JSON arrays vs. properties

Question

I'm finding that a JSON response from Raylight may or may not be an array depending on whether there are multiple items.  For example, a WebI doc with multiple reports will produce this:
  "reports": {
    "report": [
        "id": 2,
        "name": "Report 1",
        "reference": "2.RS",
        "showDataChanges": false
        "id": 1,
        "name": "Report 2",
        "reference": "1.RS",
        "showDataChanges": false
Whereas if there is only one report tab, the result is:
  "reports": {
    "report":  {
        "id": 2,
        "name": "Report 1",
        "reference": "2.RS",
        "showDataChanges": false
This is a problem, since the report property must be accessed differently.  With JQuery, if "report" is an array, I can access the individual reports with:
$.each(json.reports.report,function() { $(this).id });
But the code doesn't work if there is only one report -- it returns the properties of the "report" property instead of report itself.  Instead, I have to do:
json.reports.report.id
So, is there any code that can access the "report" properties whether or not it's an array?

Answer 1

When we have arrays in java, why did they provide
arraylist? What is the basic advantage of ArrayList
over Array?
Thanks in advanceLook at the API that would answer your question. All the functionality available for Arraylist is it available for arrays as well.
It is very similar to asking why have String class when you can have an array of chars.
Sun is just trying to make your life easy