Encode/Decode Array of Types conforming to protocol with JSONEncoder

Question

I\'m trying to find the best way to Encode/Decode an array of structs conforming to a swift protocol using the new JSONDecoder/Encoder in Swift 4.

I made up a little

Answer 1

Drawn from the accepted answer, I ended up with the following code that can be pasted into an Xcode Playground. I used this base to add a codable protocol to my app.

The output looks like this, without the nesting mentioned in the accepted answer.

ORIGINAL:
▿ __lldb_expr_33.Parent
  - title: "Parent Struct"
  ▿ items: 2 elements
    ▿ __lldb_expr_33.NumberItem
      - commonProtocolString: "common string from protocol"
      - numberUniqueToThisStruct: 42
    ▿ __lldb_expr_33.StringItem
      - commonProtocolString: "protocol member string"
      - stringUniqueToThisStruct: "a random string"

ENCODED TO JSON:
{
  "title" : "Parent Struct",
  "items" : [
    {
      "type" : "numberItem",
      "numberUniqueToThisStruct" : 42,
      "commonProtocolString" : "common string from protocol"
    },
    {
      "type" : "stringItem",
      "stringUniqueToThisStruct" : "a random string",
      "commonProtocolString" : "protocol member string"
    }
  ]
}

DECODED FROM JSON:
▿ __lldb_expr_33.Parent
  - title: "Parent Struct"
  ▿ items: 2 elements
    ▿ __lldb_expr_33.NumberItem
      - commonProtocolString: "common string from protocol"
      - numberUniqueToThisStruct: 42
    ▿ __lldb_expr_33.StringItem
      - commonProtocolString: "protocol member string"
      - stringUniqueToThisStruct: "a random string"

Paste into your Xcode project or Playground and customize to your liking:

import Foundation

struct Parent: Codable {
    let title: String
    let items: [Item]

    init(title: String, items: [Item]) {
        self.title = title
        self.items = items
    }

    enum CodingKeys: String, CodingKey {
        case title
        case items
    }

    func encode(to encoder: Encoder) throws {
        var container = encoder.container(keyedBy: CodingKeys.self)

        try container.encode(title, forKey: .title)
        try container.encode(items.map({ AnyItem($0) }), forKey: .items)
    }

    init(from decoder: Decoder) throws {
        let container = try decoder.container(keyedBy: CodingKeys.self)

        title = try container.decode(String.self, forKey: .title)
        items = try container.decode([AnyItem].self, forKey: .items).map { $0.item }
    }

}

protocol Item: Codable {
    static var type: ItemType { get }

    var commonProtocolString: String { get }
}

enum ItemType: String, Codable {

    case numberItem
    case stringItem

    var metatype: Item.Type {
        switch self {
        case .numberItem: return NumberItem.self
        case .stringItem: return StringItem.self
        }
    }
}

struct NumberItem: Item {
    static var type = ItemType.numberItem

    let commonProtocolString = "common string from protocol"
    let numberUniqueToThisStruct = 42
}

struct StringItem: Item {
    static var type = ItemType.stringItem

    let commonProtocolString = "protocol member string"
    let stringUniqueToThisStruct = "a random string"
}

struct AnyItem: Codable {

    var item: Item

    init(_ item: Item) {
        self.item = item
    }

    private enum CodingKeys : CodingKey {
        case type
        case item
    }

    func encode(to encoder: Encoder) throws {
        var container = encoder.container(keyedBy: CodingKeys.self)

        try container.encode(type(of: item).type, forKey: .type)
        try item.encode(to: encoder)
    }

    init(from decoder: Decoder) throws {
        let container = try decoder.container(keyedBy: CodingKeys.self)

        let type = try container.decode(ItemType.self, forKey: .type)
        self.item = try type.metatype.init(from: decoder)
    }

}

func testCodableProtocol() {
    var items = [Item]()
    items.append(NumberItem())
    items.append(StringItem())
    let parent = Parent(title: "Parent Struct", items: items)

    print("ORIGINAL:")
    dump(parent)
    print("")

    let jsonEncoder = JSONEncoder()
    jsonEncoder.outputFormatting = .prettyPrinted
    let jsonData = try! jsonEncoder.encode(parent)
    let jsonString = String(data: jsonData, encoding: .utf8)!
    print("ENCODED TO JSON:")
    print(jsonString)
    print("")

    let jsonDecoder = JSONDecoder()
    let decoded = try! jsonDecoder.decode(type(of: parent), from: jsonData)
    print("DECODED FROM JSON:")
    dump(decoded)
    print("")
}
testCodableProtocol()