Json

The Json namespace serializes and deserializes JSON. No @tools annotation required.

text = json.stringify({ symbol: "BTC", price: 67000 })
data = json.parse(text) as dynamic
io.show("{data.symbol}")   # BTC

json.stringify(value) -> str

Converts a Keel value to a JSON string.

json.stringify("hello")              # "\"hello\""
json.stringify(42)                   # "42"
json.stringify(true)                 # "true"
json.stringify(none)                 # "null"
json.stringify([1, 2, 3])            # "[1,2,3]"
json.stringify({ a: 1, b: "x" })    # "{\"a\":1,\"b\":\"x\"}"

If a type implements the Serializable interface, json.stringify calls to_json() instead of the default serializer:

use std/json

type Order {
  id: str
  amount: float
}

impl Serializable for Order {
  task to_json(self) -> str {
    "{\"id\":\"{self.id}\",\"amount\":{self.amount:.2f}}"
  }
}

o: Order = { id: "ord-1", amount: 99.5 }
json.stringify(o)   # {"id":"ord-1","amount":99.50}

json.parse(text)

Parses a JSON string. The type checker does not infer a precise return type — treat the result as untyped and narrow with as T or annotate as dynamic before using it. The JSON-to-Keel type mapping at runtime is:

Named-field access (parsed.price) resolves at runtime. A missing key raises rather than returning none — use ?? or check existence explicitly.

Narrow to a concrete type with as T as early as possible:

body = http.get("https://api.example.com/ticker")?.body ?? ""
data = json.parse(body) as dynamic

price  = data.price as str             # str field
volume = data.volume as int            # int field
rows   = data.candles as list[dynamic] # array field

for row in rows {
  close = (row as list[dynamic])[4] as str
}

Strict mode: keel check --strict flags unannotated json.parse bindings because the return type cannot be inferred statically. Add data: dynamic = json.parse(...) (explicit dynamic annotation, always clean) or cast immediately to a concrete type with as T.

Tip: narrow immediately after parsing. Keeping values as dynamic throughout a program defeats the type checker and suppresses autocomplete.