How to tell NewtonSoft.Json.JsonConvert to serialize an enum to a string and not an int

Question

I currently have a class say (that looks like this)

public class foo
{
 public MyEnumType Result { get; set; };
}

currently when I do this

foo a = new foo();
string str = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(a);

The Result comes out as int type. Is there a way for me to get it as string type ? by telling it to do MyEnumTypeInstance.toString();

Answer 1

JSON.Net has a built-in converter, the StringEnumConverter, you just add an attribute to the property you are [de]serialising, for example:

[JsonConverter(typeof(StringEnumConverter))]
public MyEnumType Result { get; set; }

Or specify the converter during serialisation:

string str = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(a, new StringEnumConverter());

• DavidG: @ChristopherHamkins Json.NET is Newtonsoft. The library is Json.NET and the name of the owner is Newtonsoft, after James Newton-King.
• Christopher Hamkins: OK thanks for the tip, I thought Json.NET is a different package.
• MikeF: This comment is not true (But was at one time I think) Json.Net nuget.org/packages/Json.Net Newtonsoft.Json nuget.org/packages/newtonsoft.json They have a couple subtle differences that can cause issues if you are not paying attention to wich one you are using.