How to Effectively Loop Through Multi-level JSON in C# ASP.NET Core

Learn how to handle and iterate over multi-level JSON data in your ASP.NET Core application using C# . This guide will help you navigate your models effectively.
---

Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: Loop through multi-level json coming from FromBody to a model C#

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
A Guide to Looping Through Multi-level JSON in ASP.NET Core

In the world of web APIs, handling complex data structures like JSON is a frequent requirement. While working with ASP.NET Core, you may come across scenarios where you need to parse and iterate through multi-level JSON. This guide addresses a common problem faced by developers: how to effectively loop through a multi-level JSON structure incoming from a client request. Let's dive into the essentials of this process.

Understanding the Problem

Suppose you have a JSON structure representing a document with nested lines, which you are sending to your ASP.NET Core application's API. Your primary goal is to manage this multi-level JSON in a structured manner using C# models. Here’s the essence of your JSON and C# models:

Example JSON Structure

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

C# Model Classes

You have two model classes that represent this structure:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

There's a mismatch in the property names, specifically that line_number does not exist in your DocumentLine class. This inconsistency can lead to runtime errors if not addressed.

The Solution: Correcting the Model and Iterating Through Lines

To successfully loop through the JSON data in your API controller, start by correcting your model class to match the JSON you will be receiving. Here’s how to achieve that:

Step 1: Update Your DocumentLine Model

Since the JSON includes a line_number property, update your DocumentLine class to include this property:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 2: Iterate Through the Lines

Now that your model is correctly set up, you can iterate over the lines in your controller as follows:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Summary

By ensuring that your model structure correctly aligns with the incoming JSON payload, you can effectively loop through multi-level JSON data and extract the necessary information for processing. This approach not only fixes the immediate issue but also enhances readability and maintainability of your code.

Key Takeaways

Ensure your model properties match the JSON structure to avoid runtime errors.

Utilize foreach loops in C# to access and manipulate collections, such as lists of nested objects.

Maintain clear and organized code for better readability and collaboration.

By following these practices, you'll be able to handle complex JSON structures with ease in your ASP.NET Core APIs!