Convert json to avro record Object in java

Introduction:

Avro is a popular data serialization system that offers efficient data exchange and storage capabilities. When working with Avro, you may encounter scenarios where you need to convert JSON data into Avro record objects. In this blog post, we will explore the process of converting JSON to Avro record objects, enabling you to seamlessly integrate JSON data into your Avro-based applications.

Step 1: Define the Avro Schema 

The first step is to define the Avro schema that corresponds to the structure of your JSON data. The Avro schema specifies the fields, data types, and hierarchy of the data. Ensure that the Avro schema accurately represents the JSON structure.

Step 2: Generate Code from the Avro Schema 

To convert JSON to Avro record objects, you'll need to generate code based on the Avro schema. There are various code generation tools available, depending on your programming language and development environment. For example, you can use the Avro Maven Plugin or the Avro Gradle Plugin if you are working with Java.

Invoke the code generation tool with the Avro schema as input, and it will generate classes or structures representing the Avro record objects based on the schema.

Step 3: Parse and Convert the JSON Data 

Next, you need to parse the JSON data and convert it into Avro record objects using the generated code. The specific code required for this step will depend on the programming language you are using.

In Java, for example, you can use the generated Avro record classes and the Jackson library to parse and convert JSON data. Here's an example of how to accomplish this:

import org.apache.avro.Schema;

import org.apache.avro.io.DatumReader;

import org.apache.avro.io.Decoder;

import org.apache.avro.io.DecoderFactory;

import org.apache.avro.specific.SpecificDatumReader;

import java.io.IOException;

public class JsonToAvroExample {

    public static void main(String[] args) {

        Example event = deserializeEvent(Example.class, "{}", Example.getClassSchema());

    }

    private static <T> T deserializeEvent(Class<T> clazz, String json, Schema schema)

            throws IOException {

        DatumReader<T> reader =

                new SpecificDatumReader<>(clazz);

        Decoder decoder =

                DecoderFactory.get().jsonDecoder(schema, json);

        return reader.read(null, decoder);

    }

}

Step 4: Testing the JSON to Avro Conversion 

To ensure that the conversion is working correctly, you should test the JSON to Avro conversion functionality. Prepare sample JSON data that matches the structure defined in the Avro schema. Use the deserializeEvent method, passing in the JSON data and the corresponding Avro schema. Validate that the resulting Avro record object contains the expected data.

Conclusion: 

Converting JSON to Avro record objects allows you to seamlessly incorporate JSON data into your Avro-based applications. By defining the Avro schema, generating code, and utilizing appropriate parsing and conversion techniques, you can efficiently transform JSON data into Avro record objects. Avro's flexibility and efficiency make it a powerful choice for data serialization. Integrate the steps outlined in this guide into your development workflow, and you'll be able to handle JSON to Avro conversions with ease.

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