How to create a struct model from a complex JSON response - ios

Question

I am trying to consume data from an api in swift, json data has successfully been delivered back to the app but the json response from my backend is very complex hence forming struct for my model is very difficult. I'm able to only retrieve the simple strings but if I add the objects and arrays everything stops working
[
{
"type": "movie",
"id": "ffff-ddd968-4cf0-a939-8skeu",
"title": "Sorority Row",
"description": "When five laldkdk",
"categories": [],
"genres": [
"Mystery",
"Horror"
],
"links": {
"amazonPrime": [
{
"link": "somelink",
"format": "native_ios"
},
{
"link": "somelink",
"format": "native_ios"
}
],
"appleTvPlus": [],
"disneyPlus": []
"iTunes": [
{
"link": "www.somelink",
"format": "webview_computer"
}
],
"netflix": [],
"youTubePremium": []
},
"promoted": false,
"certification": "18",
"releaseDate": "2009-09-09",
"runTime": 101,
"userRating": null,
"inUserList": false,
"packShot": {
"thumbnail": "imageurl"
},
"backdrop": {
"thumbnail": "imageurl"
}
}
]
struct Responder: Codable {
let type: String
let id: String
let description: String
let title: String
let promoted: Bool
let certification: String
let firstAirDate: String
let lastAirDate: String
let numberEpisodes: Int
let numberSeasons: Int
let userRating: Int?
let inUserList: Bool
let thumbnail: PackShotObj
let amazonPrime: linksObj
}
struct PackShotObj: Codable {
let packShot: [String]
}
struct linksObj: Codable {
let link: String
let format: String
}
struct genres: Codable {
let empty: String
}

Answer 1

Here is the code that works, decoding your json data. Note the differences between my struct models and yours. You will need to consult the docs of the server to determine which fields are optionals and adjust the code for that:
struct ContentView: View {
#State var responders: [Responder] = []
var body: some View {
List(responders) { responder in
Text(responder.title)
Text(responder.description)
Text(responder.releaseDate)
}
.onAppear {
let json = """
[
{
"type": "movie",
"id": "ffff-ddd968-4cf0-a939-8skeu",
"title": "Sorority Row",
"description": "When five laldkdk",
"categories": [],
"genres": [
"Mystery",
"Horror"
],
"links": {
"amazonPrime": [
{
"link": "somelink",
"format": "native_ios"
},
{
"link": "somelink",
"format": "native_ios"
}
],
"appleTvPlus": [],
"disneyPlus": [],
"iTunes": [
{
"link": "www.somelink",
"format": "webview_computer"
}
],
"netflix": [],
"youTubePremium": []
},
"promoted": false,
"certification": "18",
"releaseDate": "2009-09-09",
"runTime": 101,
"userRating": null,
"inUserList": false,
"packShot": {
"thumbnail": "imageurl"
},
"backdrop": {
"thumbnail": "imageurl"
}
}
]
"""
// simulated API data
let data = json.data(using: .utf8)!
do {
self.responders = try JSONDecoder().decode([Responder].self, from: data)
print("\n---> responders: \n \(responders)\n")
} catch {
print("\n---> decoding error: \n \(error)\n")
}
}
}
}
// MARK: - Responder
struct Responder: Identifiable, Codable {
let type, id, title, description: String
let categories: [String]
let genres: [String]
let links: Links
let promoted: Bool
let certification, releaseDate: String
let runTime: Int
let userRating: Int?
let inUserList: Bool
let packShot, backdrop: Backdrop
}
// MARK: - Backdrop
struct Backdrop: Codable {
let thumbnail: String
}
// MARK: - Links
struct Links: Codable {
let amazonPrime: [Provider]
let appleTvPlus: [Provider]
let disneyPlus: [Provider]
let iTunes: [Provider]
let netflix: [Provider]
let youTubePremium: [Provider]
}
struct Provider: Codable {
let link, format: String
}

Answer 2

Just copy and paste this model to file and you are good to go.
struct Responder: Codable {
let type, id, title, welcomeDescription: String
let categories: [String]
let genres: [String]
let links: Links
let promoted: Bool
let certification, releaseDate: String
let runTime: Int
let userRating: Any?
let inUserList: Bool
let packShot, backdrop: Backdrop
enum CodingKeys: String, CodingKey {
case type, id, title
case welcomeDescription = "description"
case categories, genres, links, promoted, certification, releaseDate, runTime, userRating, inUserList, packShot, backdrop
}
}
// MARK: - Backdrop
struct Backdrop: Codable {
let thumbnail: String
}
// MARK: - Links
struct Links: Codable {
let amazonPrime: [AmazonPrime]
let appleTvPlus, disneyPlus: [String]
let iTunes: [AmazonPrime]
let netflix, youTubePremium: [String]
}
// MARK: - AmazonPrime
struct AmazonPrime: Codable {
let link, format: String
}