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Often I come across scenarios where we need to deserialise json string to objects and wonder which method is better performing. We have different ways to deserialize in .Net and also .Net has been improving this deserialization. Here is a breif summary of each of the methods
1. System.Text.Json
This is a new library that was introduced in .NET 6. It is designed to be more efficient and easier to use than the previous JSON serialization/deserialization libraries.
Pros
- Efficient and easy to use
- Built-in to .NET 6
Cons
- Not as mature as some of the other libraries
2. JSON.NET library
This is a third-party library that provides a more comprehensive set of features for JSON serialization and deserialization. It is not built-in to the .NET Framework, but it is free and open-source.
Pros
- A more comprehensive set of features than the built-in methods
- Free and open-source
Cons
- Requires an additional library
- It can be more complex to use than the built-in methods
3. DataContractJsonSerializer class
This class is more flexible than the JavaScriptSerializer class, but it requires you to define a data contract for the JSON data. This can be a bit of work, but it can be useful if you need to deserialize JSON data that is not compatible with the JavaScriptSerializer class.
Pros
- More flexible than the JavaScriptSerializer class
- It can be used to deserialize JSON data that is not compatible with the JavaScriptSerializer class
Cons
- Requires you to define a data contract for the JSON data
- It can be slower than the JavaScriptSerializer class
4. JavaScriptSerializer class
This is the simplest way to deserialize JSON. It is built-in to the .NET Framework and does not require any additional libraries. However, it is not as flexible as some of the other methods, and it can be slower for large JSON documents.
Pros
- Simple to use
- Built-in to the .NET Framework
- Does not require any additional libraries
Cons
- It is not as flexible as some of the other methods
- It can be slower for large JSON documents
The best method to use will depend on your specific needs. If you need a simple and easy way to deserialize JSON, then the JavaScriptSerializer class is a good choice. If you need a more flexible solution, then the DataContractJsonSerializer class or the JSON.NET library are good options. If you are using .NET 6 or above, then the System.Text.Json library is a good choice.