Validation errors instead of exceptions when serializers receive incorrect types. Fixes #402.

docs/topics/release-notes.md

@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ Major version numbers (x.0.0) are reserved for project milestones.  No major poi
 
 ### Master
 
+* Bugfix: Validation errors instead of exceptions when serializers receive incorrect types.
 * Bugfix: Validation errors instead of exceptions when related fields receive incorrect types.
 
 ### 2.1.15

rest_framework/serializers.py

@@ -208,6 +208,11 @@ class BaseSerializer(Field):
         Converts a dictionary of data into a dictionary of deserialized fields.
         """
         reverted_data = {}
+
+        if data is not None and not isinstance(data, dict):
+            self._errors['non_field_errors'] = [u'Invalid data']
+            return None
+
         for field_name, field in self.fields.items():
             field.initialize(parent=self, field_name=field_name)
             try:
@@ -276,7 +281,7 @@ class BaseSerializer(Field):
         """
         if hasattr(data, '__iter__') and not isinstance(data, dict):
             # TODO: error data when deserializing lists
-            return (self.from_native(item) for item in data)
+            return [self.from_native(item, None) for item in data]
 
         self._errors = {}
         if data is not None or files is not None:

rest_framework/tests/serializer.py

@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ class AlbumsSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
         model = Album
         fields = ['title']  # lists are also valid options
 
+
 class PositiveIntegerAsChoiceSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
     class Meta:
         model = HasPositiveIntegerAsChoice
@@ -240,6 +241,25 @@ class ValidationTests(TestCase):
         self.assertFalse(serializer.is_valid())
         self.assertEquals(serializer.errors, {'content': [u'Test not in value']})
 
+    def test_bad_type_data_is_false(self):
+        """
+        Data of the wrong type is not valid.
+        """
+        data = ['i am', 'a', 'list']
+        serializer = CommentSerializer(self.comment, data=data)
+        self.assertEquals(serializer.is_valid(), False)
+        self.assertEquals(serializer.errors, {'non_field_errors': [u'Invalid data']})
+
+        data = 'and i am a string'
+        serializer = CommentSerializer(self.comment, data=data)
+        self.assertEquals(serializer.is_valid(), False)
+        self.assertEquals(serializer.errors, {'non_field_errors': [u'Invalid data']})
+
+        data = 42
+        serializer = CommentSerializer(self.comment, data=data)
+        self.assertEquals(serializer.is_valid(), False)
+        self.assertEquals(serializer.errors, {'non_field_errors': [u'Invalid data']})
+
     def test_cross_field_validation(self):
 
         class CommentSerializerWithCrossFieldValidator(CommentSerializer):