Java

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).

Java

import com.chilkatsoft.*;

public class ChilkatExample {

  static {
    try {
        System.loadLibrary("chilkat");
    } catch (UnsatisfiedLinkError e) {
      System.err.println("Native code library failed to load.\n" + e);
      System.exit(1);
    }
  }

  public static void main(String argv[])
  {
    boolean success = 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:
    String strJsonArray = "[ { \"name\": \"Bill\" }, { \"name\": \"Ted\" } ]";

    // Load it into a JSON array.
    CkJsonArray jsonA = new CkJsonArray();
    success = jsonA.Load(strJsonArray);
    System.out.println("number of array elements: " + jsonA.get_Size());

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

    // Load it into a JSON object.
    CkJsonObject jsonO = new CkJsonObject();
    success = jsonO.Load(strJsonObj);
    System.out.println("number of object members: " + jsonO.get_Size());
  }
}