How to convert an array expressed in string form to actual array

Question

I have an array that is in string form

"[{"img_type":"HA","img_size":0,"img_name":"8a040ff1-e780-4843-9f01-6dc37e11f3c8"},{"img_type":"HB","img_size":0,"img_name":"8a040ff1-e780-4843-9f01-6dc37e11f3c8"}]"

I need to convert that to

[
  {"img_type": "HA", "img_size": 0, "img_name": "8a040ff1-e780-4843-9f01-6dc37e11f3c8"}, 
  {"img_type": "HB", "img_size": 0, "img_name": "8a040ff1-e780-4843-9f01-6dc37e11f3c8"}
]

I tried removing double quotes, but it didn't work. How can I convert this to an array?

Start by replacing the surrounding double quotes with single quotes. — Cary Swoveland
– Cary Swoveland, Commented Jul 27, 2018 at 5:36
@uzaif WUT? please never ever suggest such a weird stupid solutions for what can be done properly. — Aleksei Matiushkin
– Aleksei Matiushkin, Commented Jul 27, 2018 at 5:39
@mudasobwa, after posting I noticed that the OP wants the keys to be symbols rather than strings. I fixed it and undeleted. — Cary Swoveland
– Cary Swoveland, Commented Jul 27, 2018 at 5:45
you can do something like JSON.parse(str).map(&:symbolize_keys) in Rails — Ravi Mariya
– Ravi Mariya, Commented Jul 27, 2018 at 6:13

Cary Swoveland · Accepted Answer · 2018-07-28 07:25:08Z

5

str = '[{"img_type":"HA","img_size":0,"img_name":"8a040ff1-e780-4843-9f01-6dc37e11f3c8"},{"img_type":"HB","img_size":0,"img_name":"8a040ff1-e780-4843-9f01-6dc37e11f3c8"}]'

require 'json'
JSON.parse(str, symbolize_names: true)
  #=> [{:img_type=>"HA", :img_size=>0, :img_name=>"8a040ff1-e780-4843-9f01-6dc37e11f3c8"},
  #    {:img_type=>"HB", :img_size=>0, :img_name=>"8a040ff1-e780-4843-9f01-6dc37e11f3c8"}]

Notice that JSON::parse provides for several optional parameters, one of which (symbolize_names) "returns symbols for the names (keys) in a JSON object. Otherwise strings are returned."

edited Jul 28, 2018 at 7:25

answered Jul 27, 2018 at 5:33

Cary Swoveland

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2 Comments

Aleksei Matiushkin Over a year ago

ruby-doc.org/core-2.5.1/Hash.html#method-i-transform_keys → JSON.parse(str).map { |g| g.transform_keys(&:to_sym) }.

Cary Swoveland Over a year ago

@mudasobwa, since posting I discovered that JSON#parse takes an optional parameter :symbolize_names, which appears to be just what is needed. Thought you might like to know.

Kshitij · Accepted Answer · 2018-07-30 08:26:26Z

-1

Try this,

str = '[{"img_type":"HA","img_size":0,"img_name":"8a040ff1-e780-4843-9f01-6dc37e11f3c8"},{"img_type":"HB","img_size":0,"img_name":"8a040ff1-e780-4843-9f01-6dc37e11f3c8"}]'
array = eval(str)

This may solve your purpose but its nasty to use eval as it brings serious danger of undefined methods and SQL injection.

Prefer JSON.parse(your_string)for this purpose.

edited Jul 30, 2018 at 8:26

answered Jul 27, 2018 at 5:51

Kshitij

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2 Comments

Max Over a year ago

Downvoted because, while it does produce the correct result, it does not mention the serious dangers of using eval.

Kshitij Over a year ago

Thanks @Max, I've added the some drawbacks of using eval.

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