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What is JSON?

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight, text-based data format for storing and exchanging structured data as key/value pairs and ordered lists. It is language-independent, easy for humans to read and machines to parse, and is the default format for web APIs and configuration.

A JSON document is built from two structures: objects (unordered key/value pairs in { }) and arrays (ordered lists in [ ]). Values can be strings, numbers, booleans, null, objects or arrays. Keys and strings use double quotes; there are no comments and no trailing commas.

JSON became the lingua franca of web APIs because it maps directly onto data structures in almost every language and parses natively in browsers. It is also widely used for configuration, logging and data storage.

JSON tools

Frequently asked questions

What does JSON stand for?

JavaScript Object Notation. Despite the name it is language-independent and used far beyond JavaScript.

What are JSON data types?

String, number, boolean, null, object and array. Strings and keys must use double quotes.