Introducing JSON

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data-interchange format. It is easy for humans to read and write. It is easy for machines to parse and generate. It is based on a subset of the JavaScript Programming Language Standard ECMA-262 3rd Edition - December 1999. JSON is a text format that is completely language independent but uses conventions that are familiar to programmers of the C-family of languagesincluding CC++C#JavaJavaScriptPerlPython, and many others. These properties make JSON an ideal data-interchange language.

JSON is built on two structures:

• A collection of name/value pairs. In various languagesthis is realized as an objectrecordstructdictionaryhash tablekeyed listor associative array.
• An ordered list of values. In most languagesthis is realized as an array, vectorlistor sequence.

These are universal data structures. Virtually all modern programming languages support them in one form or another. It makes sense that a data format that is interchangeable with programming languages also be based on these structures.

In JSONthey take on these forms:

An object is an unordered set of name/value pairs. An object begins with {left brace and ends with }right brace. Each name is followed by :colon and the name/value pairs are separated by ,comma.

An array is an ordered collection of values. An array begins with [left bracket and ends with ]right bracket. Values are separated by ,comma.

A value can be a string in double quotesor a number, or true or false or nullor an object or an array. These structures can be nested.

A string is a sequence of zero or more Unicode characterswrapped in double quotesusing backslash escapes. A character is represented as a single character string. A string is very much like a C or Java string.

A number is very much like a C or Java numberexcept that the octal and hexadecimal formats are not used.

Whitespace can be inserted between any pair of tokens. Excepting a few encoding detailsthat completely describes the language.