How can Json.NET perform dependency injection during deserialization?

Question

When I have a class with no default constructor, i.e. using dependency injection to pass its dependencies, can Newtonsoft.Json create such an object?

Answer 1

I agree with the separation of concerns posted by Steven, and the answer Mark Seemann has posted here. However, if you still want to go this way, here is a solution that may help:

Inherit a CustomCreationConverter:

internal class NinjectCustomConverter : CustomCreationConverter where T : class
{
    private readonly IResolutionRoot _serviceLocator;

    public NinjectCustomConverter(IResolutionRoot serviceLocator)
    {
        _serviceLocator = serviceLocator;
    }

    public override T Create(Type objectType)
    {
        return _serviceLocator.Get(objectType) as T;
    }
}

Then make sure you retrieve this converter instance via your DI container as well. The code below will deserialize and perform DI on your object:

var ninjectConverter = kernel.Get>();
var settings = new JsonSerializerSettings();
settings.Converters.Add(ninjectConverter);

var instance = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject(json, settings);

Here is a complete working example.