{"id":114995,"date":"2024-04-08T07:56:16","date_gmt":"2024-04-08T05:56:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/code-maze.com\/?p=114995"},"modified":"2024-04-08T07:56:16","modified_gmt":"2024-04-08T05:56:16","slug":"aspnetcore-handling-circular-references-when-working-with-json","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/code-maze.com\/aspnetcore-handling-circular-references-when-working-with-json\/","title":{"rendered":"Handling Circular References When Working With JSON in .NET"},"content":{"rendered":"

When working with JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) in .NET applications, developers often encounter challenges related to circular references, where objects circularly reference each other.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In this article, we’ll explore common scenarios involving circular references in .NET applications and discuss techniques for effectively handling them. We will use System.Text.Json for serialization and deserialization, one of the most popular NuGet libraries.<\/p>\n

To download the source code for this article, you can visit our GitHub repository<\/a>.<\/div>\n

Let’s begin!<\/p>\n

Understanding Circular References<\/a><\/h2>\n

Circular references<\/strong> occur when an object refers back to itself through a reference directly or indirectly.<\/strong> In the context of JSON serialization, circular references arise when serializing complex object graphs where objects cyclically reference each other.<\/p>\n

As an example of a circular reference, let’s define a class and refer to a property of the same type:<\/p>\n

public class Employee\r\n{\r\n    public required string Name { get; set; }\r\n    public required string Surname { get; set; }\r\n    public required string Title { get; set; }\r\n    public Employee? Manager { get; set; }\r\n    public Collection<Employee> DirectReports { get; set; } = new Collection<Employee>();\r\n}<\/pre>\n
Here, we define the Employee<\/code> class with a property Employee? Manager<\/code> that holds a reference to the employee’s direct supervisor. In addition, we also define a Collection<Employee> DirectReports<\/code> property that keeps a collection of the employee’s direct reports.<\/p>\n
These two properties form a circular reference:<\/p>\n
\"Circular<\/a><\/p>\n
 <\/p>\n
Let’s see in the next sections what it means to return a JSON payload of the Employee<\/code> class.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Default JSON Serialization Behavior<\/h2>\n
Firstly, let’s see the default behavior of .NET System.Text.Json<\/a>\u00a0when serializing the Employee<\/code> class.<\/p>\n
Let’s create an ASP.NET Core Web API project with Controllers<\/code>. We will use a Services<\/code> layer to return the data to the Controller<\/code> to implement the single responsibility principle<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Let’s now create an EmployeeService<\/code> class:<\/p>\n
public class EmployeeService : IEmployeeService\r\n{\r\n    public IReadOnlyCollection<Employee> GetEmployees()\r\n    {\r\n        var manager = new Employee() { Name = \"Kate\", Surname = \"Wilson\", Title = \"Development Manager\" };\r\n        var engineer = new Employee() \r\n        { \r\n           Name = \"Adam\", Surname = \"Smith\", Title = \"Software Engineer\", Manager = manager\r\n        };\r\n        manager.DirectReports.Add(engineer);\r\n\r\n        return new[] { manager, engineer}.AsReadOnly();\r\n    }\r\n}<\/pre>\n
Here, we define the EmployeeService<\/code> class and implement the GetEmployees()<\/code> method.<\/p>\n
In our method, we create an array of two Employee<\/code> objects and return it as a ReadOnlyCollection<\/code>. The manager<\/code> and engineer<\/code> employees we define in the collection form a circular dependency.<\/p>\n
Let’s now create our EmployeeController<\/code>:<\/p>\n
[Route(\"api\/[controller]\")]\r\n[ApiController]\r\npublic class EmployeeController(IEmployeeService employeeService) : ControllerBase\r\n{\r\n    [HttpGet]\r\n    [ProducesResponseType(StatusCodes.Status200OK)]\r\n    public IActionResult GetEmployees() => Ok(employeeService.GetEmployees());\r\n}<\/pre>\n
Here, we use dependency injection<\/a> to pass our IEmployeeService<\/code> interface into the EmployeeController<\/code> class. Also, we define the GetEmployees()<\/code> method that listens to HttpGet<\/code> web calls and returns an OkObjectResult<\/code> that contains the result of the IEmployeeService<\/code> \u00a0GetEmployees()<\/code> method.<\/p>\n
In the Program<\/code> class, let’s register the dependency between IEmployeeService<\/code> and EmployeeService<\/code>:<\/p>\n
builder.Services.AddScoped<IEmployeeService, EmployeeService>();<\/code><\/p>\n
Now, let’s build and run our project, and\u00a0execute a GET<\/code> request to our \/api\/employee<\/code> endpoint:<\/span><\/p>\n
Status: 500 Internal Server Error\r\nSystem.Text.Json.JsonException: A possible object cycle was detected. \r\nThis can either be due to a cycle or if the object depth is larger than the maximum allowed depth of 32. \r\nConsider using ReferenceHandler.Preserve on JsonSerializerOptions to support cycles.\r\nPath: $.DirectReports.Manager.DirectReports.Manager.DirectReports.Manager.DirectReports.Manager.Name.\r\n   at System.Text.Json.ThrowHelper.ThrowJsonException_SerializerCycleDetected(Int32 maxDepth)\r\n...<\/pre>\n
We get a JsonException<\/code> error A possible object cycle was detected. This can either be due to a cycle or if the object depth is larger than the maximum allowed depth of 32<\/code>.<\/p>\n
Additionally, we see the error path $.DirectReports.Manager.DirectReports.Manager.DirectReports.Manager.DirectReports.Manager.DirectReports.Manager.DirectReports.Manager.DirectReports.Manager.DirectReports.Manager.DirectReports.Manager.DirectReports.Manager.Name...<\/code>\u00a0indicating the properties that caused the error.<\/p>\n
Also, the framework suggests a way to resolve the error Consider using ReferenceHandler.Preserve on JsonSerializerOptions to support cycles<\/code>, so next let’s look at how to resolve it.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Handling Circular References<\/h2>\n
Now, let’s see what our options are to resolve the issue caused by the circular reference.<\/p>\n
The System.Text.Json<\/code> library allows us to configure certain aspects of C# objects serialization into JSON. We can use it to configure things like formatting, encoding, trailing commas, and also the way that the library will handle circular references.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Circular references<\/strong> are handled via the ReferenceHandler<\/code> configuration option which can take two values ReferenceHandler.IgnoreCycles<\/code> or ReferenceHandler.Preserve<\/code>.<\/p>\n
Let’s try them out starting with the IgnoreCycles<\/code> <\/strong>option.<\/p>\n
<\/a>ReferenceHandler.IgnoreCycles<\/h3>\n
In our Program<\/code> class, let’s add IgnoreCycles<\/code>:<\/p>\n
builder.Services.AddControllers().AddJsonOptions(options =>\r\n   options.JsonSerializerOptions.ReferenceHandler = ReferenceHandler.IgnoreCycles);<\/pre>\n
The .NET framework will try to resolve the error by breaking the circular reference and returning null<\/code> instead:<\/p>\n
[\r\n\u00a0\u00a0{\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"name\": \"Kate\",\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"surname\": \"Wilson\",\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"title\": \"Development Manager\",\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"manager\": null,\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"directReports\": [\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0{\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"name\": \"Adam\",\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"surname\": \"Smith\",\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"title\": \"Software Engineer\",\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"manager\": null,\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"directReports\": []\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0}\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0]\r\n\u00a0\u00a0},\r\n\u00a0\u00a0{\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"name\": \"Adam\",\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"surname\": \"Smith\",\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"title\": \"Software Engineer\",\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"manager\": {\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"name\": \"Kate\",\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"surname\": \"Wilson\",\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"title\": \"Development Manager\",\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"manager\": null,\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"directReports\": [\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0null\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0]\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0},\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"directReports\": []\r\n\u00a0\u00a0}\r\n]<\/pre>\n
\"manager\":{...}<\/code> and \"directReports\":[...]<\/code> properties are replaced with null<\/code>, which breaks the circular references as the objects no longer reference back to themselves.<\/p>\n
This works well and we can see the output in a simple format. However, the drawback of this solution is that it is difficult to understand the relationships by looking at the JSON result.<\/p>\n
Let’s now try the ReferenceHandler.Preserve<\/code> option of ReferenceHandler<\/code>.<\/p>\n
<\/a>ReferenceHandler.Preserve<\/h3>\n
In our Program<\/code> class, let’s change the configuration code:<\/p>\n
builder.Services.AddControllers().AddJsonOptions(options =>\r\n   options.JsonSerializerOptions.ReferenceHandler = ReferenceHandler.Preserve);<\/pre>\n
With this approach, we try to resolve our issue with the Preserve<\/code> handler. This handler introduces two new fields, $id<\/code>, and $ref<\/code><\/span>\u00a0which is used to preserve the relationships of the objects while breaking the circular reference:<\/p>\n
{\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\"$id\": \"1\",\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\"$values\": [\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0{\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"$id\": \"2\",\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"name\": \"Kate\",\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"surname\": \"Wilson\",\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"title\": \"Development Manager\",\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"manager\": null,\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"directReports\": {\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"$id\": \"3\",\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"$values\": [\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0{\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"$id\": \"4\",\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"name\": \"Adam\",\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"surname\": \"Smith\",\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"title\": \"Software Engineer\",\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"manager\": {\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"$ref\": \"2\"\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0},\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"directReports\": {\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"$id\": \"5\",\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"$values\": []\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0}\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0}\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0]\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0}\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0},\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0{\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"$ref\": \"4\"\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0}\r\n\u00a0\u00a0]\r\n}<\/pre>\n
Each object is now declared once and assigned an $id<\/code> which is used to reference the same object in other places in the JSON via a $ref<\/code> field.<\/p>\n
This mechanism resolves the circular reference issue and also preserves relationships. However, its downside is that it makes the JSON output a bit more complicated to read and deserialize.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/a>Conclusion<\/h2>\n
In this article, we’ve seen how we can configure JSON serialization with System.Text.Json<\/strong> to work with circular references in C# and . NET. We’ve discussed what a circular reference is and observed the default behavior of the System.Text.Json<\/strong> library when working with circular references. Finally, we’ve also discussed two different options to resolve circular references, IgnoreCycles<\/strong> and Preserve<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
When working with JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) in .NET applications, developers often encounter challenges related to circular references, where objects circularly reference each other.\u00a0 In this article, we’ll explore common scenarios involving circular references in .NET applications and discuss techniques for effectively handling them. We will use System.Text.Json for serialization and deserialization, one of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":131,"featured_media":62187,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[12,1369],"tags":[10,1811,2157,927,1158],"class_list":["post-114995","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-csharp","category-json","tag-net","tag-c","tag-circular-references","tag-json","tag-system-text-json","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\nCircular References When Working With JSON in .NET - Code Maze<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Resolving circular references with JSON in .NET that occur when objects circularly reference each other, whether directly or indirectly.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/code-maze.com\/aspnetcore-handling-circular-references-when-working-with-json\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Circular References When Working With JSON in .NET - 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