Deserialize

The Deserialize macro generates JSON deserialization methods with cycle and forward-reference support, plus comprehensive runtime validation. This enables safe parsing of complex JSON structures including circular references.

Generated Output

For classes (class_handler), the macro generates static methods plus standalone functions (nameDeserialize, nameDeserializeWithContext, nameIs) that delegate to them:

• static deserialize(input: unknown, opts?: DeserializeOptions): { success: true; value: T } | { success: false; errors: Array<{ field: string; message: string }> } - Auto-detects JSON string vs object; never throws. opts.freeze freezes all deserialized objects.
• static deserializeWithContext(value, ctx): T | PendingRef - Internal method used for nested/cyclic graphs; throws DeserializeError on structural errors
• static hasShape(obj): boolean - Checks all required JSON keys are present
• static is(value): value is T - Type guard: instanceof check, then hasShape, then a full deserialize
• static validateField(field, value) / static validateFields(partial) - Run the field validators without deserializing
• A synthesized constructor(props) that assigns all deserialized fields

Interfaces and type aliases get the standalone-function forms of the same surface (there is no class to attach statics to). Enums (enum_handler) get nameDeserialize/nameDeserializeWithContext/nameIs; unlike the other shapes, the enum deserialize function throws an Error on invalid values rather than returning a result union.

Validation (see validation) runs during deserialization and reports failures through the errors array of the result union. Field-level options are parsed by field_processing; see the parent serde module for the option and validator reference.