Converting Circular Structure To JSON – How To Fix It?
It is pretty common to get the “Converting circular structure to JSON” error in JavaScript coding, especially when you are a newbie to programming languages. It is quite frustrating to find errors after you run or compile the program and still not be able to fix it after repeated attempts for hours at a stretch.
Even after you have spent hours trying to find out the problem in your few lines of code, it is still common to miss the cause of the error. However, with time, you will understand these errors are nothing if you compare them to the overall picture. That is why professional programmers take it easy at the time of errors.
If you are getting the error in JavaScript programming, “TypeError: Converting circular structure to JSON,” then there is a solution for you to prevent this error from occurring. Read through this article in full to get the right solution to this error. Firstly, we will tell you how to deal with a Type Error, and then we will give you the solution of how to remove the error from your JavaScript code.
What Exactly Is TypeError Object?
To understand TypeError, you will need to get an idea of how JavaScript programming works in the first place. You will actually get three types of errors in JavaScript, namely logical errors, syntax errors, and runtime errors (also known as exceptions). Furthermore, there are many ways of handling exceptions in a JavaScript program. But that is a topic for another article altogether.
TypeError Is A Runtime Error
TypeError occurs at the runtime and hence is considered a runtime issue. The Syntax error occurs when you make use of a statement that is incorrect. The compiler will detect and show you the Syntax error.
However, the error shown in the program is a TypeError which is a runtime error. This is because the software crashes even though your Syntax is entirely correct. However, in our situation, the TypeError that has occurred is “Converting circular structure to JSON.” This explains that a problem is there with the object that you are trying to convert to a JSON object.
If you try to pass or access any object or a method of a type unexpected at the runtime, then it is natural to get TypeError after you have run your program.
The TypeError object occurs when it is not possible to perform an operation. This type of error is typically shown when the value you have entered in the program is not of the type expected at the runtime. TypeError usually occurs in the following cases:
- If you have created a function and have passed an argument or an operand that is incompatible with what is expected from the function or the operator in the program.
- If you attempt to modify a particular value, which is not subject to changes.
- If you try to make use of a particular value in a way that is not supported during runtime.
So, as you have understood the significance of TypeError and the cases in which it can occur, it is now time for you to understand the occurrence of TypeError in the case of a JSON object in JavaScript programming.
What Is The “TypeError: Converting circular structure to JSON”?
The TypeError Converting circular structure to JSON occurs only if you attempt to reference the name of your variable within the JSON object you are using in your program.
For example, let’s take the particular program below:
| var bicycle = {}bicycle.a = bicycleJSON.stringify(bicycle) |
The above code will give you a TypeError. This is because the JSON.stringify function cannot covert the structure used in the program. This type of error is also common with DOM nodes having circular references in the program.
As you have seen here, although the Syntax is entirely correct here, still the type of object here is unexpected by the machine during the runtime. Hence, it will show the “TypeError: Converting circular structure to JSON” after you have run this program.
When Do The “TypeError Converting circular structure to JSON” Occur?
The TypeError: Converting circular structure to JSON occurs after you try to convert your JavaScript object containing a circular reference to a JSON object. A circular reference occurs when your object refers to itself in your code, whether directly or indirectly. Let’s take the help of another example here:
Suppose you create a JavaScript object named “ob” and provide it with a property to reference itself in the program:
| let ob = {nm: “MyFavCode”,parent: null} ob.parent = ob; |
Here, you can see a simple example of a circular reference in the JavaScript program. In this case, the “parent” property in the program references the object “ob.” This is sure to return a TypeError at the runtime if you try to convert this object to a JSON object. Then, it will show the error, “TypeError: Converting circular structure to JSON.” This is because the method named JSON.stringify() is not fully compatible with circular references in JavaScript programs.
How To Resolve Converting circular structure to JSON Error? – An Example
The following are some of the significant ways through which you can resolve the “TypeError: Converting circular structure to JSON” problem:
- Remove the circular references in your program, manually detecting those references.
- Make use of the library JSONC, which makes JSON objects compatible with circular references.
- You can also make use of the “flatted/cjs” package in your JavaScript program.
Summing Up
In this article, you have seen the possible situation when a TypeError object returns in a JavaScript program and also the cases in which the error “Converting circular structure to JSON” occurs. You also got an idea of how to deal with the problem with a helpful solution.
If you use the solution given above, you are sure to remove the TypeError – Converting circular structure to JSON with just a few steps. This is a common issue that many programmers have dealt with during JavaScript programming. If you have a better solution to the error “TypeError: Converting circular structure to JSON,” then comment below to help others.
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