How to extract json from a json string using GSON?

Question

Below is my JSON String. I am trying to extract hosts from it.

{"description":"DescA","process_running":"sf","hosts":{"dc1":["machineA","machineB"]}}

Since hosts is a JSON String in itself and I would like to extract that JSON String from it. I am using GSON here -

String ss = new String(bytes, Charset.forName("UTF-8"));

// here ss is the above JSON String

Map<String, Object> data = gson.fromJson(ss, Map.class); // parse

I was trying to use Map to deserialize but the result it coming like this in the data-

{description=DescA, process_running=sf, hosts={dc1=[machineA, machineB]}}

Is there any way, I can extract hosts in the JSON format?

Answer 1

The easiest way I can think of to do this would be to use gson to create a tree of json elements from your map, and ask it to give you just the hosts node:

    Map<String, Object> data = gson.fromJson(ss, Map.class); // parse

    JsonObject jsonTree = (JsonObject) gson.toJsonTree(data);
    String hostsJson = jsonTree.get("hosts").toString();