JavaScriptSerializer

JavaScriptSerializer is a class in the .NET Framework that provides a simple way to serialize objects to JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) strings and deserialize JSON strings into objects. It is part of the System.Web.Script.Serialization namespace. The primary purpose of JavaScriptSerializer is to facilitate data exchange between .NET applications and JavaScript clients, particularly in web applications.

Serialization involves converting a .NET object into a JSON string representation. This is useful for sending data from the server to the browser. For example, you can serialize a list of products into a JSON string that a JavaScript function in the web page can then parse and use to display the products. The Serialize method is used for this purpose.

Deserialization is the reverse process, where a JSON string is converted back into a .NET object. This is commonly used when receiving data from a JavaScript client, such as form submissions or data sent via AJAX. The DeserializeObject method and its generic counterpart Deserialize allow you to convert a JSON string into a .NET object of a specified type.

JavaScriptSerializer handles basic data types like strings, numbers, booleans, arrays, and dictionaries. It also supports nested objects and collections. While it offers a straightforward approach for many scenarios, it has limitations compared to more advanced JSON serializers like Newtonsoft.Json. For instance, it may not handle complex type mappings or custom converters as flexibly. However, for simple JSON serialization and deserialization needs within the .NET ecosystem, JavaScriptSerializer remains a convenient and readily available option.