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What is JSON?

Direct answer: JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight, text-based format for representing structured data as objects and arrays. It is language-independent, human-readable, and the dominant payload format for REST APIs, configs, and webhooks.

Step-by-step

  1. Step 1

    Recognize the building blocks

    JSON values are objects {}, arrays [], strings, numbers, booleans, or null.

  2. Step 2

    Follow syntax rules

    Keys must be double-quoted strings. No trailing commas. No comments in strict JSON.

  3. Step 3

    Validate before shipping

    Paste payloads into a JSON validator to catch syntax errors early.

Examples

Minimal object

{
  "id": 1,
  "name": "Ada",
  "active": true
}

FAQ

Is JSON the same as JavaScript?

No. JSON is a data format inspired by JavaScript object literal syntax, but it is used across many languages and has stricter rules than JS.

Where is JSON used?

APIs, configuration files, webhook bodies, log events, and browser storage commonly use JSON.

Try it in BracketView

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