Cannot parse JSON-encoded object value

I'm using Loopback, a node.js API framework which helps you to develop RESTful API very easy and fast. It reduces the programming/coding require and allow you to deploy your API within days.

However, things may not be as easy you can think of. The documentation given is still lack of information and there are not many solutions that can help you to solve your problem. One of it is Cannot parse JSON-encoded object value issue.

The error message you will get as example below

error": {

"statusCode": 400,

"name": "Error",

"message": "Cannot parse JSON-encoded object value.",

"stack": "Error: Cannot parse JSON-encoded object value. at Object.fromSloppyValue (D:\Project\loopback\touchpoint\node_modules\strong-remoting\lib\types\object.js:34:19) at HttpContext.buildArgs (D:\Project\loopback\touchpoint\node_modules\strong-remoting\lib\http-context.js:193:22) at new HttpContext (D:\Project\loopback\touchpoint\node_modules\strong-remoting\lib\http-context.js:59:20) at restStaticMethodHandler (D:\Project\loopback\touchpoint\node_modules\strong-remoting\lib\rest-adapter.js:485:15) at Layer.handle [as handle_request] (D:\Project\loopback\touchpoint\node_modules\express\lib\router\layer.js:95:5) at next (D:\Project\loopback\touchpoint\node_modules\express\lib\router\route.js:137:13) at Route.dispatch (D:\Project\loopback\touchpoint\node_modules\express\lib\router\route.js:112:3) at Layer.handle [as handle_request] (D:\Project\loopback\touchpoint\node_modules\express\lib\router\layer.js:95:5) at D:\Project\loopback\touchpoint\node_modules\express\lib\router\index.js:281:22 at Function.process_params (D:\Project\loopback\touchpoint\node_modules\express\lib\router\index.js:335:12) at next (D:\Project\loopback\touchpoint\node_modules\express\lib\router\index.js:275:10) at Function.handle (D:\Project\loopback\touchpoint\node_modules\express\lib\router\index.js:174:3) at router (D:\Project\loopback\touchpoint\node_modules\express\lib\router\index.js:47:12) at Layer.handle [as handle_request] (D:\Project\loopback\touchpoint\node_modules\express\lib\router\layer.js:95:5) at trim_prefix (D:\Project\loopback\touchpoint\node_modules\express\lib\router\index.js:317:13) at D:\Project\loopback\touchpoint\node_modules\express\lib\router\index.js:284:7"

You can google it but the solution was not helpful enough to guide you. Sometimes, when you used its pre-default apps (coming together when you setup your loopback apps) known as swagger (Loopback API Explorer), the url and parameter used seem work as it meant to be. The problem only occurs when you try to call it from 3rd party apps such as ARC (Advanced Rest Client, POSTMAN, IMSONIA) or from your program, the above error occurs.

How to solve this?

1. Ensure that you run and test your parameter passing which should be in JSON format is valid. You may use online such as Jsonlint or any JSON validator available.
2. If it is valid, then, ensure that all key and value is in open and close double quote - "key": "value". Do not use single quote 'key': 'value'
3. Finally, if the above two is correct, encode some of your parameter; for instance, '%' shall be encoded to '%25'. Use online encoder to help you such as https://www.urlencoder.org/

The above solution only applicable if you implement method through http GET, POST, PATCH, etc request. It may not be applicable for other REST calling method.

#enjoycoding