Working with JSON in C#

Working with JSON in C#: Parsing and Serialization — A Practical Guide

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data-interchange format widely used in modern web applications for its simplicity and readability. In C# applications, working with JSON often involves parsing (deserializing) JSON data into C# objects and converting (serializing) C# objects into JSON format. Whether you’re building APIs, consuming external services, or processing configuration files, mastering JSON handling in C# is crucial. In this article, we’ll explore practical ways to work with JSON in C# using the System.Text.Json and Newtonsoft.Json libraries, covering parsing, serialization, and customization.

Overview of JSON in C#

JSON consists of key-value pairs, arrays, and nested objects. It is human-readable and language-independent, making it ideal for exchanging data between systems. In C#, JSON is primarily used to exchange data between applications and services, making it crucial for web APIs, microservices, and cloud-based systems.

Example of a JSON object:

{
  "Id": 1,
  "Name": "John Doe",
  "Email": "john.doe@example.com",
  "Skills": ["C#", ".NET", "Azure"]
}