How to use JSON schema validation against JSON document having arrays? - json

Question

I have json document which contains three main elements along with sub elements. These elements also have arrays. I validated this document with json schema but I am not sure if there is any simple way to get rid of repeating schema for arrays as the current schema is too long.
JSON Schema:
{
"$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-04/schema#",
"id": "/",
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"book": {
"id": "book",
"type": "array",
"items": [
{
"id": "0",
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"isbn": {
"id": "isbn",
"type": "string"
},
"title": {
"id": "title",
"type": "string"
},
"price": {
"id": "price",
"type": "string"
},
"categories": {
"id": "categories",
"type": "array",
"items": [
{
"id": "0",
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"category": {
"id": "category",
"type": "string"
}
}
},
{
"id": "1",
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"category": {
"id": "category",
"type": "string"
}
}
},
{
"id": "2",
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"category": {
"id": "category",
"type": "string"
}
}
}
]
},
"warehouse": {
"id": "warehouse",
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"location": {
"id": "location",
"type": "string"
},
"aisle": {
"id": "aisle",
"type": "string"
},
"shelf": {
"id": "shelf",
"type": "string"
}
}
}
},
"required": [
"isbn",
"title",
"price",
"categories",
"category",
"warehouse"
]
},
{
"id": "1",
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"isbn": {
"id": "isbn",
"type": "string"
},
"title": {
"id": "title",
"type": "string"
},
"price": {
"id": "price",
"type": "string"
},
"categories": {
"id": "categories",
"type": "array",
"items": [
{
"id": "0",
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"category": {
"id": "category",
"type": "string"
}
}
},
{
"id": "1",
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"category": {
"id": "category",
"type": "string"
}
}
},
{
"id": "2",
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"category": {
"id": "category",
"type": "string"
}
}
}
]
},
"warehouse": {
"id": "warehouse",
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"location": {
"id": "location",
"type": "string"
},
"aisle": {
"id": "aisle",
"type": "string"
},
"shelf": {
"id": "shelf",
"type": "string"
}
}
}
}
},
{
"id": "2",
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"isbn": {
"id": "isbn",
"type": "string"
},
"title": {
"id": "title",
"type": "string"
},
"price": {
"id": "price",
"type": "string"
},
"categories": {
"id": "categories",
"type": "array",
"items": [
{
"id": "0",
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"category": {
"id": "category",
"type": "string"
}
}
},
{
"id": "1",
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"category": {
"id": "category",
"type": "string"
}
}
},
{
"id": "2",
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"category": {
"id": "category",
"type": "string"
}
}
}
]
},
"warehouse": {
"id": "warehouse",
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"location": {
"id": "location",
"type": "string"
},
"aisle": {
"id": "aisle",
"type": "string"
},
"shelf": {
"id": "shelf",
"type": "string"
}
}
}
}
}
],
"required": [
"0",
"1",
"2"
]
}
},
"required": [
"book"
]
}
And JSON document:
{
"book":[
{
"isbn":"0-672-33751-7",
"title":"Unity Game Development",
"price":"$55.99",
"categories":[
{
"category":"Game Development"
},
{
"category":"Unit Game Engine"
},
{
"category":"Beginner to Intermediate"
}
],
"warehouse":{
"location":"North Warehouse",
"aisle":"A16",
"shelf":"3"
}
},
{
"isbn":"978-0-9871530-7-4",
"title":"Jquery: Novice to Ninja",
"price":"$39.95",
"categories":[
{
"category":"JavaScript"
},
{
"category":"jQuery"
},
{
"category":"Web Development"
}
],
"warehouse":{
"location":"North Warehouse",
"aisle":"W03",
"shelf":"6"
}
},
{
"isbn":"0-538-74477-4",
"title":"Programming Logic and Design",
"price":"$89.99",
"categories":[
{
"category":"Programming"
},
{
"category":"JavaScript"
},
{
"category":"Computer Logic"
}
],
"warehouse":{
"location":"South Warehouse",
"aisle":"B44",
"shelf":"1"
}
}
]
}

Answer 1

You've got a lot of issues with this schema. I suggest you read http://spacetelescope.github.io/understanding-json-schema/ to get a better understanding of JSON Schema. Below is the corrected schema. I'll give some brief advice, but not a lot of explanation. Go read that link for more info.
id is required to be a absolute URL. "/" is not valid
Don't use id anywhere other than the root of the document. It has some unexpected properties. It's best to just avoid it.
The items keyword should be a schema not an array of schemas. The form you are using is not intended for arrays with a single type of item.
The required keyword applies only to properties in the schema it appears in. Sub-schemas need to define their own required properties.
The required keyword does not work on arrays. Use minItems and maxItems instead.
{
"$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-04/schema#",
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"book": {
"type": "array",
"items": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"isbn": { "type": "string" },
"title": { "type": "string" },
"price": { "type": "string" },
"categories": {
"type": "array",
"items": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"category": { "type": "string" }
},
"required": ["category"]
}
},
"warehouse": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"location": { "type": "string" },
"aisle": { "type": "string" },
"shelf": { "type": "string" }
}
}
},
"required": [
"isbn", "title", "price", "categories", "warehouse"
]
}
}
},
"required": ["book"]
}