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).

Chilkat2 Java

import com.chilkatsoft.chilkat2.JsonArray;
import com.chilkatsoft.chilkat2.JsonObject;

public class ChilkatExample {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // 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.
        JsonArray jsonA = new JsonArray();
        jsonA.load(strJsonArray);
        System.out.println("number of array elements: " + jsonA.getSize());

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

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