Create JSON object from c# class

Question

I have a view model which looks like so:

public class CategoriesJsonViewModel
{
    public int Id { get; set; }
    public string Title { get; set; }
    public List<Description> UsedDescriptions { get; set; }
    public List<Description> UnusedDescriptions { get; set; }
}

I am creating a List of CategoriesJsonViewModel in my controller and trying to send it to the client browser in Json format. I use Json() method to do that:

List<CategoriesJsonViewModel> categoriesVM = new List<CategoriesJsonViewModel>();
List<Category> categories = repo.GetAllCategories();
foreach(var i in categories)
{
            CategoriesJsonViewModel categoryVM = new CategoriesJsonViewModel();
            categoryVM.Id = i.Id;
            categoryVM.Title = i.Title;
            categoriesVM.Add(categoryVM);
            categoryVM.UsedDescriptions = repo.GetUsedDescriptions(i.Id);
            categoryVM.UnusedDescriptions = repo.GetUnusedDescriptions(i.Id);
 }


 return Json(categoriesVM);

Although the categoriesVM object is being built properly, I do not get appropriate Json object from it for some reason. Why is it so?

Answer 1

I suggest you get the outputted json and put into jsonlint.com

That'll help you find out what is causing the json to be invalid. It may be something to do with your definition of the Description object as your CategoriesJsonViewModel looks like it should be ok.