Converting JSON Arrays to newline JSON Format for BigQuery

Learn how to convert your JSON arrays into the `newline JSON` format required by BigQuery, making data uploads seamless and efficient.
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Converting JSON Arrays to newline JSON Format for BigQuery

When working with BigQuery, one common issue many developers face is ensuring their JSON data is formatted correctly. Specifically, if you're trying to upload a JSON object, it must adhere to the newline JSON (also known as NDJSON) format. In this guide, we will explore how to convert your JSON arrays into the newline JSON format necessary for BigQuery, allowing you to efficiently store and process your data.

The Challenge: JSON Format for BigQuery

You may encounter a situation similar to the following: you've created a JSON object for storage in Google Cloud but need it to be in a format that BigQuery can readily read. For example, if you were outputting a list of JSON objects, it likely looks something like this:

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

Unfortunately, this array format is not what BigQuery requires. Instead, you need each JSON object to be on a separate line, resulting in:

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

Understanding NDJSON Format

BigQuery expects the data in NDJSON format, which means that each line of the file contains a single JSON object. This allows BigQuery to easily deserialize any random line without needing to gather information from other lines. In simpler terms, NDJSON makes sure that every line of your file can stand alone as a valid JSON object.

The Solution: Converting to NDJSON

To achieve the required format, you should serialize each JSON object individually and ensure that there's a newline character ('\n') between each object. There are two main approaches, depending on whether you are writing to a file or creating a string for upload.

Writing to a File

If you wish to save the formatted JSON to a file, you can use the following approach:

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

Creating a String for Upload

In scenarios where you want to upload your data directly from a string without creating a file, you can do so with this snippet:

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

In this code:

We then join these strings with a newline character, resulting in a single string ready for upload.

Conclusion

In summary, when you find yourself needing to convert a JSON array into the newline JSON format for BigQuery, it is essential to serialize each object independently and separate them with newline characters. Whether you are writing to a file or creating a string for upload, following these methods will ensure your data is formatted correctly for smooth integration with BigQuery.

Now you can confidently prepare your JSON data for BigQuery and avoid any formatting headaches in your future projects!