Why does Json.NET not include $type for the root object when TypeNameHandling is Auto?

Question

When I set Json.NET to serialize with TypeNameHandling set to TypeNameHandling.Auto, it correctly sets $type for child properties of an object but does not do so for the roo

Answer 1

Newer versions of Json.Net allow you to pass the expected type to the serialize method

 ser.Serialize(stream, rootObject, typeof(BaseClass));

You can pass the base class to the serialize method and TypeNameHandling.Auto will write the $type if the object and expected type do not match.