How to get string objects instead of Unicode from JSON

🎉 How to get string objects instead of Unicode from JSON 🎉

Are you facing the issue of getting Unicode objects instead of string objects when parsing JSON in Python 2? 🤔 Don't worry, we've got you covered! In this blog post, we'll discuss the problem you're facing and provide easy solutions to get string objects instead of Unicode.

The Problem 😩

You mentioned that you're working with ASCII encoded text files and need to parse JSON using either json or simplejson in Python 2. However, when you load these files, all the string values are cast to Unicode objects. This creates a problem because you have to use the data with libraries that only accept string objects, and you can't change or update these libraries.

The Solution 💡

Luckily, there are a few simple solutions to address this problem:

1. Upgrade to Python 3 🚀

One easy and clean solution for 2017 (and beyond) is to use a recent version of Python, like Python 3. In Python 3, the default representation for strings is Unicode. So, when you parse JSON, you will get string objects instead of Unicode objects. This eliminates the need for any additional steps or workarounds. If possible, upgrade your Python version to take advantage of this solution.

2. Decode Unicode Objects 🌐

If upgrading to Python 3 is not possible, you can manually convert the Unicode objects to strings after loading the JSON data. You need to decode the Unicode objects using an appropriate encoding scheme. The encode method can be used to achieve this.

Here's an example of how to decode Unicode objects to strings using the ASCII encoding scheme:

import json

json_list = '[u"a", u"b"]'
decoded_list = json.loads(json_list)

string_list = [item.encode('ascii') for item in decoded_list]
print(string_list)

In the above example, encode('ascii') is used to decode the Unicode objects to strings using the ASCII encoding scheme. You can replace 'ascii' with the appropriate encoding scheme, depending on your text file's encoding.

3. Use a Helper Function 🛠️

If you're dealing with a large JSON structure or need to perform this conversion frequently, you can encapsulate the decoding logic in a helper function. This way, you can easily reuse the function whenever needed.

Here's an example of a helper function that converts Unicode objects to strings using the ASCII encoding scheme:

import json

def convert_unicode_to_string(data):
    if isinstance(data, dict):
        return {convert_unicode_to_string(key): convert_unicode_to_string(value) for key, value in data.iteritems()}
    elif isinstance(data, list):
        return [convert_unicode_to_string(item) for item in data]
    elif isinstance(data, unicode):
        return data.encode('ascii')
    return data

json_data = '[u"a", u"b"]'
decoded_data = json.loads(json_data)

converted_data = convert_unicode_to_string(decoded_data)
print(converted_data)

In the above example, the convert_unicode_to_string function recursively converts Unicode objects to strings using the ASCII encoding scheme. Simply call this function on your decoded JSON data to get the desired string objects.

Call-to-Action 👋

Now that you have learned how to get string objects instead of Unicode from JSON in Python 2, give it a try and see how it works for your specific use case. Don't let Unicode objects stop you from using the libraries you need! 💪

If you found this blog post helpful, share it with your fellow developers who might be facing the same issue. And if you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to leave a comment below. Let's help each other solve problems and make coding a breeze! 🌟