How to make sure that string is valid JSON using JSON.NET

Question

I have a raw string. I just want to validate whether the string is valid JSON or not. I'm using JSON.NET.

Answer 1

Through Code:

Your best bet is to use parse inside a try-catch and catch exception in case of failed parsing. (I am not aware of any TryParse method).

(Using JSON.Net)

Simplest way would be to Parse the string using JToken.Parse, and also to check if the string starts with { or [ and ends with } or ] respectively (added from this answer):

private static bool IsValidJson(string strInput)
{
    if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(strInput)) { return false;}
    strInput = strInput.Trim();
    if ((strInput.StartsWith("{") && strInput.EndsWith("}")) || //For object
        (strInput.StartsWith("[") && strInput.EndsWith("]"))) //For array
    {
        try
        {
            var obj = JToken.Parse(strInput);
            return true;
        }
        catch (JsonReaderException jex)
        {
            //Exception in parsing json
            Console.WriteLine(jex.Message);
            return false;
        }
        catch (Exception ex) //some other exception
        {
            Console.WriteLine(ex.ToString());
            return false;
        }
    }
    else
    {
        return false;
    }
}

The reason to add checks for { or [ etc was based on the fact that JToken.Parse would parse the values such as "1234" or "'a string'" as a valid token. The other option could be to use both JObject.Parse and JArray.Parse in parsing and see if anyone of them succeeds, but I believe checking for {} and [] should be easier. (Thanks @RhinoDevel for pointing it out)

Without JSON.Net

You can utilize .Net framework 4.5 System.Json namespace ,like:

string jsonString = "someString";
try
{
    var tmpObj = JsonValue.Parse(jsonString);
}
catch (FormatException fex)
{
    //Invalid json format
    Console.WriteLine(fex);
}
catch (Exception ex) //some other exception
{
    Console.WriteLine(ex.ToString());
}

(But, you have to install System.Json through Nuget package manager using command: PM> Install-Package System.Json -Version 4.0.20126.16343 on Package Manager Console) (taken from here)

Non-Code way:

Usually, when there is a small json string and you are trying to find a mistake in the json string, then I personally prefer to use available on-line tools. What I usually do is:

• Paste JSON string in JSONLint The JSON Validator and see if its a valid JSON.
• Later copy the correct JSON to http://json2csharp.com/ and generate a template class for it and then de-serialize it using JSON.Net.

Answer 2

Use JContainer.Parse(str) method to check if the str is a valid Json. If this throws exception then it is not a valid Json.

JObject.Parse - Can be used to check if the string is a valid Json object
JArray.Parse - Can be used to check if the string is a valid Json Array
JContainer.Parse - Can be used to check for both Json object & Array

Answer 3

Building on Habib's answer, you could write an extension method:

public static bool ValidateJSON(this string s)
{
    try
    {
        JToken.Parse(s);
        return true;
    }
    catch (JsonReaderException ex)
    {
        Trace.WriteLine(ex);
        return false;
    }
}

Which can then be used like this:

if(stringObject.ValidateJSON())
{
    // Valid JSON!
}

Answer 4

Just to add something to @Habib's answer, you can also check if given JSON is from a valid type:

public static bool IsValidJson<T>(this string strInput)
{
    if(string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(strInput)) return false;

    strInput = strInput.Trim();
    if ((strInput.StartsWith("{") && strInput.EndsWith("}")) || //For object
        (strInput.StartsWith("[") && strInput.EndsWith("]"))) //For array
    {
        try
        {
            var obj = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<T>(strInput);
            return true;
        }
        catch // not valid
        {             
            return false;
        }
    }
    else
    {
        return false;
    }
}

Answer 5

I found that JToken.Parse incorrectly parses invalid JSON such as the following:

{
"Id" : , 
"Status" : 2
}

Paste the JSON string into http://jsonlint.com/ - it is invalid.

So I use:

public static bool IsValidJson(this string input)
{
    input = input.Trim();
    if ((input.StartsWith("{") && input.EndsWith("}")) || //For object
        (input.StartsWith("[") && input.EndsWith("]"))) //For array
    {
        try
        {
            //parse the input into a JObject
            var jObject = JObject.Parse(input);

            foreach(var jo in jObject)
            {
                string name = jo.Key;
                JToken value = jo.Value;

                //if the element has a missing value, it will be Undefined - this is invalid
                if (value.Type == JTokenType.Undefined)
                {
                    return false;
                }
            }
        }
        catch (JsonReaderException jex)
        {
            //Exception in parsing json
            Console.WriteLine(jex.Message);
            return false;
        }
        catch (Exception ex) //some other exception
        {
            Console.WriteLine(ex.ToString());
            return false;
        }
    }
    else
    {
        return false;
    }

    return true;
}

Answer 6

⚠️ Alternate option using System.Text.Json ⚠️

For .Net Core one can also use the System.Text.Json namespace and parse using the JsonDocument. Example is an extension method based on the namespace operations:

public static bool IsJsonValid(this string txt)
{
    try { return JsonDocument.Parse(txt) != null; } catch {}

    return false;
}

Answer 7

Regarding Tom Beech's answer; I came up with the following instead:

public bool ValidateJSON(string s)
{
    try
    {
        JToken.Parse(s);
        return true;
    }
    catch (JsonReaderException ex)
    {
        Trace.WriteLine(ex);
        return false;
    }
}

With a usage of the following:

if (ValidateJSON(strMsg))
{
    var newGroup = DeserializeGroup(strMsg);
}

Answer 8

JToken.Type is available after a successful parse. This can be used to eliminate some of the preamble in the answers above and provide insight for finer control of the result. Entirely invalid input (e.g., "{----}".IsValidJson(); will still throw an exception).

    public static bool IsValidJson(this string src)
    {
        try
        {
            var asToken = JToken.Parse(src);
            return asToken.Type == JTokenType.Object || asToken.Type == JTokenType.Array;
        }
        catch (Exception)  // Typically a JsonReaderException exception if you want to specify.
        {
            return false;
        }
    }

Json.Net reference for JToken.Type: https://www.newtonsoft.com/json/help/html/T_Newtonsoft_Json_Linq_JTokenType.htm

Answer 9

This method doesn't require external libraries

using System.Web.Script.Serialization;
bool IsValidJson(string json)
    {
        try {
            var serializer = new JavaScriptSerializer();
            dynamic result = serializer.DeserializeObject(json);
            return true;
        } catch { return false; }
    }

Answer 10

Here is a TryParse extension method based on Habib's answer:

public static bool TryParse(this string strInput, out JToken output)
{
    if (String.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(strInput))
    {
        output = null;
        return false;
    }
    strInput = strInput.Trim();
    if ((strInput.StartsWith("{") && strInput.EndsWith("}")) || //For object
        (strInput.StartsWith("[") && strInput.EndsWith("]"))) //For array
    {
        try
        {
            output = JToken.Parse(strInput);
            return true;
        }
        catch (JsonReaderException jex)
        {
            //Exception in parsing json
            //optional: LogError(jex);
            output = null;
            return false;
        }
        catch (Exception ex) //some other exception
        {
            //optional: LogError(ex);
            output = null;
            return false;
        }
    }
    else
    {
        output = null;
        return false;
    }
}

Usage:

JToken jToken;
if (strJson.TryParse(out jToken))
{
    // work with jToken
}
else
{
    // not valid json
}

Answer 11

I'm using this one:

  internal static bool IsValidJson(string data)
  {
     data = data.Trim();
     try
     {
        if (data.StartsWith("{") && data.EndsWith("}"))
        {
           JToken.Parse(data);
        }
        else if (data.StartsWith("[") && data.EndsWith("]"))
        {
           JArray.Parse(data);
        }
        else
        {
           return false;
        }
        return true;
     }
     catch
     {
        return false;
     }
  }

Answer 12

Extension that returns a json string even if it returns an exception:

        public static string OnlyValidJson(this string strInput)
        {
            if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(strInput)) { return @"[""Json is empty""]"; }
            strInput = strInput.Trim();
            if ((strInput.StartsWith("{") && strInput.EndsWith("}")) ||
                (strInput.StartsWith("[") && strInput.EndsWith("]")))
            {
                try
                {
                    string strEscape = strInput.Replace("\\n", "").Replace("\\r", "").Replace("\n", "").Replace("\r", "");
                    JToken.Parse(strEscape);
                    return strEscape;
                }
                catch (JsonReaderException jex)
                {
                    return @$"{{""JsonReaderException"":""{jex.Message}""}}";
                }
                catch (Exception ex)
                {
                    Console.WriteLine(ex.ToString());
                    return @$"{{""Exception"":""{ex.ToString()}""}}";
                }
            }
            else
            {
                return @"[""Json not start with { or [.""]";
            }
        }

Answer 13

Sometime JToken.Parse(jsonString); doesnt validate the json completely.

instead you can use below method to check validity of json string while reading. Ref : https://www.newtonsoft.com/jsonschema/help/html/ValidatingJson.htm

string json = @"{
  'name': 'James',
  'hobbies': ['.NET', 'Blogging', 'Reading', 'Xbox', 'LOLCATS']
}";

JsonTextReader reader = new JsonTextReader(new StringReader(json));

JSchemaValidatingReader validatingReader = new JSchemaValidatingReader(reader);
validatingReader.Schema = JSchema.Parse(schemaJson);

IList<string> messages = new List<string>();
validatingReader.ValidationEventHandler += (o, a) => messages.Add(a.Message);

JsonSerializer serializer = new JsonSerializer();
Person p = serializer.Deserialize<Person>(validatingReader);