What is JSON?
JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data format used to store and exchange data between
systems.
It is easy to read for humans and easy to parse for machines, which makes it one of the most widely used
formats
in web development, APIs, and modern software systems.
JSON structure
JSON is built using two main structures: objects and arrays. An object is a collection of key-value
pairs, while
an array is an ordered list of values. These structures allow JSON to represent complex data in a simple
and
flexible way.
{
"name": "Codartium",
"active": true,
"tools": ["JSON Formatter", "Base64 Encoder"],
"version": 1
}
JSON example explained
In this example, the JSON object contains key-value pairs such as "name", "active", and "tools". Each
key represents a property, and each value defines the associated data.
Why JSON is widely used
JSON is the standard format for data exchange in APIs and web applications. It is supported by almost
every
programming language and is commonly used in frontend-backend communication, configuration files, and
data storage.
Its simplicity and compatibility make it a fundamental technology in software engineering.
Common use cases
- APIs and web services
- Data exchange between frontend and backend
- Configuration files
- Storing structured data
Work with JSON
If you need to format, validate or inspect JSON data, you can use an online tool to quickly process and
visualize
its structure.
Try it here:
JSON Formatter