Reading in a JSON File Using Swift

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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.

31 Answers
31

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
      }
}

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