JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data-interchange format. JSON is easier and lighter than XML. It is easy for humans to read and write. It is easy for machines to parse and generate. JSON is a text format that is completely language independent but uses conventions that are familiar to programmers. These properties make JSON an ideal data-interchange language. JSON is built on two data structures, a collection of name-value pairs and an ordered list of values.
In JSON, they take on these forms:
Object:
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).
Array:
An array is an ordered collection of values. An array begins with [ (left bracket) and ends with ] (right bracket). Values are separated by , (comma).
Value:
A value can be a string in double quotes, or a number, or true or false or null, or an object or an array. These structures can be nested.
String:
A string is a sequence of zero or more Unicode characters, wrapped in " (double quotes), using \ (backslash) escapes. A character is represented as a single character string. A string is very much like a C or Java string.
Number:
A number is very much like a C or Java number, except that the octal and hexadecimal formats are not used.