How Can I Handle Ambiguous Boolean Values (0/1, true/false) When Unmarshalling JSON?

Handling Ambiguous Boolean Values in JSON with Unmarshalling

When mapping the output of a service that inconsistently represents boolean values as 0 and false (or 1 and true), it becomes necessary to adopt a more permissive approach during unmarshalling. While adding ,string to JSON tags may not suffice, there are alternative solutions available.

Implementing a Custom Type

A solution is to define a custom type, such as ConvertibleBoolean, to handle the ambiguous boolean values. This type includes an UnmarshalJSON method that converts the input data into a boolean value based on the specified conventions.

type ConvertibleBoolean bool

func (bit *ConvertibleBoolean) UnmarshalJSON(data []byte) error {
    asString := string(data)
    if asString == "1" || asString == "true" {
        *bit = true
    } else if asString == "0" || asString == "false" {
        *bit = false
    } else {
        return errors.New(fmt.Sprintf("Boolean unmarshal error: invalid input %s", asString))
    }
    return nil
}

This custom type ensures that input values like "1" and "0" are interpreted as boolean values, allowing for parsing without errors.

Pointer Method Receiver

It is important to note that in order for the custom UnmarshalJSON method to function correctly, it must be implemented as a pointer method receiver. This is because pointers allow for modifications to the underlying value.

By utilizing this approach, you can effectively unmarshal ambiguous boolean values from JSON data, ensuring that the resulting struct contains the expected values despite the inconsistencies in the input data.

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