ssjs.guide SFMC

ParseJSON

→ object

Converts a JSON string into a native JavaScript object or array. SFMC's built-in substitute for JSON.parse(), which the SSJS engine does not provide.

Available in: Email CloudPage Automation Triggered Send

Syntax

Platform.Function.ParseJSON(jsonString)
1 argument

Parameters

Name Type Required Description
jsonString string Yes Well-formed JSON string to deserialise

Description

ParseJSON is the SSJS stand-in for JSON.parse() — the native method is absent from the JINT engine that powers SFMC scripting.

Critical caveat: ParseJSON throws a server 500 error if passed null, undefined, or a non-string value. Always coerce to string with + "" before calling.

Examples

Parse a JSON string

var json = '{"name":"Jane","score":95,"active":true}';
var obj  = Platform.Function.ParseJSON(json + "");

Write(obj.name);   // Jane
Write(obj.score);  // 95

Safe pattern: always use + ""

// ✅ Safe — even if responseBody is null, this won't throw
var data = Platform.Function.ParseJSON(responseBody + "");

if (data) {
    Write(data.title);
}

Parse HTTP response

The most common use case:

var req = new Script.Util.HttpRequest("https://api.example.com/data");
req.method = "GET";
req.setHeader("Authorization", "Bearer " + accessToken);
var resp = req.send();

// Step 1: Convert CLR response to JS string
var bodyStr = String(resp.content);

// Step 2: Parse JSON string to object
var data = Platform.Function.ParseJSON(bodyStr + "");

if (data && data.results) {
    for (var i = 0; i < data.results.length; i++) {
        Write(data.results[i].name + "<br>");
    }
}

Parse stored JSON from a DE

var jsonStr = Platform.Function.Lookup("Config", "Value", "Key", "api_settings");
var settings = Platform.Function.ParseJSON(jsonStr + "");

var endpoint = settings && settings.endpoint || "/api/v1";
var timeout  = settings && settings.timeout  || 30;

Array parsing

var arrayJson = '["red","green","blue"]';
var colors = Platform.Function.ParseJSON(arrayJson + "");

for (var i = 0; i < colors.length; i++) {
    Write(colors[i] + "<br>");
}

Common Mistakes

Not using + "":

// ❌ If jsonString is null/undefined → 500 error
var obj = Platform.Function.ParseJSON(jsonString);

// ✅ Safe coercion
var obj = Platform.Function.ParseJSON(jsonString + "");

Not checking the return value: ParseJSON returns null if the string is "null", "", or invalid JSON:

var data = Platform.Function.ParseJSON(str + "");
if (!data) {
    Write("No data or invalid JSON.");
    return;
}

ESLint rule: sfmc/ssjs-prefer-parsejson-safe-arg auto-fixes missing + "" coercion.

See Also

See Also