In this article I will explain with an example, what is JavaScriptSerializer and how to use it in ASP.Net 3.0 using C# and VB.Net.
This article makes use of ASP.Net version 3.0.
 
 
What is JavaScriptSerializer
JavaScriptSerializer is a class that helps to serialize and deserialize JSON.
Serialization is the process of converting .Net objects into a JSON format, and deserialization is the process of converting JSON data into .Net objects..
This class belongs to the System.Web.Script.Serialization which belongs to the System.Web.Extensions dll.
JavaScriptSerializer class has the following methods:
Serialize - Serialize method serializes an .Net object and converts it to a JSON formatted string.
Deserialize - Deserialize method converts a JSON formatted string to an .Net object of the specified type.
 
 
Installing and Configuring ASP.Net AJAX Extension 1.0
JavaScriptSerializer class is not available in ASP.Net 3.0, hence you need to install ASP.Net AJAX Extension 1.0 and then add reference of System.Web.Extensions dll.
For more details on install and configure ASP.Net AJAX Extension, please refer my article Install and Configure ASP.Net AJAX Extension.
 
 
Namespaces
You will need to import the following namespace.
C#
using System.Web.Script.Serialization;
 
VB.Net
Imports System.Web.Script.Serialization
 
 
Property Class
The following class consists of two properties.
C#
public class Person
{
    private string _name;
    public string Name
    {
        get { return _name; }
        set { _name = value; }
    }
 
    private int _age;
    public int Age
    {
        get { return _age; }
        set { _age = value; }
    }
}
 
VB.Net
Public Class Person
    Private _name As String
    Public Property Name As String
        Get
            Return _name
        End Get
        Set(value As String)
            _name = value
        End Set
    End Property
 
    Private _age As Integer
    Public Property Age As Integer
        Get
            Return _age
        End Get
        Set(value As Integer)
            _age = value
        End Set
    End Property
End Class
 
 
Using JavaScriptSerializer in ASP.Net 3.0
Inside the Page_Load event handler, an object of the Person class is created and values of Name and Age properties are set.
Finally, the person object is serialized into a JSON string using the Serialize method of the JavaScriptSerializer class.
C#
protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    Person person = new Person();
    person.Name = "Mudassar Khan";
    person.Age = 35;
    string json = new JavaScriptSerializer().Serialize(person);
}
 
VB.Net
Protected Sub Page_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
    Dim person As Person = New Person()
    person.Name = "Mudassar Khan"
    person.Age = 35
    Dim json As String = New JavaScriptSerializer().Serialize(person)
End Sub
 
 
Screenshot
What is JavaScriptSerializer and how to use it in ASP.Net 3.0
 
 
Downloads
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