How to let an ASMX file output JSON

To receive a pure JSON string, without it being wrapped into an XML, you have to write the JSON string directly to the HttpResponse and change the WebMethod return type to void.

    [System.Web.Script.Services.ScriptService]
    public class WebServiceClass : System.Web.Services.WebService {
        [WebMethod]
        public void WebMethodName()
        {
            HttpContext.Current.Response.Write("{property: value}");
        }
    }