JSON is an acronym for JavaScript Object Notation, and is “an open standard data interchange format.” As you might suspect, JSON was developed using the JavaScript language. It uses a text-based format and is lightweight, easy to read, supports array data structures, and is language-independent.
Browse the Best Free APIs List
What is a JSON Array?
A JSON array, as in similar programming languages, is an ordered list of components enclosed in square brackets [], each one detached from the next by a comma. JSON arrays are nearly the same as an array in JavaScript, however, unlike JavaScript, the components must be numbers, strings, objects, Boolean, arrays, or null, whereas a JavaScript array can include any legitimate JavaScript expression, functions, and dates.
How does JSON work?
JSON works by sending data from the server to a user’s browser, and vice versa. A typical transfer of data would be done using AJAX, allowing a web application to exchange information seamlessly and without reloading the web page. For example, an online shopper selects an item to look at. A script running in the browser requests the details from a PHP script on the server, which obtains all the details of that product and sends it back to the user’s browser, where the JavaScript deciphers it and displays the item in detail on the user’s screen.
Who is JSON for exactly?
JSON is ideal for anyone who needs to gather, store and manipulate data, such as names, addresses, telephone numbers, etc., and any other kind of information that can be structured into a list of records.
Anyone who is developing an application for a mobile device will benefit from using JSON. Because it is a lightweight data-interchange format, its uses are wide and varied, from converting currency to booking a flight.
Why is JSON important?
JSON’s importance lies in its simplicity. It is the best tool for sharing or interchanging data among different applications. Analyzing data between applications via JSON is simpler because of JSON’s “language-independent” data format. For this reason, JSON is a more effective file format, easy to implement, and it will allow different programs to communicate with each other without excessive use of bandwidth.
What you can expect from JSON
The first thing that is noticeable when using JSON is how lightweight it is compared to other available options.
You will also find that JSON has:
LESS VERBIAGE: Compared to XML, JSON’s style is more compact and on the whole more readable. Its lightweight structure can help improve APIs communicating with intricate systems.
MORE SPEED: Unlike other parsing, processing applications, JSON requires less data, meaning, overall, you can reduce costs and increase parsing speed.
MORE READABLE: Because the structure of JSON is uncomplicated and readable, mapping to objects will be easier regardless of which programming language is in use.
OBJECT ALIGNMENT: JSON objects align with code objects, which, if creating domain objects in a dynamic language, is very valuable.
7. Use cases and examples of JSON.
a) Generate a JSON object from a submitted user form.
A website visitor completes a contact form with their name, password, and email. This information can be saved to memory, temporarily, in JSON format, and then use the JSON object to save the data to a database.
Example:
{“name”: “Jason”, “password”:”98765”, “email”:”jason@email.com”}
b) Transfer data between systems.
A person’s information in a database needs to be verified. Using an API service from Google, you can transfer the data in JSON format to their address verification service.
Example:
{
“street”: “1 main street”
“city”: “Tampa”
“zip”: “33578”
“state”: “FL”
}
8 . What are the benefits of JSON?
i. SPEED.
JSON is fast due to the syntax providing easy parsing and fast execution of data. The reason for its speed is the small and lightweight syntax used, and this means the transmission time between server and client is shorter, reducing the amount of bandwidth used.
ii. BROWSER COMPATIBILITY.
As long as browsers have JavaScript enabled and can support the “eval()” function, applications made with JSON can parse JSON data across all browsers without being worried about cross-browser concerns.
iii. LESS WORDY.
Compared to XML, JSON is more compact and more readable. The lightweight style of JSON can lead to significant improvements in APIs within complicated systems.
iv. DATA IS MATCHED BY STRUCTURE.
JSON utilizes a map data configuration, unlike XML’s tree. In certain situations, value/key pairing can limit what can be done, but you do get an easy-to-understand, predictable model.
v. LESS MEMORY NEEDED.
JSON has a data structure that results in the memory requirement on both the server and the client are less, but especially on the client, helping the browser to cater for larger size JSON documents and make it more responsive.
9. How does JSON compare to competitors?
Although there are several popular alternatives and competitors to JSON such as YAML, Avro, Protobuf, and OData, JSON has one main competitor-XML.
XML has been around for over 20 years and has become a fundamental part of every application to be found on the internet. But, there are significant differences between JSON and XML.
First of all, JSON is primarily a data format, and XML is a markup language. If a project necessitates any document markup and/or metadata information, then XML is the better choice. If, however, a more organized interchange of data is needed, the JSON might be your best bet.
Here is a comparison between XML and JSON:
Language –
XML is a markup language.
JSON is a JavaScript format.
Data storage –
XML stores data in a tree structure.
JSON stores data like a map with key-value pairs.
Processing –
XML can process and format documents.
JSON does no processing.
Speed –
XML is slow to parse, making data transmission slower.
JSON Extremely fast due to small file size, faster parsing, and fast data transfer.
Document size –
XML has big files, bulky document size, complex readability.
JSON is compact, easy to read, and has no empty tags or data redundancy.
Array support –
XML does not directly support arrays.
JSON does support arrays.
If there is a requirement for simple data exchanges between client and server, without any need for validation, the JSON is your best choice.
10. In conclusion.
When data needs to be transmitted between a web application and a server, if it is a choice between JSON and other programming languages, and you need simplicity; the speed of data transfers; compact, easily read data; and cross-browser support then JSON would be the best option.
JSON’s popularity has grown by leaps and bounds over the years, resulting in many databases providing support for JSON. Major databases like MySQL and SQL Server are shipped with integrated support for querying and storing JSON data.
Leave a Reply