What is JSON? Definition, Functions, Values & Examples

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a text-based data interchange format that can be read by both humans and computer systems.

It has become one of the most favored file formats due to its structure, which is based on JavaScript object syntax, making it concise and easy to understand.

Learn about what is JSON, its functions, advantages, disadvantages, and its values in the article below.

What is JSON?

JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) is a structured file format that can be used to store, configure, and facilitate the exchange and transmission of data.

It has become one of the most popular choices as it is simpler, lightweight, and easier compared to XML (Extensive Markup Language), which typically requires thousands of lines of code and parsing.

Initially, this file format was only designed for sending data between web apps and servers. However, with technological advancements, this format can now be used for various other purposes.

Despite being based on the JavaScript programming language, it turns out that many other programming languages also adopt this format. 

Additionally, some search engines like Google+ and Mozilla Firefox have also implemented this JavaScript Object Notation.

JSON Function

In addition to understanding the definition, it is also essential to grasp the functions of this file format. Here are some JSON functions:

1. As a Simple and Flexible Data Structure

The primary JSON function is to provide a simple and flexible data structure for exchanging information between different applications or systems. 

The format is organized in key-value pairs which makes it more intuitive and efficient because developers can read and write data without some specialized tools.

2. As a Configuration File Format

JavaScript Object Notation is widely used as a file format in software development. One of its functions is to simplify system configuration because its format is easier to write and read by humans. 

It utilizes object and array notations to represent data, enabling the storage of complex configurations with a clear hierarchy. 

As a result, some JavaScript applications (e.g. ReactJS and Node.js) also use this object Notation for storing configurations.

3. As a Data Storage

JavaScript Object Notation is a format implemented by almost all NoSQL databases. The format itself uses a key-value structure which means that entire sets of data can be easily stored with simple queries.

4. Supporting Data Transmission

JavaScript Object Notation is a frequently used format for data transmission in many software applications, such as web apps, due to its small size and support for network transmission.

JSON Data Syntax Rules

As one of the popular data formats, this notation requires less code, is easy to read, and can be processed faster as it doesn't require deserialization (byte recreating real objects in memory).

Since the data is based on JavaScript literal syntax, here are the elements and rules you should pay attention to:

• The data elements are always separated by commas.
• JSON data is typically presented in a structure of key/value pairs.
• Square brackets ([]) within the data indicate an array.
• Curly brackets ({}) are used to define objects.

Here is one of JSON examples data with the literal object syntax:

Types of JSON Values

Now that you understand what is JSON and its syntax rules, it is also essential to comprehend the types of JSON values, such as:

1. Object

In JavaScript Object Notation, objects data typically contain a pair with two supporting components: key and value.

• Key: A sequence of characters enclosed in quotation marks.
• Value: The valid data types, can be a string, boolean, number, object, null, or array.

To write it, you need to place a colon (:) between each key and value, with commas (,) separating the pairs. Don't forget to use quotation marks (“) for each component.

In the example above, "pilot" is the key and everything after it is considered an object.

2. Array

The next value is an array, a collection of values arranged in a specific order. In its notation, an array value can contain objects. Thus, the array value implements the same key/value pair concept.

Here's an example of writing an array value in JavaScript Object Notation:

In the example above, square brackets ([]) successfully form an array value consisting of three objects.

3. String 

This string value consists of a sequence of consecutive unicode characters enclosed in double quotation marks (“).

For example:

4. Number

As the name suggests, it is a value that must be a floating point and can be filled with numbers.

For example:

5. Null

Null is an empty value to indicate that no information is specified in a component.

For example:

6. Boolean

Simply put, a boolean is a value that only has two answers: true and false.

For example:

The Advantages and Disadvantages

As one of the popular file format options, JavaScript Object Notation has its advantages and disadvantages. If you plan to use this format, be aware of the following considerations.

Advantages

• Its format is small and lighter for transmission over networks.
• Well-suited for web applications and APIs.
• Flexible and applicable to many programming languages.
• Facilitates data exchange with various systems.
• Comes with a much simpler syntax, using key-value pairs.
• Can store complex data structures while maintaining a structured format.

Disadvantages 

• The parsing process can be inconsistent due to the variety of programming language usage.
• It does not allow the addition of comments to the data, limiting interaction among developers.
• The format supports only data types such as arrays, objects, and numbers.
• It can be vulnerable to cyber threats, especially when used in less credible browser services.

How to Open JSON File Format?

Considering that the format consists of simple text files, you can open it easily. In this case, you might need an open-source tool such as Vim (for Linux operating systems), GitHub Atom, Mozilla Firefox, or Google Chrome to directly view the format files.

That concludes the comprehensive discussion on what is JSON, its functions, and values, as well as its advantages and disadvantages.

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