JSON and XML Serialization in ASP.NET Web API

JSON Media-Type Formatter

JSON formatting is provided by the JsonMediaTypeFormatter class. By default, JsonMediaTypeFormatter uses the Json.NET library to perform serialization. Json.NET is a third-party open source project.

If you prefer, you can configure the JsonMediaTypeFormatter class to use the DataContractJsonSerializer instead of Json.NET. To do so, set the UseDataContractJsonSerializer property to true

var json = GlobalConfiguration.Configuration.Formatters.JsonFormatter;

json.UseDataContractJsonSerializer = true;

XML Media-Type Formatter

XML formatting is provided by the XmlMediaTypeFormatter class. By default, XmlMediaTypeFormatter uses the DataContractSerializer class to perform serialization.

If you prefer, you can configure the XmlMediaTypeFormatter to use the XmlSerializer instead of the DataContractSerializer. To do so, set the UseXmlSerializer property to true:

var xml = GlobalConfiguration.Configuration.Formatters.XmlFormatter;

xml.UseXmlSerializer = true;