JSON Structure for List of Objects

Issue

I would like to know, whats the right structure for a list of objects in JSON.

We are using JAXB to convert the POJO's to JSON.

Here is the choices, Please direct me what is right.

foos: [
             foo:{..},
             foo:{..}
      ]

or

   foos : [
           {...},
           {...}
          ]

If the first structure is right, what is the JAXB annotation I should use to get the structure right.

Solution

The first example from your question,

foos: [
    foo: { ... },
    foo: { ... }
]

is in invalid syntax. You cannot have object properties inside a plain array.

The second example from your question,

foos: [
    { ... },
    { ... }
]

is right although it is not strict JSON. It's a relaxed form of JSON wherein quotes in string keys are omitted.

Following is the correct one when you want to obey strict JSON:

"foos": [
    { ... },
    { ... }
]

This tutorial by Patrick Hunlock, may help to learn about JSON and this site may help to validate JSON.

Answered By - BalusC