How Can I Serialize Both a List and Derived Class Members Using Json.NET?

Customizing Json.NET Serialization for Derived List Classes

Introduction

When extending a class derived from List, it can be challenging to handle both the serialization of the list and the additional members in the derived class. By default, Json.Net treats IEnumerable implementations as arrays and serializes only the list when deserializing.

Approaches to Serializing Both List and Derived Class Members

There are two main approaches to address this issue:

Public Property Exposure

One option is to create a public property in the derived class that exposes the list. By doing so, Json.Net will recognize the property and serialize both it and the derived class members. However, this approach can introduce unnecessary complexity if the list should only be accessible internally.

Custom JsonConverter

Alternatively, a custom JsonConverter can be implemented to control the serialization process. This allows for more flexibility in defining the desired serialization behavior. Here's an example of a converter for PagedResult:

public class PagedResultConverter<T> : JsonConverter
{
    // ... Implementation ...
}

Within the converter, you can control the serialization and deserialization of the list and the derived class members independently.

Usage of Custom JsonConverter

To use the custom converter, it must be included in the JsonSerializerSettings:

JsonSerializerSettings settings = new JsonSerializerSettings();
settings.Converters.Add(new PagedResultConverter<string>());
settings.Formatting = Formatting.Indented;

Example Output Using Custom Converter

With the custom converter in place, the following JSON output will be generated when serializing PagedResult:

{
  "PageSize": 10,
  "PageIndex": 0,
  "TotalItems": 3,
  "TotalPages": 1,
  "Items": [
    "foo",
    "bar",
    "baz"
  ]
}

This approach allows for greater control over the serialization process and resolves the issue of serializing both the list and the derived class members effectively.

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