Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
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How It Works • Programming

JSON

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight, text-based data-interchange format used to represent structured data in a human-readable form.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight, text-based format for representing structured data. It is language-independent and widely used for data exchange between systems.

What it is

JSON is a compact, human-readable data format derived from JavaScript but language-independent. It uses objects (key-value pairs) and arrays to represent data. JSON values can be strings, numbers, booleans, null, objects, or arrays. It is standardized under ECMA-404 and RFC 8259.

How it works

A JSON document is built from objects enclosed in curly braces and arrays in square brackets. Keys must be strings, and values follow a simple syntax. JSON does not natively support functions or dates. Most programming languages include libraries to parse and generate JSON.

Why it matters

JSON is the de facto standard for web APIs, configuration files, and system-to-system data exchange. Its simplicity, readability, and broad support make it essential for modern software development, including Canadian public-sector systems and web services.

In short

  • JSON is a text format for serializing structured data.
  • It is language-independent, despite its JavaScript origins.
  • JSON values include objects, arrays, strings, numbers, booleans, and null.
  • Widely used for data exchange between clients and servers.
Canadian angle

JSON has no uniquely Canadian origin, but it is widely used in Canadian software development, public-sector systems, and web services, including applications that exchange structured data through APIs.

Quick questions

What does JSON stand for?
JSON stands for JavaScript Object Notation.
Is JSON a programming language?
No. JSON is a data format, not a programming language.
Why is JSON popular?
It is lightweight, readable, easy to parse, and supported by most programming languages.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JSON
    Supports: General definition, language independence, file extension, and common usage
  2. JSON.org — https://www.json.org/json-en
    Supports: Lightweight format, ease of reading and parsing, and JavaScript-based origin
  3. MDN Web Docs — https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Glossary/JSON
    Supports: Supported data types, relationship to JavaScript, and limitations
  4. IETF — https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc7159
    Supports: Text-based, language-independent data interchange format derived from ECMAScript
  5. JSON Schema — https://json-schema.org/learn/glossary
    Supports: Widespread use and parser support across programming languages
  6. Oracle — https://www.oracle.com/database/what-is-json/
    Supports: Common web/mobile use, human-readable and machine-parsable nature