What is the $id field in my Json response using Entity Framework?

Question

Why would my object (that doesn't include the $id, be adding it to my Json response?)

Json Response:

Model:

public class DivisionWithProductsViewModel
{
   public int Id {get;set;}
   public string Name {get;set;}
   public string Description {get;set;}
   public string Thumbnail {get;set;}
   public string ThumbnailName {get;set;}
   public List<ProductViewModel> ProductList {get;set;}
}

Firstly, please provide text of source code, not images. Secondly, how are you serialising the data? — DavidG, Aug 02 '17 at 09:52

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 02 '17 at 09:54

The $id and $ref fields are used to make an object hierarchy in JSON.

See this JSON for example:

{
   "people":[
      {
         "$id":1,
         "name":"John",
         "children":[
            { "$ref":2 }
         ]
      },
      {
         "$id":2,
         "name":"Jane"
      }
   ]
}

The object in list children will be the exact same as the object used when deserializing Jane.

If you deserialize that using JSON.NET, and you change the name of Jane, it will updated the 'child' Jane too since it is the same object reference.

What is the $id field in my Json response using Entity Framework?

1 Answers1