JSON Basics: Quick Start Guide

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data format used for storing and exchanging data. It's human-readable, easy to use, and supported by virtually every programming language.

What is JSON?

JSON is a text-based format for representing structured data. Despite its name, JSON is language-independent and works with Python, Java, C#, Ruby, PHP, and more.

Why Use JSON?

• Simple & Readable: Easy for humans to read and write
• Lightweight: Minimal syntax overhead
• Universal: Every language can parse JSON
• Web-Native: Perfect for APIs and web apps

Basic JSON Example

{
  "name": "John Doe",
  "age": 30,
  "isStudent": false,
  "courses": ["Math", "Science"],
  "address": {
    "city": "New York",
    "zip": "10001"
  }
}

JSON Rules

• Data is in key/value pairs
• Keys must be strings in double quotes
• Values can be strings, numbers, booleans, arrays, objects, or null
• Use commas to separate data (no trailing comma)
• Objects use curly braces {}, arrays use square brackets []