diff --git a/‎docs/api-usage.rst‎
Lines changed: 32 additions & 0 deletions b/‎docs/api-usage.rst‎
Lines changed: 32 additions & 0 deletions
diff --git a/‎gitlab/base.py‎
Lines changed: 19 additions & 13 deletions b/‎gitlab/base.py‎
Lines changed: 19 additions & 13 deletions
diff --git a/‎tests/unit/test_base.py‎
Lines changed: 97 additions & 0 deletions b/‎tests/unit/test_base.py‎
Lines changed: 97 additions & 0 deletions
@@ -214,6 +214,38 @@ the value on the object is accepted:
       issue.my_super_awesome_feature_flag = "random_value"
       issue.save()
 
+You can get a dictionary representation copy of the Gitlab Object. Modifications made to
+the dictionary will have no impact on the GitLab Object.
+
+ * `asdict()` method. Returns a dictionary representation of the Gitlab object.
+ * `attributes` property. Returns a dictionary representation of the Gitlab
+   object. Also returns any relevant parent object attributes.
+
+.. note::
+
+   `attributes` returns the parent object attributes that are defined in
+   `object._from_parent_attrs`. What this can mean is that for example a `ProjectIssue`
+   object will have a `project_id` key in the dictionary returned from `attributes` but
+   `asdict()` will not.
+
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   project = gl.projects.get(1)
+   project_dict = project.asdict()
+
+   # Or a dictionary representation also containing some of the parent attributes
+   issue = project.issues.get(1)
+   attribute_dict = issue.attributes
+
+You can get a JSON string represenation of the Gitlab Object. For example:
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   project = gl.projects.get(1)
+   print(project.to_json())
+   # Use arguments supported by `json.dump()`
+   print(project.to_json(sort_keys=True, indent=4))
 
 Base types
 ==========
 
@@ -15,7 +15,9 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
+import copy
 import importlib
+import json
 import pprint
 import textwrap
 from types import ModuleType
@@ -151,15 +153,26 @@ def __getattr__(self, name: str) -> Any:
     def __setattr__(self, name: str, value: Any) -> None:
         self.__dict__["_updated_attrs"][name] = value
 
+    def asdict(self, *, with_parent_attrs: bool = False) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        data = {}
+        if with_parent_attrs:
+            data.update(copy.deepcopy(self._parent_attrs))
+        data.update(copy.deepcopy(self._attrs))
+        data.update(copy.deepcopy(self._updated_attrs))
+        return data
+
+    @property
+    def attributes(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        return self.asdict(with_parent_attrs=True)
+
+    def to_json(self, *, with_parent_attrs: bool = False, **kwargs: Any) -> str:
+        return json.dumps(self.asdict(with_parent_attrs=with_parent_attrs), **kwargs)
+
     def __str__(self) -> str:
-        data = self._attrs.copy()
-        data.update(self._updated_attrs)
-        return f"{type(self)} => {data}"
+        return f"{type(self)} => {self.asdict()}"
 
     def pformat(self) -> str:
-        data = self._attrs.copy()
-        data.update(self._updated_attrs)
-        return f"{type(self)} => \n{pprint.pformat(data)}"
+        return f"{type(self)} => \n{pprint.pformat(self.asdict())}"
 
     def pprint(self) -> None:
         print(self.pformat())
@@ -250,13 +263,6 @@ def encoded_id(self) -> Optional[Union[int, str]]:
             obj_id = gitlab.utils.EncodedId(obj_id)
         return obj_id
 
-    @property
-    def attributes(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
-        d = self.__dict__["_updated_attrs"].copy()
-        d.update(self.__dict__["_attrs"])
-        d.update(self.__dict__["_parent_attrs"])
-        return d
-
 
 class RESTObjectList:
     """Generator object representing a list of RESTObject's.
 
@@ -36,6 +36,16 @@ class FakeManager(base.RESTManager):
     _path = "/tests"
 
 
+class FakeParent:
+    id = 42
+
+
+class FakeManagerWithParent(base.RESTManager):
+    _path = "/tests/{test_id}/cases"
+    _obj_cls = FakeObject
+    _from_parent_attrs = {"test_id": "id"}
+
+
 @pytest.fixture
 def fake_gitlab():
     return FakeGitlab()
@@ -46,6 +56,21 @@ def fake_manager(fake_gitlab):
     return FakeManager(fake_gitlab)
 
 
+@pytest.fixture
+def fake_manager_with_parent(fake_gitlab):
+    return FakeManagerWithParent(fake_gitlab, parent=FakeParent)
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def fake_object(fake_manager):
+    return FakeObject(fake_manager, {"attr1": "foo", "alist": [1, 2, 3]})
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def fake_object_with_parent(fake_manager_with_parent):
+    return FakeObject(fake_manager_with_parent, {"attr1": "foo", "alist": [1, 2, 3]})
+
+
 class TestRESTManager:
     def test_computed_path_simple(self):
         class MGR(base.RESTManager):
@@ -306,3 +331,75 @@ def test_repr(self, fake_manager):
 
         FakeObject._id_attr = None
         assert repr(obj) == "<FakeObject>"
+
+    def test_attributes_get(self, fake_object):
+        assert fake_object.attr1 == "foo"
+        result = fake_object.attributes
+        assert result == {"attr1": "foo", "alist": [1, 2, 3]}
+
+    def test_attributes_shows_updates(self, fake_object):
+        # Updated attribute value is reflected in `attributes`
+        fake_object.attr1 = "hello"
+        assert fake_object.attributes == {"attr1": "hello", "alist": [1, 2, 3]}
+        assert fake_object.attr1 == "hello"
+        # New attribute is in `attributes`
+        fake_object.new_attrib = "spam"
+        assert fake_object.attributes == {
+            "attr1": "hello",
+            "new_attrib": "spam",
+            "alist": [1, 2, 3],
+        }
+
+    def test_attributes_is_copy(self, fake_object):
+        # Modifying the dictionary does not cause modifications to the object
+        result = fake_object.attributes
+        result["alist"].append(10)
+        assert result == {"attr1": "foo", "alist": [1, 2, 3, 10]}
+        assert fake_object.attributes == {"attr1": "foo", "alist": [1, 2, 3]}
+
+    def test_attributes_has_parent_attrs(self, fake_object_with_parent):
+        assert fake_object_with_parent.attr1 == "foo"
+        result = fake_object_with_parent.attributes
+        assert result == {"attr1": "foo", "alist": [1, 2, 3], "test_id": "42"}
+
+    def test_asdict(self, fake_object):
+        assert fake_object.attr1 == "foo"
+        result = fake_object.asdict()
+        assert result == {"attr1": "foo", "alist": [1, 2, 3]}
+
+    def test_asdict_no_parent_attrs(self, fake_object_with_parent):
+        assert fake_object_with_parent.attr1 == "foo"
+        result = fake_object_with_parent.asdict()
+        assert result == {"attr1": "foo", "alist": [1, 2, 3]}
+        assert "test_id" not in fake_object_with_parent.asdict()
+        assert "test_id" not in fake_object_with_parent.asdict(with_parent_attrs=False)
+        assert "test_id" in fake_object_with_parent.asdict(with_parent_attrs=True)
+
+    def test_asdict_modify_dict_does_not_change_object(self, fake_object):
+        result = fake_object.asdict()
+        # Demonstrate modifying the dictionary does not modify the object
+        result["attr1"] = "testing"
+        result["alist"].append(4)
+        assert result == {"attr1": "testing", "alist": [1, 2, 3, 4]}
+        assert fake_object.attr1 == "foo"
+        assert fake_object.alist == [1, 2, 3]
+
+    def test_asdict_modify_dict_does_not_change_object2(self, fake_object):
+        # Modify attribute and then ensure modifying a list in the returned dict won't
+        # modify the list in the object.
+        fake_object.attr1 = [9, 7, 8]
+        assert fake_object.asdict() == {
+            "attr1": [9, 7, 8],
+            "alist": [1, 2, 3],
+        }
+        result = fake_object.asdict()
+        result["attr1"].append(1)
+        assert fake_object.asdict() == {
+            "attr1": [9, 7, 8],
+            "alist": [1, 2, 3],
+        }
+
+    def test_asdict_modify_object(self, fake_object):
+        # asdict() returns the updated value
+        fake_object.attr1 = "spam"
+        assert fake_object.asdict() == {"attr1": "spam", "alist": [1, 2, 3]}