How to Fix Object of Type int64 is not JSON Serializable Error in Python: Tips and Tricks

If you are working with Python, you may have encountered the error "Object of Type int64 is not JSON Serializable". This error occurs when you try to convert a Python object, which contains an int64 value, to a JSON object.

In this guide, we will discuss the possible causes of this error and provide you with some tips and tricks on how to fix it.

Possible Causes of the Error

The "Object of Type int64 is not JSON Serializable" error can occur due to the following reasons:

Int64 Value: The error occurs when you try to convert an object, which contains an int64 value, to a JSON object. Int64 is a data type that is not supported by JSON.

Data Type Mismatch: If the data type of the object you are trying to convert to a JSON object does not match the expected data type, you may encounter this error.

Incorrect Syntax: If there is a syntax error in the code, you may encounter this error.

Now that we know the possible causes of the error, let's move on to the tips and tricks on how to fix it.

Tips and Tricks to Fix the Error

Tip 1: Convert Int64 to String

As we mentioned earlier, the error occurs when you try to convert an object, which contains an int64 value, to a JSON object. One way to fix this error is to convert the int64 value to a string.

Here's an example code snippet:

import json
import numpy as np

arr = np.array([1, 2, 3], dtype=np.int64)
arr = arr.astype(str) # convert int64 to str
json.dumps(arr)

In this code snippet, we first create a NumPy array with int64 values. We then convert the int64 values to strings using the astype() method. Finally, we use the json.dumps() method to convert the array to a JSON object.

Tip 2: Use a Custom Encoder

Another way to fix the error is to use a custom encoder. A custom encoder allows you to define how to encode custom objects to JSON.

Here's an example code snippet:

import json
import numpy as np

class Int64Encoder(json.JSONEncoder):
    def default(self, obj):
        if isinstance(obj, np.int64):
            return int(obj)
        return json.JSONEncoder.default(self, obj)

arr = np.array([1, 2, 3], dtype=np.int64)
json.dumps(arr, cls=Int64Encoder)

In this code snippet, we define a custom encoder Int64Encoder that converts int64 values to Python integers. We then use the json.dumps() method with the cls parameter to specify the custom encoder.

Tip 3: Use a Third-party Library

Finally, you can also use a third-party library, such as simplejson, to fix the error. simplejson is a fast JSON encoder/decoder that supports additional Python data types.

Here's an example code snippet:

import simplejson as json
import numpy as np

arr = np.array([1, 2, 3], dtype=np.int64)
json.dumps(arr, ignore_nan=True)

In this code snippet, we use the simplejson.dumps() method with the ignore_nan parameter to convert the array to a JSON object.

FAQ

Q1. What is int64 in Python?

int64 is a data type in Python that represents a 64-bit integer.

Q2. What is JSON?

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data interchange format that is easy for humans to read and write and easy for machines to parse and generate.

Q3. Why is int64 not JSON serializable?

Int64 is not JSON serializable because it is not a supported data type in JSON.

Q4. What is a custom encoder in Python?

A custom encoder in Python is a class that inherits from the json.JSONEncoder class and overrides the default() method to define how to encode custom objects to JSON.

Q5. What is simplejson in Python?

simplejson is a third-party library in Python that is a fast JSON encoder/decoder that supports additional Python data types.

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