How to define JSON schema for object that holds Properties object? - json

Question

I need to create a JSON schema for object that will include java Properties object as one of its properties.
The nested Properties object will be simply list of key=value. Both key and value are of type string.
I failed to find any docs that describe how to define the schema that includes 2 new types.
shall it be something like:
{
"type": "object",
"name": "MyObj",
"properties": {
"prop1": {
"type": "string",
"description": "prop1",
"required": true
},
"props": {
"type": "array",
"items": {
"type": "object"
"properties": {
"key": {
"type": "string",
"description": "key",
"required": true
},
"value": {
"type": "string",
"description": "the value",
"required": true
}
}
"description": "the value",
"required": true
}
}
}
}

Answer 1

The schema you have written (assuming the commas are fixed) describes data of the form:
{
"prop1": "Some string property goes here",
"props": [
{"key": "foo", "value": "bar"},
{"key": "foo2", "value": "bar2"},
...
]
}
If this is what you wanted, then you are already finished.
However, I do wonder why you are using key/value pairs in an array, when you could use a JSON object with string keys instead. Using the additionalProperties keyword, you could have a schema:
{
"type": "object",
"name": "MyObj",
"properties": {
"prop1": {
"type": "string",
"description": "prop1"
},
"props": {
"type": "object",
"additionalProperties": {
"type": "string",
"description": "string values"
}
}
}
}
This describes a data format like:
{
"prop1": "Some string property goes here",
"props": {
"foo": "bar",
"foo2": "bar2"
}
}

Answer 2

At W3 schools (JSON Syntax) you can read how the array should be defined.
There is no schema like the xsd for xml, however i've found an approach on json-schema.org. If you are able to, i'll advice to youse google-GSON library for JSON. You could Store key Value as "id" : "value" and build only one object, containing all requieed pairs:
{ "lang" : "EN" , "color" : "red" }
Your posted model is incorect, you can check it on jsonlint.com
Here is a working version, i'm not sure if the modell is as expected.
{
"type": "object",
"name": "MyObj",
"properties": [
{
"prop1": {
"type": "string",
"description": "prop1",
"required": true
},
"props": {
"type": "array",
"items": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"key": {
"type": "string",
"description": "key",
"required": true
},
"value": {
"type": "string",
"description": "the value",
"required": true
}
},
"description": "the value",
"required": true
}
}
}
]
}