Question

I have read quite some blogs and stackoverflow answers on how to send a JavaScript object to an asp.net MVC controller. But all examples I have seen so far require you to know which properties the JavaScript object will have (because they all convert the JavaScript object to a C# object).

When I was using PageMethods in asp.net webforms I could send any complex JavaScript object or array (even hierarchical data) and it would be converted to a Dictionary which I could iterate. Any chance I can do something similar in asp.net MVC?

Answer 1

I now found a way which works for me.

1. I am converting my data to json and receive it as a string in my ASP.net MVC controller.
2. Then I use the json.net library to read the data – since this library allows me to read the data without converting it to a C# (or VB) object.

JavaScript code:

//first include the json2 library for older browsers and jQuery
$.post(url, {json: JSON.stringify(mydata)});

Server side code:

public void xyz(string json)
{
    JObject j = JObject.Parse(json);
    string name = (string)j.SelectToken("Products[0].Name");
    //...
}

The good thing: it is “normal” json which means it is not some uncommon format or interface-type.

EDIT: I found out that I don’t even need the C# json-library if I am using .net 4 – since I can convert any json string to a Dictionary with the help of the JavaScriptSerializer:

JavaScriptSerializer jss = new JavaScriptSerializer();
Dictionary<string, object> data = (Dictionary<string, object>) jss.Deserialize<dynamic>(json_string);