What is JSON and its use?
What is JSON and its Use in Web Technologies
JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight, text-based data interchange format used to represent structured data. It is human-readable, easy to write, and easy for machines to parse. Although it originated from JavaScript, JSON is language-independent and supported by almost all programming languages.
Key Characteristics of JSON
- Represents data as key–value pairs and arrays.
- Simple and compact, making it efficient for network transfer.
- Human-readable and easy to debug.
- Supports standard data types: string, number, boolean, null, object, and array.
- Commonly encoded as UTF-8.
- File extension: .json; MIME type: application/json.
Common Uses of JSON
- Client–server communication in web applications (REST APIs, AJAX/Fetch responses).
- Configuration files for apps and tools.
- Data storage and exchange in NoSQL/document databases.
- Serializing and transmitting structured data between services (microservices, message queues).
- Mobile and web app settings, user profiles, and logs.
Simple JSON Example
{
"id": 101,
"name": "Aarav",
"isActive": true,
"skills": ["HTML", "CSS", "JavaScript"],
"profile": {
"email": "aarav@example.com",
"age": 21
}
}
Why JSON is Popular
- Fast to parse and generate (e.g., JSON.parse and JSON.stringify in JavaScript).
- Reduces payload size compared to verbose formats.
- Works seamlessly across languages and platforms.