/unit-test-json-serialization

name: unit-test-json-serialization
description: Provides patterns for unit testing JSON serialization/deserialization with Jackson and `@JsonTest`. Validates JSON mapping, custom serializers, date formats, and polymorphic types. Use when testing JSON serialization, validating custom serializers, or writing JSON unit tests in Spring Boot applications.
allowed-tools: Read, Write, Bash, Glob, Grep

Unit Testing JSON Serialization with `@JsonTest`

Overview

Provides patterns for unit testing JSON serialization and deserialization using Spring's `@JsonTest` and Jackson. Covers POJO mapping, custom serializers, field name mappings, nested objects, date/time formatting, and polymorphic types.

When to Use

• Testing JSON serialization/deserialization of DTOs
• Verifying custom Jackson serializers/deserializers
• Validating `@JsonProperty`, `@JsonIgnore`, and field name mappings
• Testing date/time format handling (LocalDateTime, Date)
• Testing null handling and missing fields
• Testing polymorphic type deserialization

Instructions

1. **Annotate test class with `@JsonTest`** → Enables JacksonTester auto-configuration 2. **Autowire JacksonTester for target type** → Provides type-safe JSON assertions 3. **Test serialization** → Call `json.write(object)` and assert JSON paths with `extractingJsonPath*` 4. **Test deserialization** → Call `json.parse(json)` or `json.parseObject(json)` and assert object state 5. **Validate round-trip** → Serialize, then deserialize, verify same data (if object is properly comparable) 6. **Test edge cases** → Null values, missing fields, empty collections, invalid JSON 7. **Add validation checkpoints**: After each assertion, verify the test fails meaningfully with wrong data

Examples

Maven Setup

<dependency>
  <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
  <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-json</artifactId>
</dependency>
<dependency>
  <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
  <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-test</artifactId>
  <scope>test</scope>
</dependency>

Gradle Setup

dependencies {
  implementation("org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-starter-json")
  testImplementation("org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-starter-test")
}

Basic Serialization and Deserialization

@JsonTest
class UserDtoJsonTest {

  @Autowired
  private JacksonTester<UserDto> json;

  @Test
  void shouldSerializeUserToJson() throws Exception {
    UserDto user = new UserDto(1L, "Alice", "alice@example.com", 25);
    JsonContent<UserDto> result = json.write(user);

    result
      .extractingJsonPathNumberValue("$.id").isEqualTo(1)
      .extractingJsonPathStringValue("$.name").isEqualTo("Alice")
      .extractingJsonPathStringValue("$.email").isEqualTo("alice@example.com")
      .extractingJsonPathNumberValue("$.age").isEqualTo(25);
  }

  @Test
  void shouldDeserializeJsonToUser() throws Exception {
    String json_content = "{\"id\":1,\"name\":\"Alice\",\"email\":\"alice@example.com\",\"age\":25}";
    UserDto user = json.parse(json_content).getObject();

    assertThat(user.getId()).isEqualTo(1L);
    assertThat(user.getName()).isEqualTo("Alice");
    assertThat(user.getEmail()).isEqualTo("alice@example.com");
    assertThat(user.getAge()).isEqualTo(25);
  }

  @Test
  void shouldHandleNullFields() throws Exception {
    String json_content = "{\"id\":1,\"name\":null,\"email\":\"alice@example.com\"}";
    UserDto user = json.parse(json_content).getObject();
    assertThat(user.getName()).isNull();
  }
}

Custom JSON Properties

public class Order {
  @JsonProperty("order_id")
  private Long id;

  @JsonProperty("total_amount")
  private BigDecimal amount;

  @JsonIgnore
  private String internalNote;
}

@JsonTest
class OrderJsonTest {

  @Autowired
  private JacksonTester<Order> json;

  @Test
  void shouldMapJsonPropertyNames() throws Exception {
    String json_content = "{\"order_id\":123,\"total_amount\":99.99}";
    Order order = json.parse(json_content).getObject();
    assertThat(order.getId()).isEqualTo(123L);
    assertThat(order.getAmount()).isEqualByComparingTo(new BigDecimal("99.99"));
  }

  @Test
  void shouldIgnoreJsonIgnoreFields() throws Exception {
    Order order = new Order(123L, new BigDecimal("99.99"));
    order.setInternalNote("Secret");
    assertThat(json.write(order).json).doesNotContain("internalNote");
  }
}

Nested Objects

public class Product {
  private Long id;
  private String name;
  private Category category;
  private List<Review> reviews;
}

@JsonTest
class ProductJsonTest {

  @Autowired
  private JacksonTester<Product> json;

  @Test
  void shouldSerializeNestedObjects() throws Exception {
    Product product = new Product(1L, "Laptop", new Category(1L, "Electronics"));
    JsonContent<Product> result = json.write(product);

    result
      .extractingJsonPathNumberValue("$.category.id").isEqualTo(1)
      .extractingJsonPathStringValue("$.category.name").isEqualTo("Electronics");
  }

  @Test
  void shouldDeserializeNestedObjects() throws Exception {
    String json_content = "{\"id\":1,\"name\":\"Laptop\",\"category\":{\"id\":1,\"name\":\"Electronics\"}}";
    Product product = json.parse(json_content).getObject();
    assertThat(product.getCategory().getName()).isEqualTo("Electronics");
  }

  @Test
  void shouldHandleListOfNestedObjects() throws Exception {
    String json_content = "{\"id\":1,\"reviews\":[{\"rating\":5},{\"rating\":4}]}";
    Product product = json.parse(json_content).getObject();
    assertThat(product.getReviews()).hasSize(2);
  }
}

Date/Time Formatting

@JsonTest
class DateTimeJsonTest {

  @Autowired
  private JacksonTester<Event> json;

  @Test
  void shouldFormatDateTimeCorrectly() throws Exception {
    LocalDateTime dt = LocalDateTime.of(2024, 1, 15, 10, 30, 0);
    json.write(new Event("Conference", dt))
      .extractingJsonPathStringValue("$.scheduledAt").isEqualTo("2024-01-15T10:30:00");
  }