Flattening JSON in javascript

Question

I am trying to flatten multi level JSON object to simple output.

key2:{  
   keyB1:{  
      keyC1:{  
         keyD1:'value b c 1'
      }
   },
   keyB2:{  
      keyC2:'value b c 2'
   }
}

My output is fine in the first iteration, but the second time, the counter is not getting set. Kindly, run the code to see the problem.

function flattenInput(datainput) {
    const result = {};

    const callit1 = function(keylist, datainput) {
        for (i in datainput) {
            keylist = keylist + '.' + i;
            if (typeof datainput[i] === 'object') {
                return callit1(keylist, datainput[i]);
            } else {
                return keylist;
            }
        }
    }

    let klist = '';
    for (i in datainput) {
        if (typeof datainput[i] === 'object') {
            klist = callit1(i, datainput[i]);
            console.log(klist);
        }
    }
    console.log(result);
}

flattenInput(input);

Expected:

key2.keyB1.keyC1.keyD1: 'value b c 1'

key2.keyB2.keyC2: 'value b c 2'

What I get:

key2.keyB1.keyC1.keyD1: 'value b c 1' (only)

I think using let i instead of jsut i should do the trick otherwise they are using the same variable probably interfering with each other — jonathan Heindl
– jonathan Heindl, Commented Apr 6, 2019 at 0:31
Seems like this is a duplicate. See fastest-way-to-flatten-un-flatten-nested-json-objects. You can pick one of solutions and adapt it to get the exact format you fancy. — Marcus
– Marcus, Commented Apr 6, 2019 at 0:45
You increase the "keylist" each iteration in the callit1. The current code would give key2.keyB1.keyB2.keyC2 for the second key. You need a different variable to store the "keylist" for the actual item or do callit1(keylist + "." + i, datainput[i]) instead of overriding the original value. Otherwise the code looks ok. I guess it is part of an untested spaghetti code. I would check the console for errors. — inf3rno
– inf3rno, Commented Apr 6, 2019 at 0:45
Yes, I have to do it on my own, cannot use the flat module. Thanks for suggestion. — Anu Jos
– Anu Jos, Commented Apr 6, 2019 at 1:09

Ele · Accepted Answer · 2019-04-06 00:57:51Z

1

You can use recursion in order to go deeper thru the keys, and an array of keys for keeping the track of visited keys.

This is assuming the deepest object is a string.

let obj = {   key2: {     keyB1: {       keyC1: {         keyD1: 'value b c 1'       }     },     keyB2: {       keyC2: 'value b c 2'     }   } };

function downstream(desiredObj, currentObj, keys) {
  if (typeof currentObj === 'string') {
    desiredObj[keys.join('.')] = currentObj;
  } else {
    Object.keys(currentObj).forEach(key => downstream(desiredObj, currentObj[key], [...keys, key]));
  }
}

let result = {};
Object.keys(obj).forEach(key => downstream(result, obj[key], [key]));

console.log(result);

edited Apr 6, 2019 at 0:57

answered Apr 6, 2019 at 0:51

Ele

33.8k7 gold badges43 silver badges80 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Flattening JSON in javascript

Expected:

What I get:

1 Answer 1

Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Expected:

What I get:

1 Answer 1

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related