How to access an array in a JSON object?

Question

I have the following JSON object:

[
    {
        "comments": [
            {
                "created_at": "2011-02-09T14:42:42-08:00",
                "thumb": "xxxxxxx",
                "level": 1,
                "id": 214,
                "user_id": 41,
                "parent_id": 213,
                "content": "<p>xxxxxx</p>",
                "full_name": "xx K"
            },
            {
                "created_at": "2011-02-09T14:41:23-08:00",
                "thumb": "xxxxxxxxxxxxx",
                "level": 0,
                "id": 213,
                "user_id": 19,
                "parent_id": null,
                "content": "<p>this is another test</p>",
                "full_name": "asd asd asd asd asd"
            }
        ],
        "eee1": "asdadsdas",
        "eee2": "bbbbb"
    }
]

This is coming from a $.ajax request, in success I have....

success: function (dataJS) {
    console.log(dataJS);
    console.log(dataJS[eee1]);
    console.log(dataJS.comments);
}

Problem is I can't get access to the items in the JSON object, even though dataJS does show correctly in the console. Ideas?

Have you checked that the Content-Type of the response headers really are application/json? — jimmystormig
– jimmystormig, Commented Mar 2, 2011 at 21:22
@Anapprentice Could you please respond to the thread with the correct answer? — Vijendran Selvarajah
– Vijendran Selvarajah, Commented Apr 14, 2019 at 15:11

A-Sharabiani · Accepted Answer · 2017-12-27 17:58:37Z

19

That's because your base object is an array as well.

console.log(dataJS[0].comments[0]);

I suspect that would work

edited Dec 27, 2017 at 17:58

A-Sharabiani

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answered Mar 2, 2011 at 21:21

Darko

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Comments

jondavidjohn · Accepted Answer · 2011-03-02 21:20:13Z

6

the JSON you have coming back is actually an array itself, so...

dataJS[0].comments[0].created_at

will be 2011-02-09T14:42:42-08:00, etc...

Both dataJS and comments are arrays, and need indexes to access the appropriate elements.

answered Mar 2, 2011 at 21:20

jondavidjohn

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2 Comments

jondavidjohn Over a year ago

No, it isn't built out of spec so no it's not 'incorrect', but what syntax are you wanting to use to access it?

AnApprentice Over a year ago

ok that's all I needed to know. Thank you! I will accept once stackoverflow lets me...

Brian Driscoll · Accepted Answer · 2011-03-02 21:20:45Z

3

The object being returned is itself an array, so to get to the first comment (as an example), this is how you would access it:

dataJS[0].comments[0]

answered Mar 2, 2011 at 21:20

Brian Driscoll

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Comments

Detect · Accepted Answer · 2011-03-02 21:22:50Z

3

console.log(dataJS);
console.log(dataJS[0].eee1);
console.log(dataJS[0].comments[0]);

answered Mar 2, 2011 at 21:22

Detect

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Comments

limc · Accepted Answer · 2011-03-02 21:24:40Z

2

Do something like this:-

var dataJS = [{"comments":[{"created_at":"2011-02-09T14:42:42-08:00","thumb":"xxxxxxx","level":1,"id":214,"user_id":41,"parent_id":213,"content":"<p>xxxxxx</p>","full_name":"xx K"},{"created_at":"2011-02-09T14:41:23-08:00","thumb":"xxxxxxxxxxxxx","level":0,"id":213,"user_id":19,"parent_id":null,"content":"<p>this is another test</p>","full_name":"asd asd asd asd asd"}],"eee1":"asdadsdas","eee2":"bbbbb"}];

var created_at = dataJS[0].comments[0].created_at;

answered Mar 2, 2011 at 21:24

limc

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Comments

Ryan Miller · Accepted Answer · 2011-03-02 21:27:27Z

1

Yes, as others have stated, the JSON is actually an Array (of a single Object). So you will need to reference an index.

Interestingly enough (to me), your result string does validate successfully as JSON. I assumed until now, that to be valid JSON, it had to be an Object (ie, {}).

answered Mar 2, 2011 at 21:27

Ryan Miller

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Comments

vbence · Accepted Answer · 2011-03-02 21:43:49Z

-3

JSON must be interpreted with eval function (after the obvious sanitization, see security considerations of eval). Are you sure your framework does that for you?

edited Mar 2, 2011 at 21:43

answered Mar 2, 2011 at 21:21

vbence

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12 Comments

BoltClock Over a year ago

Yes, jQuery evaluates the JSON.

jondavidjohn Over a year ago

implied by $.ajax and the jquery tag

vbence Over a year ago

I guessed $.ajax can be any framework, like $ is used generally by most of them $.ajax is a pretty basic combination, so it was not clear.

vbence Over a year ago

@Brian: Most of the time i agree, but parsing without it is just a waste of resources. - And the server is a trusted source, your JS code comes from there anyway.

user113716 Over a year ago

@Brian: The json2 library uses eval. github.com/douglascrockford/JSON-js/blob/master/json2.js#L466

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