson(JsonWriter writer, object value, JsonSerializer serializer)
    {
      var item = (KeyValuePair<string, int>)value;
      writer.WriteValue(item.Value);
      writer.Flush();
    }
  }

And than add JsonConverter attribute for 'Age' property like this:

 public class Persons
 {
   [JsonConverter(typeof(PairConverter))]
   public KeyValuePair<string, int> Age { get; set; }
 }

Finally, example of usage:

 var persons = new Persons()
 {
    Age = new KeyValuePair<string, int>("Age", 10)
 };
 var json = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(persons); // {Age:10}