how to read json one object data from restful service - angularjs

Question

I am trying to read data from services using restful service. when I have one json object I am getting the issue. here is my code:
service code:
var ROAList =[];
var promise = $http.post(urlBase + '/' + 'getROAList', params)
.success(function (data) {
ROAList = data.item;
return ROAList;
})
.error(function (data) {
ROAList = 'error';
return ROAList;
});
return promise;
In Controller:
var list =[];
$scope.ROAListItem = function(){
list =service.getROAList();
}
In html:
<div ng-repeat="roa in list()" ng-click ="selectROAitem(roa.soa.name)">
<div> {{roa.id}} </div>
<div> {{roa.soa.name}}</div>
here is my json data:
{"item": [
{
"id":"001",
"type":"001x2z"
"sao": {
"itemNo": "3",
"name": "001"
},
},
{
"id":"002",
"type":"002x2g"
"sao": {
"itemNo": "5",
"name": "006"
}
]}
it working fine for more than one item but I am getting an error for one item. for this json data:
{"item":{
"id":"001",
"type":"001x2z"
"sao": {
"itemNo": "3",
"name": "001"
}
}
for this data ,I am getting 'cannot read property 'name' of undefined.

Answer 1

Removed long winded answer. I didn't see your last section. Your multiple returns are all stored in an array, while your single return is not. So the dot access is incorrect for the single object.
In response to comment: again, you should really format the return data so that it's always in array, but otherwise you could do something like:
$scope.ROAListItem = function(){
list = service.getROAList();
if(!Array.isArray(list)){
list = [list];
}
}

Answer 2

A quick solution would be to modify your service call like so:
$http.post(urlBase + '/' + 'getROAList', params)
.success(function (data) {
ROAList = data.item;
if (!angular.isArray(ROAList)) {
ROAList = [ ROAList ];
}
return ROAList;
})
However, your service really should provide consistent behavior, returning an array even if there is only one item.