How to parse JSON if an element is coming as jsonobject sometime and jsonarray sometime

Question

I have json response comming from service. For one element some time it is coming as json array and some time it is coming is json object.

Example:

Response 1:
{"_id":2,"value":{id: 12, name: John}}
Response 2:
{"_id":1,"value":[{id: 12, name: John}, {id: 22, name: OMG}]}

Here value is jsonObject in Response 1 and jsonArray in Response 2.

Problem is I am using Gson to parse the json. and kept the value as ArrayList in my POJO class.

public class ResponseDataset {
    private int _id;
    private ArrayList<Value> value;

    // getter setter
}

public class Value {
    private int id;
    private String name;

    // getter setter
}

Is there is any way I can handle this using Gson. My json response too large and complex so wanted to avoid line by line parsing.

I assume you are using a third party service which you cannot change to always return either an array or a single object? — Joel Gregory, Feb 20 '15 at 04:45
You could write a custom deserialiser and work out if the value is an array or an object, it's a bit messy but it's a good option — Jimmy, Feb 20 '15 at 05:14
Read [TypeAdapters](https://google-gson.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/gson/docs/javadocs/com/google/gson/TypeAdapter.html) — Devrim, Feb 20 '15 at 13:23

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Feb 20 '15 at 06:36

Even I had the same problem, I've done as the following.

    String jsonString = "{\"_id\":1,\"value\":[{id: 12, name: John}, {id: 22, name: OMG}]}";
    JSONObject jsonObject = new org.json.JSONObject(jsonString);
    ResponseDataset dataset = new ResponseDataset();
    dataset.set_id(Integer.parseInt(jsonObject.getString("_id")));
    System.out.println(jsonObject.get("value").getClass());
    Object valuesObject = jsonObject.get("value");
    if (valuesObject instanceof JSONArray) {
        JSONArray itemsArray =(JSONArray) valuesObject;
        for (int index = 0; index < itemsArray.length(); index++) {
            Value value = new Value();
            JSONObject valueObject = (JSONObject) itemsArray.get(index);
            value.setId(Integer.parseInt(valueObject.getString("id")));
            value.setName(valueObject.getString("name"));
            dataset.getValue().add(value);
        }
    }else if(valuesObject instanceof JSONObject){
        Value value = new Value();
        value.setId(Integer.parseInt(((JSONObject)valuesObject).getString("id")));
        value.setName(((JSONObject)valuesObject).getString("name"));
        dataset.getValue().add(value);
    }

You can try this.

score 1 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 11:53

1

Found the solution here Gson handle object or array

@Pasupathi your solution is also correct but I want a way using Gson as my service response is too large and complex.

edited May 23 '17 at 11:53

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answered Feb 24 '15 at 07:00

Nitesh V

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How to parse JSON if an element is coming as jsonobject sometime and jsonarray sometime

2 Answers2