Retrieving sibling JSON information using Handlebars: How to handle a situation where a single object lacks a parent index key, yet multiple items possess an index key

Question

Retrieving sibling JSON information using Handlebars: How to handle a situation where a single object lacks a parent index key, yet multiple items possess an index key

Encountered a fascinating yet challenging scenario while working with data from an API that highlights the limitations of using a templating language like Handlebars. (Helpers, Helpers everywhere!)

Is there a elegant solution for handling the following situation? Essentially, if a JSON object has only one sibling, it is not wrapped with a key. However, if it returns multiple siblings, they are wrapped with an index key.

For instance, the first example below shows an object with one ingredient, while the second example returns two ingredients, wrapped with an index key.

I am unable to modify the data format, so I need to find a way to handle it effectively.

Although I believe using a helper is necessary, I am hoping there is a clever trick to manage this situation to cater to different data returns. Ideally, I would like to achieve this using pure Handlebars (without relying on Ember, etc.).

If anyone has any suggestions or solutions, I would greatly appreciate it!

Scenario 1:

"food":{
  "ingredient":{
    "name":"Cucumber",
    "weight":"5",
    "cost":"1",
  }
}

Scenario 2:

"food":{
 "ingredient":{
  "1":{
     "name":"Cheese",
     "weight":"10",
     "cost":"2"
  },
  "2":{
     "name":"Tomato",
     "weight":"20",
     "cost":"0.5"
    }
 }
}

javascript json ember.js handlebars.js

Answer 1

Answer №1

Resolution:

In this scenario, the function packageResponse() is designed to process the ingredient data consistently for all cases outlined:

/*  ===================
    HELPER FUNCTION(s)
    =================== */
function isKeyNumeric(key){
    var test = Number(key);
    if(isNaN(test))
        return false;
    return true;
}


/*  =============
    MAIN FUNCTION
    =============   */
function packageResponse(ingredient){

    var ingredients = {}
    var count = 0

    for(var i in ingredient){

        //  Check for prototype properties
        if( !ingredient.hasOwnProperty(i) ) continue;

        //  Determine handling method
        if( isKeyNumeric(i) ){
            //  Process as wrapped ingredient
            ingredients[count++] = ingredient[i]
        }else{
            //  Process as unwrapped ingredient
            ingredients[0] = ingredient
            break
        }//endifelse
    }//endfor

    return ingredients
}//endfunction

Validation:

/*  =========
    DATA SAMPLE
    =========   */
var response_one = {"food":{
    "ingredient":{
        "name":"Cucumber",
        "weight":"5",
        "cost":"1",
        }
    }
}

var response_two = {"food":{
    "ingredient":{
        "1":{
            "name":"Cheese",
            "weight":"10",
            "cost":"2"
            },
        "2":{
            "name":"Tomato",
            "weight":"20",
            "cost":"0.5"
            }
        }
    }
}

/*  ===========
    OUTPUT TEST
    =========== */
console.log( packageResponse(response_one.food.ingredient) )
console.log( packageResponse(response_two.food.ingredient) )

Outcome:

The provided code produces the following console output:

First Result:

0: Object
  cost: "1"
  name: "Cucumber"
  weight: "5"

Second Result

0: Object
  cost: "2"
  name: "Cheese"
  weight: "10"

1: Object
  cost: "0.5"
  name: "Tomato"
  weight: "20"

Answer 2

Resolution:

In this scenario, the function packageResponse() is designed to process the ingredient data consistently for all cases outlined:

/*  ===================
    HELPER FUNCTION(s)
    =================== */
function isKeyNumeric(key){
    var test = Number(key);
    if(isNaN(test))
        return false;
    return true;
}


/*  =============
    MAIN FUNCTION
    =============   */
function packageResponse(ingredient){

    var ingredients = {}
    var count = 0

    for(var i in ingredient){

        //  Check for prototype properties
        if( !ingredient.hasOwnProperty(i) ) continue;

        //  Determine handling method
        if( isKeyNumeric(i) ){
            //  Process as wrapped ingredient
            ingredients[count++] = ingredient[i]
        }else{
            //  Process as unwrapped ingredient
            ingredients[0] = ingredient
            break
        }//endifelse
    }//endfor

    return ingredients
}//endfunction

Validation:

/*  =========
    DATA SAMPLE
    =========   */
var response_one = {"food":{
    "ingredient":{
        "name":"Cucumber",
        "weight":"5",
        "cost":"1",
        }
    }
}

var response_two = {"food":{
    "ingredient":{
        "1":{
            "name":"Cheese",
            "weight":"10",
            "cost":"2"
            },
        "2":{
            "name":"Tomato",
            "weight":"20",
            "cost":"0.5"
            }
        }
    }
}

/*  ===========
    OUTPUT TEST
    =========== */
console.log( packageResponse(response_one.food.ingredient) )
console.log( packageResponse(response_two.food.ingredient) )

Outcome:

The provided code produces the following console output:

First Result:

0: Object
  cost: "1"
  name: "Cucumber"
  weight: "5"

Second Result

0: Object
  cost: "2"
  name: "Cheese"
  weight: "10"

1: Object
  cost: "0.5"
  name: "Tomato"
  weight: "20"

Retrieving sibling JSON information using Handlebars: How to handle a situation where a single object lacks a parent index key, yet multiple items possess an index key

Answer №1

Resolution:

Validation:

Outcome:

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