Applying strict boolean behavior in ASP.NET WEB API JSON request model

Introduction

In ASP.NET WEB API / MVC in the request input model if you have some property that accepts bool type with content type application/json, it might even accept numbers which will be converted to bool type. If you send numbers as input for bool, it'll be converted to false for 0 and true for everything else (with an exception observed - 08 and 09 as null). 

Problem statement

To restrict from numbers being accepted as input for bool type property in JSON content type.

Solution

1. Create a converter that inherits from Newtonsoft.Json.JsonConverter.
2. Override ReadJson method, check the ValueType for bool type and throw JSON serializer exception if not.

Snippet (Converter)

public class BooleanConverter : JsonConverter
{
    public override void WriteJson(JsonWriter writer, object value, JsonSerializer serializer)
    {
        
    }

    public override object ReadJson(JsonReader reader, Type objectType, object existingValue, JsonSerializer serializer)
    {
        if (reader.ValueType != typeof(bool))
        {
            throw new JsonSerializationException("Invalid data type");
        }
        return reader.Value;
    }

    public override bool CanConvert(Type objectType)
    {
        return objectType == typeof(bool);
    }
}