How can I return json from my WCF rest service (.NET 4), using Json.Net, without it being a string,
- by Samuel Meacham
The DataContractJsonSerializer is unable to handle many scenarios that Json.Net handles just fine when properly configured (specifically, cycles).
A service method can either return a specific object type (in this case a DTO), in which case the DataContractJsonSerializer will be used, or I can have the method return a string, and do the serialization myself with Json.Net. The problem is that when I return a json string as opposed to an object, the json that is sent to the client is wrapped in quotes.
Using DataContractJsonSerializer, returning a specific object type, the response is:
{"Message":"Hello World"}
Using Json.Net to return a json string, the response is:
"{\"Message\":\"Hello World\"}"
I do not want to have to eval() or JSON.parse() the result on the client, which is what I would have to do if the json comes back as a string, wrapped in quotes. I realize that the behavior is correct; it's just not what I want/need. I need the raw json; the behavior when the service method's return type is an object, not a string.
So, how can I have my method return an object type, but not use the DataContractJsonSerializer? How can I tell it to use the Json.Net serializer instead?
Or, is there someway to directly write to the response stream? So I can just return the raw json myself? Without the wrapping quotes?
Here is my contrived example, for reference:
[DataContract]
public class SimpleMessage
{
[DataMember]
public string Message { get; set; }
}
[ServiceContract]
[AspNetCompatibilityRequirements(RequirementsMode = AspNetCompatibilityRequirementsMode.Allowed)]
[ServiceBehavior(InstanceContextMode = InstanceContextMode.Single)]
public class PersonService
{
// uses DataContractJsonSerializer
// returns {"Message":"Hello World"}
[WebGet(UriTemplate = "helloObject")]
public SimpleMessage SayHelloObject()
{
return new SimpleMessage("Hello World");
}
// uses Json.Net serialization, to return a json string
// returns "{\"Message\":\"Hello World\"}"
[WebGet(UriTemplate = "helloString")]
public string SayHelloString()
{
SimpleMessage message = new SimpleMessage() { Message = "Hello World" };
string json = JsonConvert.Serialize(message);
return json;
}
// I need a mix of the two. Return an object type, but use the Json.Net serializer.
}
