Reading in a JSON File Using Swift - json

Question

I'm really struggling with trying to read a JSON file into Swift so I can play around with it. I've spent the best part of 2 days re-searching and trying different methods but no luck as of yet so I have signed up to StackOverFlow to see if anyone can point me in the right direction.....
My JSON file is called test.json and contains the following:
{
"person":[
{
"name": "Bob",
"age": "16",
"employed": "No"
},
{
"name": "Vinny",
"age": "56",
"employed": "Yes"
}
]
}
The file is stored in the documents directly and I access it using the following code:
let file = "test.json"
let dirs : String[] = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(
NSSearchpathDirectory.DocumentDirectory,
NSSearchPathDomainMask.AllDomainMask,
true) as String[]
if (dirs != nil) {
let directories: String[] = dirs
let dir = directories[0]
let path = dir.stringByAppendingPathComponent(file)
}
var jsonData = NSData(contentsOfFile:path, options: nil, error: nil)
println("jsonData \(jsonData)" // This prints what looks to be JSON encoded data.
var jsonDict = NSJSONSerialization.JSONObjectWithData(jsonData, options: nil, error: nil) as? NSDictionary
println("jsonDict \(jsonDict)") - This prints nil.....
If anyone can just give me a push in the right direction on how I can de-serialize the JSON file and put it in an accessible Swift object I will be eternally grateful!
Kind Regards,
Krivvenz.

Answer 1

Follow the below code :
if let path = NSBundle.mainBundle().pathForResource("test", ofType: "json")
{
if let jsonData = NSData(contentsOfFile: path, options: .DataReadingMappedIfSafe, error: nil)
{
if let jsonResult: NSDictionary = NSJSONSerialization.JSONObjectWithData(jsonData, options: NSJSONReadingOptions.MutableContainers, error: nil) as? NSDictionary
{
if let persons : NSArray = jsonResult["person"] as? NSArray
{
// Do stuff
}
}
}
}
The array "persons" will contain all data for key person. Iterate throughs to fetch it.
Swift 4.0:
if let path = Bundle.main.path(forResource: "test", ofType: "json") {
do {
let data = try Data(contentsOf: URL(fileURLWithPath: path), options: .mappedIfSafe)
let jsonResult = try JSONSerialization.jsonObject(with: data, options: .mutableLeaves)
if let jsonResult = jsonResult as? Dictionary<String, AnyObject>, let person = jsonResult["person"] as? [Any] {
// do stuff
}
} catch {
// handle error
}
}

Answer 2

Swift 4.x and 5.x using Decodable
struct ResponseData: Decodable {
var person: [Person]
}
struct Person : Decodable {
var name: String
var age: String
var employed: String
}
func loadJson(filename fileName: String) -> [Person]? {
if let url = Bundle.main.url(forResource: fileName, withExtension: "json") {
do {
let data = try Data(contentsOf: url)
let decoder = JSONDecoder()
let jsonData = try decoder.decode(ResponseData.self, from: data)
return jsonData.person
} catch {
print("error:\(error)")
}
}
return nil
}
Swift 3
func loadJson(filename fileName: String) -> [String: AnyObject]? {
if let url = Bundle.main.url(forResource: fileName, withExtension: "json") {
do {
let data = try Data(contentsOf: url)
let object = try JSONSerialization.jsonObject(with: data, options: .allowFragments)
if let dictionary = object as? [String: AnyObject] {
return dictionary
}
} catch {
print("Error!! Unable to parse \(fileName).json")
}
}
return nil
}

Answer 3

If anyone is looking for SwiftyJSON Answer:
Update:
For Swift 3/4:
if let path = Bundle.main.path(forResource: "assets/test", ofType: "json") {
do {
let data = try Data(contentsOf: URL(fileURLWithPath: path), options: .alwaysMapped)
let jsonObj = try JSON(data: data)
print("jsonData:\(jsonObj)")
} catch let error {
print("parse error: \(error.localizedDescription)")
}
} else {
print("Invalid filename/path.")
}

Answer 4

Swift 5.1, Xcode 11
You can use this:
struct Person : Codable {
let name: String
let lastName: String
let age: Int
}
func loadJson(fileName: String) -> Person? {
let decoder = JSONDecoder()
guard
let url = Bundle.main.url(forResource: fileName, withExtension: "json"),
let data = try? Data(contentsOf: url),
let person = try? decoder.decode(Person.self, from: data)
else {
return nil
}
return person
}

Answer 5

Xcode 8 Swift 3 read json from file update:
if let path = Bundle.main.path(forResource: "userDatabseFakeData", ofType: "json") {
do {
let jsonData = try NSData(contentsOfFile: path, options: NSData.ReadingOptions.mappedIfSafe)
do {
let jsonResult: NSDictionary = try JSONSerialization.jsonObject(with: jsonData as Data, options: JSONSerialization.ReadingOptions.mutableContainers) as! NSDictionary
if let people : [NSDictionary] = jsonResult["person"] as? [NSDictionary] {
for person: NSDictionary in people {
for (name,value) in person {
print("\(name) , \(value)")
}
}
}
} catch {}
} catch {}
}

Answer 6

Simplifying the example provided by Peter Kreinz. Works with Swift 4.2.
The extension function:
extension Decodable {
static func parse(jsonFile: String) -> Self? {
guard let url = Bundle.main.url(forResource: jsonFile, withExtension: "json"),
let data = try? Data(contentsOf: url),
let output = try? JSONDecoder().decode(self, from: data)
else {
return nil
}
return output
}
}
The example model:
struct Service: Decodable {
let name: String
}
The example usage:
/// service.json
/// { "name": "Home & Garden" }
guard let output = Service.parse(jsonFile: "service") else {
// do something if parsing failed
return
}
// use output if all good
The example will work with arrays, too:
/// services.json
/// [ { "name": "Home & Garden" } ]
guard let output = [Service].parse(jsonFile: "services") else {
// do something if parsing failed
return
}
// use output if all good
Notice how we don't provide any unnecessary generics, thus we don't need to cast the result of parse.

Answer 7

Updated names for Swift 3.0
Based on Abhishek's answer and Druva's answer
func loadJson(forFilename fileName: String) -> NSDictionary? {
if let url = Bundle.main.url(forResource: fileName, withExtension: "json") {
if let data = NSData(contentsOf: url) {
do {
let dictionary = try JSONSerialization.jsonObject(with: data as Data, options: .allowFragments) as? NSDictionary
return dictionary
} catch {
print("Error!! Unable to parse \(fileName).json")
}
}
print("Error!! Unable to load \(fileName).json")
}
return nil
}

Answer 8

Swift 2.1 answer (based on Abhishek's) :
if let path = NSBundle.mainBundle().pathForResource("test", ofType: "json") {
do {
let jsonData = try NSData(contentsOfFile: path, options: NSDataReadingOptions.DataReadingMappedIfSafe)
do {
let jsonResult: NSDictionary = try NSJSONSerialization.JSONObjectWithData(jsonData, options: NSJSONReadingOptions.MutableContainers) as! NSDictionary
if let people : [NSDictionary] = jsonResult["person"] as? [NSDictionary] {
for person: NSDictionary in people {
for (name,value) in person {
print("\(name) , \(value)")
}
}
}
} catch {}
} catch {}
}

Answer 9

Swift 3.0, Xcode 8, iOS 10
if let path = Bundle.main.url(forResource: "person", withExtension: "json") {
do {
let jsonData = try Data(contentsOf: path, options: .mappedIfSafe)
do {
if let jsonResult = try JSONSerialization.jsonObject(with: jsonData, options: JSONSerialization.ReadingOptions(rawValue: 0)) as? NSDictionary {
if let personArray = jsonResult.value(forKey: "person") as? NSArray {
for (_, element) in personArray.enumerated() {
if let element = element as? NSDictionary {
let name = element.value(forKey: "name") as! String
let age = element.value(forKey: "age") as! String
let employed = element.value(forKey: "employed") as! String
print("Name: \(name), age: \(age), employed: \(employed)")
}
}
}
}
} catch let error as NSError {
print("Error: \(error)")
}
} catch let error as NSError {
print("Error: \(error)")
}
}
Output:
Name: Bob, age: 16, employed: No
Name: Vinny, age: 56, employed: Yes

Answer 10

This worked great with me
func readjson(fileName: String) -> NSData{
let path = NSBundle.mainBundle().pathForResource(fileName, ofType: "json")
let jsonData = NSData(contentsOfMappedFile: path!)
return jsonData!
}

Answer 11

Here is my solution using SwiftyJSON
if let path : String = NSBundle.mainBundle().pathForResource("filename", ofType: "json") {
if let data = NSData(contentsOfFile: path) {
let json = JSON(data: data)
}
}

Answer 12

fileprivate class BundleTargetingClass {}
func loadJSON<T>(name: String) -> T? {
guard let filePath = Bundle(for: BundleTargetingClass.self).url(forResource: name, withExtension: "json") else {
return nil
}
guard let jsonData = try? Data(contentsOf: filePath, options: .mappedIfSafe) else {
return nil
}
guard let json = try? JSONSerialization.jsonObject(with: jsonData, options: .allowFragments) else {
return nil
}
return json as? T
}
👆🏻 copy-paste ready, 3rd party framework independent solution.
usage 👇🏻
let json:[[String : AnyObject]] = loadJSON(name: "Stations")!

Answer 13

Swift 4: Try out my solution:
test.json
{
"person":[
{
"name": "Bob",
"age": "16",
"employed": "No"
},
{
"name": "Vinny",
"age": "56",
"employed": "Yes"
}
]
}
RequestCodable.swift
import Foundation
struct RequestCodable:Codable {
let person:[PersonCodable]
}
PersonCodable.swift
import Foundation
struct PersonCodable:Codable {
let name:String
let age:String
let employed:String
}
Decodable+FromJSON.swift
import Foundation
extension Decodable {
static func fromJSON<T:Decodable>(_ fileName: String, fileExtension: String="json", bundle: Bundle = .main) throws -> T {
guard let url = bundle.url(forResource: fileName, withExtension: fileExtension) else {
throw NSError(domain: NSURLErrorDomain, code: NSURLErrorResourceUnavailable)
}
let data = try Data(contentsOf: url)
return try JSONDecoder().decode(T.self, from: data)
}
}
Example:
let result = RequestCodable.fromJSON("test") as RequestCodable?
result?.person.compactMap({ print($0) })
/*
PersonCodable(name: "Bob", age: "16", employed: "No")
PersonCodable(name: "Vinny", age: "56", employed: "Yes")
*/

Answer 14

Use this generic function
func readJSONFromFile<T: Decodable>(fileName: String, type: T.Type) -> T? {
if let url = Bundle.main.url(forResource: fileName, withExtension: "json") {
do {
let data = try Data(contentsOf: url)
let decoder = JSONDecoder()
let jsonData = try decoder.decode(T.self, from: data)
return jsonData
} catch {
print("error:\(error)")
}
}
return nil
}
with this line of code:
let model = readJSONFromFile(fileName: "Model", type: Model.self)
for this type:
struct Model: Codable {
let tall: Int
}

Answer 15

I'm providing another answer because none of the ones here are geared toward loading the resource from the test bundle. If you are consuming a remote service that puts out JSON and want to unit test parsing the results without hitting the actual service, you take one or more responses and put them into files in the Tests folder in your project.
func testCanReadTestJSONFile() {
let path = NSBundle(forClass: ForecastIOAdapterTests.self).pathForResource("ForecastIOSample", ofType: "json")
if let jsonData = NSData(contentsOfFile:path!) {
let json = JSON(data: jsonData)
if let currentTemperature = json["currently"]["temperature"].double {
println("json: \(json)")
XCTAssertGreaterThan(currentTemperature, 0)
}
}
}
This also uses SwiftyJSON but the core logic of getting the test bundle and loading the file is the answer to the question.

Answer 16

The following code works for me. I am using Swift 5
let path = Bundle.main.path(forResource: "yourJSONfileName", ofType: "json")
var jsonData = try! String(contentsOfFile: path!).data(using: .utf8)!
Then, if your Person Struct (or Class) is Decodable (and also all of its properties), you can simply do:
let person = try! JSONDecoder().decode(Person.self, from: jsonData)
I avoided all the error handling code to make the code more legible.

Answer 17

Updated for Swift 3 with safest way
private func readLocalJsonFile() {
if let urlPath = Bundle.main.url(forResource: "test", withExtension: "json") {
do {
let jsonData = try Data(contentsOf: urlPath, options: .mappedIfSafe)
if let jsonDict = try JSONSerialization.jsonObject(with: jsonData, options: .mutableContainers) as? [String: AnyObject] {
if let personArray = jsonDict["person"] as? [[String: AnyObject]] {
for personDict in personArray {
for (key, value) in personDict {
print(key, value)
}
print("\n")
}
}
}
}
catch let jsonError {
print(jsonError)
}
}
}

Answer 18

Latest swift 3.0 absolutely working
func loadJson(filename fileName: String) -> [String: AnyObject]?
{
if let url = Bundle.main.url(forResource: fileName, withExtension: "json")
{
if let data = NSData(contentsOf: url) {
do {
let object = try JSONSerialization.jsonObject(with: data as Data, options: .allowFragments)
if let dictionary = object as? [String: AnyObject] {
return dictionary
}
} catch {
print("Error!! Unable to parse \(fileName).json")
}
}
print("Error!! Unable to load \(fileName).json")
}
return nil
}

Answer 19

Swift 4 JSON to Class with Decodable - for those who prefer classes
Define the classes as follows:
class People: Decodable {
var person: [Person]?
init(fileName : String){
// url, data and jsonData should not be nil
guard let url = Bundle.main.url(forResource: fileName, withExtension: "json") else { return }
guard let data = try? Data(contentsOf: url) else { return }
guard let jsonData = try? JSONDecoder().decode(People.self, from: data) else { return }
// assigns the value to [person]
person = jsonData.person
}
}
class Person : Decodable {
var name: String
var age: String
var employed: String
}
Usage, pretty abstract:
let people = People(fileName: "people")
let personArray = people.person
This allow methods for both People and Person classes, variables (attributes) and methods can also marked as private if needed.

Answer 20

Swift 5+
Decoding the jsonData with your Struct
if let jsonData = readFile(forName: <your file name>) {
do {
let decodedData = try JSONDecoder().decode(<your struct name>.self, from: jsonData)
return decodedData.<what you expect>
} catch { print("JSON decode error") }
}
This will read the file and return jsonData
In case you are actually in another bundle (test for instance), use:
let bundlePath = Bundle(for: type(of: self)).path(forResource: name, ofType: "json")
private func readFile(forName name: String) -> Data? {
do {
if let bundlePath = Bundle.main.path(forResource: name, ofType: "json"),
let jsonData = try String(contentsOfFile: bundlePath).data(using: .utf8) {
return jsonData
}
} catch {
print(error)
}
return nil
}

Answer 21

I wasted my time in locating file which was located in my project with name Jsondata.json. But I weren't able to locate my File through code....
Solution: Make sure that your Jsondata.json file is added in Project> Build Phases> Copy Bundle Resources. Otherwise you wont be able to get file and Bundle.main.url(forResource: fileName, withExtension: "json") will give you nil always.

Answer 22

One more answer here???
Ok. Hold on! All of the answers before were about using JSONSerialization, or returns nil, or ignores errors.
What is the different
"My solution" (is is not really my, this is a mix of the solutions above) contains:
Modern way to return values: Result<Value,Error> (returns Value or Error)
Avoids nil usage
Contains a slightly verbose error
Uses extension to have pretty/intuitive interface: Model.from(localJSON: "myJsonFile")
Gives possibility to select bundle
Details
Xcode 14
Swift 5.6.1
Solution 1. JSON file -> Decodable
enum JSONParseError: Error {
case fileNotFound
case dataInitialisation(error: Error)
case decoding(error: Error)
}
extension Decodable {
static func from(localJSON filename: String,
bundle: Bundle = .main) -> Result<Self, JSONParseError> {
guard let url = bundle.url(forResource: filename, withExtension: "json") else {
return .failure(.fileNotFound)
}
let data: Data
do {
data = try Data(contentsOf: url)
} catch let error {
return .failure(.dataInitialisation(error: error))
}
do {
return .success(try JSONDecoder().decode(self, from: data))
} catch let error {
return .failure(.decoding(error: error))
}
}
}
Solution 1 Usage
struct Model: Decodable {
let uuid: String
let name: String
}
switch Model.from(localJSON: "myjsonfile") {
case .success(let value):
print(value)
case .failure(let error):
print(error)
}
Solution 2. JSON file -> Dictionary
extension Dictionary where Key == String, Value == Any {
enum JSONParseError: Error {
case fileNotFound(filename: String)
case dataInitialisation(Error)
case jsonSerialization(Error)
case mappingFail(value: Any, toType: Any)
}
static func from(JSONfile url: URL) -> Result<Self, JSONParseError> {
let data: Data
do {
data = try Data(contentsOf: url)
} catch let error {
return .failure(.dataInitialisation(error))
}
let jsonObject: Any
do {
jsonObject = try JSONSerialization.jsonObject(with: data, options: .mutableLeaves)
} catch let error {
return .failure(.jsonSerialization(error))
}
guard let jsonResult = jsonObject as? Self else {
return .failure(.mappingFail(value: jsonObject, toType: Self.Type.self))
}
return .success(jsonResult)
}
static func from(localJSONfile name: String) -> Result<Self, JSONParseError> {
let fileType = "json"
let fullFileName = name + (name.contains(fileType) ? "" : ".\(fileType)")
guard let path = Bundle.main.path(forResource: fullFileName, ofType: "") else {
return .failure(.fileNotFound(filename: fullFileName))
}
return from(JSONfile: URL(fileURLWithPath: path))
}
}
Solution 2 Usage
switch [String: Any].from(localJSONfile: "file.json") {
// OR switch [String: Any].from(localJSONfile: "file.json") {
// OR switch [String: Any].from(JSONfile: url) {
case let .success(dictionary):
print(dictionary)
case let .failure(error):
print("ERROR: \(error)")
}

Answer 23

Based on Abhishek's answer, for iOS 8 this would be:
let masterDataUrl: NSURL = NSBundle.mainBundle().URLForResource("masterdata", withExtension: "json")!
let jsonData: NSData = NSData(contentsOfURL: masterDataUrl)!
let jsonResult: NSDictionary = NSJSONSerialization.JSONObjectWithData(jsonData, options: nil, error: nil) as! NSDictionary
var persons : NSArray = jsonResult["person"] as! NSArray

Answer 24

This worked for me with XCode 8.3.3
func fetchPersons(){
if let pathURL = Bundle.main.url(forResource: "Person", withExtension: "json"){
do {
let jsonData = try Data(contentsOf: pathURL, options: .mappedIfSafe)
let jsonResult = try JSONSerialization.jsonObject(with: jsonData, options: .mutableContainers) as! [String: Any]
if let persons = jsonResult["person"] as? [Any]{
print(persons)
}
}catch(let error){
print (error.localizedDescription)
}
}
}

Answer 25

Swift 4.1 Updated Xcode 9.2
if let filePath = Bundle.main.path(forResource: "fileName", ofType: "json"), let data = NSData(contentsOfFile: filePath) {
do {
let json = try JSONSerialization.jsonObject(with: data as Data, options: JSONSerialization.ReadingOptions.allowFragments)
}
catch {
//Handle error
}
}

Answer 26

//change type based on your struct and right JSON file
let quoteData: [DataType] =
load("file.json")
func load<T: Decodable>(_ filename: String, as type: T.Type = T.self) -> T {
let data: Data
guard let file = Bundle.main.url(forResource: filename, withExtension: nil)
else {
fatalError("Couldn't find \(filename) in main bundle.")
}
do {
data = try Data(contentsOf: file)
} catch {
fatalError("Couldn't load \(filename) from main bundle:\n\(error)")
}
do {
let decoder = JSONDecoder()
return try decoder.decode(T.self, from: data)
} catch {
fatalError("Couldn't parse \(filename) as \(T.self):\n\(error)")
}
}

Answer 27

Swift 5 answer worked for me, except that is missing that i must add a empty file, rename it as xxx.json after it works, and using generics.
func loadJson<T:Codable>(filename fileName: String) -> T? {
if let url = Bundle.main.url(forResource: fileName, withExtension: "json") {
do {
let data = try Data(contentsOf: url)
let decoder = JSONDecoder()
return try decoder.decode(T.self, from: data)
} catch {
print("error:\(error)")
}
}
return nil
}
code

Answer 28

I’ve used below code to fetch JSON from FAQ-data.json file present in project directory .
I’m implementing in Xcode 7.3 using Swift.
func fetchJSONContent() {
if let path = NSBundle.mainBundle().pathForResource("FAQ-data", ofType: "json") {
if let jsonData = NSData(contentsOfFile: path) {
do {
if let jsonResult: NSDictionary = try NSJSONSerialization.JSONObjectWithData(jsonData, options: NSJSONReadingOptions.MutableContainers) as? NSDictionary {
if let responseParameter : NSDictionary = jsonResult["responseParameter"] as? NSDictionary {
if let response : NSArray = responseParameter["FAQ"] as? NSArray {
responseFAQ = response
print("response FAQ : \(response)")
}
}
}
}
catch { print("Error while parsing: \(error)") }
}
}
}
override func viewWillAppear(animated: Bool) {
fetchFAQContent()
}
Structure of JSON file :
{
"status": "00",
"msg": "FAQ List ",
"responseParameter": {
"FAQ": [
{
"question": “Question No.1 here”,
"answer": “Answer goes here”,
"id": 1
},
{
"question": “Question No.2 here”,
"answer": “Answer goes here”,
"id": 2
}
. . .
]
}
}

Answer 29

I might also recommend Ray Wenderlich's Swift JSON Tutorial (which also covers the awesome SwiftyJSON alternative, Gloss). An excerpt (which granted, by itself, does not fully answer the poster, but the added value of this answer is the link, so no -1's for that, please):
In Objective-C, parsing and deserializing JSON is fairly straightforward:
NSArray *json = [NSJSONSerialization JSONObjectWithData:JSONData
options:kNilOptions error:nil];
NSString *age = json[0][#"person"][#"age"];
NSLog(#"Dani's age is %#", age);
In Swift, parsing and deserializing JSON is a little more tedious due to Swift optionals and type-safety [but as] part of Swift 2.0 the guard statement was introduced to help get rid of nested if statements:
var json: Array!
do {
json = try NSJSONSerialization.JSONObjectWithData(JSONData, options: NSJSONReadingOptions()) as? Array
} catch {
print(error)
}
guard let item = json[0] as? [String: AnyObject],
let person = item["person"] as? [String: AnyObject],
let age = person["age"] as? Int else {
return;
}
print("Dani's age is \(age)")
Of course, in XCode 8.x, you just double-tap the space bar and say "Hey, Siri, please deserialize this JSON for me in Swift 3.0 with space/tab-indents."

Answer 30

SWIFTYJSON VERSION SWIFT 3
func loadJson(fileName: String) -> JSON {
var dataPath:JSON!
if let path : String = Bundle.main.path(forResource: fileName, ofType: "json") {
if let data = NSData(contentsOfFile: path) {
dataPath = JSON(data: data as Data)
}
}
return dataPath
}