What is JSON?

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a text format for storing and exchanging data. Despite the name, it works with any language, not just JavaScript.

JSON looks like this:

{
  "name": "Alice",
  "age": 30,
  "active": true
}

It supports a few basic types: strings, numbers, booleans, null, arrays, and objects. That simplicity is its strength - every language can read and write it.

JSON is everywhere:

• Web APIs send and receive JSON
• Configuration files use JSON
• Databases store JSON documents

Python's json module handles conversion between JSON text and Python objects. Dictionaries become JSON objects, lists become arrays.

I cover JSON fundamentals in my JSON with Python course.