If I have a two-dimensional array in C# - how can I convert it into a JSON string that contains a two dimensional array?

eg.

int[,] numbers = new int[8,4];
JavaScriptSerializer js = new JavaScriptSerializer();
string json = js.Serialize(numbers);

gives a flat one-dimensional array in a JSON object. The Microsoft documentation states:

'A multidimensional array is serialized as a one-dimensional array, and you should use it as a flat array.'

If I have a two-dimensional array in C# - how can I convert it into a JSON string that contains a two dimensional array?

eg.

int[,] numbers = new int[8,4];
JavaScriptSerializer js = new JavaScriptSerializer();
string json = js.Serialize(numbers);

gives a flat one-dimensional array in a JSON object. The Microsoft documentation states:

'A multidimensional array is serialized as a one-dimensional array, and you should use it as a flat array.'

• c#
• javascript
• json

• Just for fun, I'll add that Newtonsoft's Json.NET doesn't have this serialization issue with two+-dimensional arrays and, to cover a popular use case in 2021, ASP.NET Core even provides a way to switch over – ruffin Commented Sep 24, 2021 at 14:21

1 Answer 1

You can use a jagged array instead of a two-dimensional array, which is defined like:

int[][] numbers = new int[8][];

for (int i = 0; i <= 7; i++) {
   numbers[i] = new int[4];
   for (int j = 0; j <= 3; j++) {
      numbers[i][j] =i*j;
   }
}

The JavascriptSerializer will then serialise this into the form [[#,#,#,#],[#,#,#,#],etc...]