Python – Convert list of dictionaries to JSON

In this article, we will discuss how to convert a list of dictionaries to JSON in Python.

Python Convert List of Dictionaries to Json

Below are the ways by which we can convert a list of dictionaries to JSON in Python:

• Using json.dumps()
• Using json.dump()
• Using json.JSONEncoder
• Using default Parameter

Dictionaries to JSON in Python Using json.dumps()

In this example, the Python JSON module is employed to convert a list to a JSON file Python representing employee data into a JSON-formatted string. The json.dumps() function is utilized with the indent parameter set to 2 for readability, generating a structured JSON output for the given data.

Python3

# import json module
import json

# list of dictionaries of employee data
data = [{"id": ("1", "2", "3"), "name": ("bhanu", "sivanagulu"),
         "department": ("HR", "IT")},
        {"id": ("4", "5", "6"), "name": ("sai", "poori"),
         "department": ("HR", "IT")},
        {"id": ("7", "8", "9"), "name": ("teja", "gowtam"),
         "department": ("finance", "IT")},
        {"id": ("10", "11", "12"), "name": ("sai", "jyothi"),
         "department": ("business", "IT")},
        {"id": ("13", "14", "15"), "name": ("prudhvi", "nagendram"),
         "department": ("business", "IT")}]


# convert into json
final = json.dumps(data, indent=2)

# display
print(final)

Output:

[
  {
    "id": ["1", "2", "3"],
    "name": ["bhanu", "sivanagulu"],
    "department": ["HR", "IT"]
  },
  {
    "id": ["4", "5", "6"],
    "name": ["sai", "poori"],
    "department": ["HR", "IT"]
  },
  {
    "id": ["7", "8", "9"],
    "name": ["teja", "gowtam"],
    "department": ["finance", "IT"]
  },
  {
    "id": ["10", "11", "12"],
    "name": ["sai", "jyothi"],
    "department": ["business", "IT"]
  },
  {
    "id": ["13", "14", "15"],
    "name": ["prudhvi", "nagendram"],
    "department": ["business", "IT"]
  }
]

Convert List of Dictionaries to Json in Python Using json.dump()

In this example, the Python json module is utilized in a Google Colab environment to convert a list of dictionaries representing employee data into a JSON file named “mydata.json.” Here, we will convert python list of objects to json. The file is then downloaded using the files.download() function from the google.colab module.

Python3

# import json module
from google.colab import files
import json

# list of dictionaries of employee data
data = [{"id": ("1", "2", "3"), "name": ("bhanu", "sivanagulu"),
         "department": ("HR", "IT")},
        {"id": ("4", "5", "6"), "name": ("sai", "poori"),
         "department": ("HR", "IT")},
        {"id": ("7", "8", "9"), "name": ("teja", "gowtam"),
         "department": ("finance", "IT")},
        {"id": ("10", "11", "12"), "name": ("sai", "jyothi"),
         "department": ("business", "IT")},
        {"id": ("13", "14", "15"), "name": ("prudhvi", "nagendram"),
         "department": ("business", "IT")}]


# convert into json
# file name is mydata
with open("mydata.json", "w") as final:
    json.dump(data, final)

# download the json file
files.download('mydata.json')

Output:

[
  {
    "id": ["1", "2", "3"],
    "name": ["bhanu", "sivanagulu"],
    "department": ["HR", "IT"]
  },
  {
    "id": ["4", "5", "6"],
    "name": ["sai", "poori"],
    "department": ["HR", "IT"]
  },
  {
    "id": ["7", "8", "9"],
    "name": ["teja", "gowtam"],
    "department": ["finance", "IT"]
  },
  {
    "id": ["10", "11", "12"],
    "name": ["sai", "jyothi"],
    "department": ["business", "IT"]
  },
  {
    "id": ["13", "14", "15"],
    "name": ["prudhvi", "nagendram"],
    "department": ["business", "IT"]
  }
]

Python Convert List of Dictionaries to Json Using json.JSONEncoder

In this example, the Python json module is employed to customize the serialization of a list of dictionaries. Here, we will convert python list of objects to json. The json.JSONEncoder class is subclassed, overriding the default method to convert tuple objects to lists during JSON encoding, resulting in a formatted JSON string with indents for improved readability.

Python3

import json

data = [
    {"id": ("1", "2", "3"), "name": ("bhanu", "sivanagulu"), "department": ("HR", "IT")},
    {"id": ("4", "5", "6"), "name": ("sai", "poori"), "department": ("HR", "IT")},
    {"id": ("7", "8", "9"), "name": ("teja", "gowtam"), "department": ("finance", "IT")},
    {"id": ("10", "11", "12"), "name": ("sai", "jyothi"), "department": ("business", "IT")},
    {"id": ("13", "14", "15"), "name": ("prudhvi", "nagendram"), "department": ("business", "IT")}
]

# Using json.JSONEncoder for customization
class CustomEncoder(json.JSONEncoder):
    def default(self, obj):
        if isinstance(obj, tuple):
            return list(obj)
        return super().default(obj)

json_result_custom = json.dumps(data, cls=CustomEncoder, indent=2)
print(json_result_custom)

Output:

[
  {
    "id": ["1", "2", "3"],
    "name": ["bhanu", "sivanagulu"],
    "department": ["HR", "IT"]
  },
  {
    "id": ["4", "5", "6"],
    "name": ["sai", "poori"],
    "department": ["HR", "IT"]
  },
  {
    "id": ["7", "8", "9"],
    "name": ["teja", "gowtam"],
    "department": ["finance", "IT"]
  },
  {
    "id": ["10", "11", "12"],
    "name": ["sai", "jyothi"],
    "department": ["business", "IT"]
  },
  {
    "id": ["13", "14", "15"],
    "name": ["prudhvi", "nagendram"],
    "department": ["business", "IT"]
  }
]

Handling Non-Serializable Types with default Parameter

In this example, the Python json module is utilized to handle non-serializable types within a list of dictionaries during JSON encoding. Here, we will convert list to json file python. The default parameter of json.dumps() is employed with a lambda function, converting tuple objects to lists and ensuring proper serialization, resulting in a formatted JSON string with indents for clarity

Python3

import json

data = [
    {"id": ("1", "2", "3"), "name": ("bhanu", "sivanagulu"), "department": ("HR", "IT")},
    {"id": ("4", "5", "6"), "name": ("sai", "poori"), "department": ("HR", "IT")},
    {"id": ("7", "8", "9"), "name": ("teja", "gowtam"), "department": ("finance", "IT")},
    {"id": ("10", "11", "12"), "name": ("sai", "jyothi"), "department": ("business", "IT")},
    {"id": ("13", "14", "15"), "name": ("prudhvi", "nagendram"), "department": ("business", "IT")}
]

# Handling non-serializable types with the default parameter
json_result_default = json.dumps(data, default=lambda x: list(x) if isinstance(x, tuple) else str(x), indent=2)
print(json_result_default)

Output:

[
  {
    "id": ["1", "2", "3"],
    "name": ["bhanu", "sivanagulu"],
    "department": ["HR", "IT"]
  },
  {
    "id": ["4", "5", "6"],
    "name": ["sai", "poori"],
    "department": ["HR", "IT"]
  },
  {
    "id": ["7", "8", "9"],
    "name": ["teja", "gowtam"],
    "department": ["finance", "IT"]
  },
  {
    "id": ["10", "11", "12"],
    "name": ["sai", "jyothi"],
    "department": ["business", "IT"]
  },
  {
    "id": ["13", "14", "15"],
    "name": ["prudhvi", "nagendram"],
    "department": ["business", "IT"]
  }
]