check if string is valid json c# code example

Example 1: how to test if string is a valid json string c#

private static bool IsValidJson(string strInput)
{
    if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(strInput)) { return false;}
    strInput = strInput.Trim();
    if ((strInput.StartsWith("{") && strInput.EndsWith("}")) || //For object
        (strInput.StartsWith("[") && strInput.EndsWith("]"))) //For array
    {
        try
        {
            var obj = JToken.Parse(strInput);
            return true;
        }
        catch (JsonReaderException jex)
        {
            //Exception in parsing json
            Console.WriteLine(jex.Message);
            return false;
        }
        catch (Exception ex) //some other exception
        {
            Console.WriteLine(ex.ToString());
            return false;
        }
    }
    else
    {
        return false;
    }
}

Example 2: c# is json valid

private static bool IsValidJson(string strInput)
{//Using JSON.Net
    if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(strInput)) { return false;}
    strInput = strInput.Trim();
    if ((strInput.StartsWith("{") && strInput.EndsWith("}")) || //For object
        (strInput.StartsWith("[") && strInput.EndsWith("]"))) //For array
    {
        try
        {
            var obj = JToken.Parse(strInput);
            return true;
        }
        catch (JsonReaderException jex)
        {
            //Exception in parsing json
            Console.WriteLine(jex.Message);
            return false;
        }
        catch (Exception ex) //some other exception
        {
            Console.WriteLine(ex.ToString());
            return false;
        }
    }
    else
    {
        return false;
    }
}

//or Without JSON.Net
//You can utilize .Net framework 4.5 System.Json namespace ,like:

string jsonString = "someString";
try
{
    var tmpObj = JsonValue.Parse(jsonString);
}
catch (FormatException fex)
{
    //Invalid json format
    Console.WriteLine(fex);
}
catch (Exception ex) //some other exception
{
    Console.WriteLine(ex.ToString());
}//(But, you have to install System.Json through Nuget package manager using 
//command: PM> Install-Package System.Json -Version 4.0.20126.16343 on Package Manager Console)