How can I convert a javascript array to json format to serve as the response from a REST api

Question

I am trying to figure out how to take an array of arrays and convert it to a json string to return via a REST api.

My server gets records from a database. Each record is in the form:

    {"user":"some name","age":number}

I need to return the data in json format so that the REST specification is valid. Sometimes I get a single record to return other times I get multiple records. Below is a sample script I am using to test the syntax for converting into json format.

var resultSet = [];
resultSet.push({"user":"John Doe","age":43});
resultSet.push({"user":"Jane doe","age":29});
var myJson = JSON.parse(resultSet);

When I run this code using nodejs I get the following error:

SyntaxError: Unexpected token o in JSON at position 1
    at JSON.parse (<anonymous>)

Any suggestions would be very appreciated.

resultSet is not JSON. Please be aware that a JS object/array is not JSON. — evolutionxbox
– evolutionxbox, Commented Mar 31, 2021 at 0:26

srk · Accepted Answer · 2021-03-30 23:56:15Z

1

JSON.parse expects a string. You are passing an Array.

This works because the input is a string:

JSON.parse('[{"foo": "bar"}]')

This doesn't work because the input is an Array:

JSON.parse([{"foo": "bar"}])

Are you trying to return an Array or a string? If you are trying to return a string, then you should use JSON.stringify like this:

JSON.stringify([{"foo": "bar"}])

edited Mar 30, 2021 at 23:56

answered Mar 30, 2021 at 23:51

srk

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