Question 1

How to handle enums with custom raw values in HandyJSON?

Accepted Answer

If the enum conforms to RawRepresentable, use the HandyJSONEnum protocol for automatic mapping. For non-RawRepresentable enums, implement a custom TransformOf in the mapping function to define parsing and serialization logic, as shown in the FAQ examples.

Question 2

HandyJSON vs Codable: which should I use for Swift JSON parsing?

Accepted Answer

Codable is ideal for simple, standard JSON handling since it's built-in and type-safe. HandyJSON shines when you need advanced features like custom transformations, path parsing, or working with pure Swift types without NSObject, but it introduces an external dependency and reflection overhead.

Question 3

How to exclude a property from JSON serialization in HandyJSON?

Accepted Answer

In the mapping function, use 'mapper >>> self.propertyName' to exclude the property from both deserialization and serialization. This ensures it's ignored in JSON handling, as demonstrated in the Exclude Property section of the README.

Question 4

Does HandyJSON support updating an existing model with new JSON data?

Accepted Answer

Yes, use the JSONDeserializer.update(object:from:) method to update an existing HandyJSON model with a JSON string or dictionary. It modifies only the properties present in the JSON, leaving others unchanged, as covered in the Update Existing Model section.

Question 5

Why isn't my didSet observer firing when using HandyJSON?

Accepted Answer

HandyJSON assigns properties by writing directly to memory, bypassing observers. To trigger didSet/willSet, you must use dynamic properties with NSObject inheritance or handle logic in the didFinishMapping function, as explained in the FAQ regarding KVO.

Question 6

How to parse JSON from a specific nested path using HandyJSON?

Accepted Answer

Use the designatedPath parameter in deserialize(from:designatedPath:), specifying a dot-notation string like 'data.cat'. This extracts models from deep within the JSON structure, simplifying access to nested data, as shown in the Designated Path examples.

HandyJSON

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