[c#] How to make sure that string is valid JSON using JSON.NET

I have a raw string. I just want to validate whether the string is valid JSON or not. I'm using JSON.NET.

This method doesn't require external libraries

using System.Web.Script.Serialization;
bool IsValidJson(string json)
    {
        try {
            var serializer = new JavaScriptSerializer();
            dynamic result = serializer.DeserializeObject(json);
            return true;
        } catch { return false; }
    }

Alternate option using System.Text.Json

For .Net Core one can also use the System.Text.Json namespace and parse using the JsonDocument. Example is an extension method based on the namespace operations:

public static bool IsJsonValid(this string txt)
{
    try { return JsonDocument.Parse(txt) != null; } catch {}

    return false;
}

Use JContainer.Parse(str) method to check if the str is a valid Json. If this throws exception then it is not a valid Json.

JObject.Parse - Can be used to check if the string is a valid Json object
JArray.Parse - Can be used to check if the string is a valid Json Array
JContainer.Parse - Can be used to check for both Json object & Array

Here is a TryParse extension method based on Habib's answer:

public static bool TryParse(this string strInput, out JToken output)
{
    if (String.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(strInput))
    {
        output = null;
        return false;
    }
    strInput = strInput.Trim();
    if ((strInput.StartsWith("{") && strInput.EndsWith("}")) || //For object
        (strInput.StartsWith("[") && strInput.EndsWith("]"))) //For array
    {
        try
        {
            output = JToken.Parse(strInput);
            return true;
        }
        catch (JsonReaderException jex)
        {
            //Exception in parsing json
            //optional: LogError(jex);
            output = null;
            return false;
        }
        catch (Exception ex) //some other exception
        {
            //optional: LogError(ex);
            output = null;
            return false;
        }
    }
    else
    {
        output = null;
        return false;
    }
}

Usage:

JToken jToken;
if (strJson.TryParse(out jToken))
{
    // work with jToken
}
else
{
    // not valid json
}

Regarding Tom Beech's answer; I came up with the following instead:

public bool ValidateJSON(string s)
{
    try
    {
        JToken.Parse(s);
        return true;
    }
    catch (JsonReaderException ex)
    {
        Trace.WriteLine(ex);
        return false;
    }
}

With a usage of the following:

if (ValidateJSON(strMsg))
{
    var newGroup = DeserializeGroup(strMsg);
}

Just to add something to @Habib's answer, you can also check if given JSON is from a valid type:

public static bool IsValidJson<T>(this string strInput)
{
    if(string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(strInput)) return false;

    strInput = strInput.Trim();
    if ((strInput.StartsWith("{") && strInput.EndsWith("}")) || //For object
        (strInput.StartsWith("[") && strInput.EndsWith("]"))) //For array
    {
        try
        {
            var obj = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<T>(strInput);
            return true;
        }
        catch // not valid
        {             
            return false;
        }
    }
    else
    {
        return false;
    }
}

I'm using this one:

  internal static bool IsValidJson(string data)
  {
     data = data.Trim();
     try
     {
        if (data.StartsWith("{") && data.EndsWith("}"))
        {
           JToken.Parse(data);
        }
        else if (data.StartsWith("[") && data.EndsWith("]"))
        {
           JArray.Parse(data);
        }
        else
        {
           return false;
        }
        return true;
     }
     catch
     {
        return false;
     }
  }

I found that JToken.Parse incorrectly parses invalid JSON such as the following:

{
"Id" : , 
"Status" : 2
}

Paste the JSON string into http://jsonlint.com/ - it is invalid.

So I use:

public static bool IsValidJson(this string input)
{
    input = input.Trim();
    if ((input.StartsWith("{") && input.EndsWith("}")) || //For object
        (input.StartsWith("[") && input.EndsWith("]"))) //For array
    {
        try
        {
            //parse the input into a JObject
            var jObject = JObject.Parse(input);

            foreach(var jo in jObject)
            {
                string name = jo.Key;
                JToken value = jo.Value;

                //if the element has a missing value, it will be Undefined - this is invalid
                if (value.Type == JTokenType.Undefined)
                {
                    return false;
                }
            }
        }
        catch (JsonReaderException jex)
        {
            //Exception in parsing json
            Console.WriteLine(jex.Message);
            return false;
        }
        catch (Exception ex) //some other exception
        {
            Console.WriteLine(ex.ToString());
            return false;
        }
    }
    else
    {
        return false;
    }

    return true;
}

JToken.Type is available after a successful parse. This can be used to eliminate some of the preamble in the answers above and provide insight for finer control of the result. Entirely invalid input (e.g., "{----}".IsValidJson(); will still throw an exception).

    public static bool IsValidJson(this string src)
    {
        try
        {
            var asToken = JToken.Parse(src);
            return asToken.Type == JTokenType.Object || asToken.Type == JTokenType.Array;
        }
        catch (Exception)  // Typically a JsonReaderException exception if you want to specify.
        {
            return false;
        }
    }

Json.Net reference for JToken.Type: https://www.newtonsoft.com/json/help/html/T_Newtonsoft_Json_Linq_JTokenType.htm

Building on Habib's answer, you could write an extension method:

public static bool ValidateJSON(this string s)
{
    try
    {
        JToken.Parse(s);
        return true;
    }
    catch (JsonReaderException ex)
    {
        Trace.WriteLine(ex);
        return false;
    }
}

Which can then be used like this:

if(stringObject.ValidateJSON())
{
    // Valid JSON!
}