Formatting data for an API JSON response











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I have a couple of questions about formating data ready for an API JSON response.





  1. If sending a datetime value (YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS format) in an API json response, if there is no datetime set, which one of these should it be:



    an empty string ""



    A string of "0000-00-00 00:00:00"



    null



  2. Is it good practice to make all values have a fixed datatype (not a mixed data type) in API responses? So for example, if a value will be an array, but there are no elements in the array, should the value be made an empty array rather than false or null so that value will always be an array?







json-api







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    up vote
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    favorite












    I have a couple of questions about formating data ready for an API JSON response.





    1. If sending a datetime value (YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS format) in an API json response, if there is no datetime set, which one of these should it be:



      an empty string ""



      A string of "0000-00-00 00:00:00"



      null



    2. Is it good practice to make all values have a fixed datatype (not a mixed data type) in API responses? So for example, if a value will be an array, but there are no elements in the array, should the value be made an empty array rather than false or null so that value will always be an array?







    json-api







    share|improve this question


























      up vote
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      down vote

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      up vote
      0
      down vote

      favorite











      I have a couple of questions about formating data ready for an API JSON response.





      1. If sending a datetime value (YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS format) in an API json response, if there is no datetime set, which one of these should it be:



        an empty string ""



        A string of "0000-00-00 00:00:00"



        null



      2. Is it good practice to make all values have a fixed datatype (not a mixed data type) in API responses? So for example, if a value will be an array, but there are no elements in the array, should the value be made an empty array rather than false or null so that value will always be an array?







      json-api







      share|improve this question















      I have a couple of questions about formating data ready for an API JSON response.





      1. If sending a datetime value (YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS format) in an API json response, if there is no datetime set, which one of these should it be:



        an empty string ""



        A string of "0000-00-00 00:00:00"



        null



      2. Is it good practice to make all values have a fixed datatype (not a mixed data type) in API responses? So for example, if a value will be an array, but there are no elements in the array, should the value be made an empty array rather than false or null so that value will always be an array?







      json-api




      json-api






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      edited Nov 7 at 10:04

























      asked Nov 7 at 9:25









      Andy

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          1. you can use null data type

          2. You can use a nullable datatype e.g. DateTime? MyNullableDate;






          share|improve this answer























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            1. you can use null data type

            2. You can use a nullable datatype e.g. DateTime? MyNullableDate;






            share|improve this answer



























              up vote
              0
              down vote














              1. you can use null data type

              2. You can use a nullable datatype e.g. DateTime? MyNullableDate;






              share|improve this answer

























                up vote
                0
                down vote










                up vote
                0
                down vote










                1. you can use null data type

                2. You can use a nullable datatype e.g. DateTime? MyNullableDate;






                share|improve this answer















                1. you can use null data type

                2. You can use a nullable datatype e.g. DateTime? MyNullableDate;







                share|improve this answer














                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer








                edited Nov 7 at 10:25









                JJJ

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                29k147591










                answered Nov 7 at 9:35









                Debabrata

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