---
title: "Introduction to JSON"
description: "JSON is smaller than XML, and faster and easier to parse. JSON (an acronym for JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight text-based open standard d"
author: "Anonymous User"
published: 2012-05-04
updated: 2014-09-18
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/blog/304/introduction-to-json
category: "json"
tags: ["json"]
reading_time: 2 minutes
---
# Introduction to JSON
JSON is smaller than XML, and faster and easier to parse. JSON (an acronym for JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight text-based open standard designed for human-readable data interchange. It is derived from the JavaScript [programming language](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/329035/5-most-in-demand-programming-languages-to-consider-for-your-app-development-in-2022) for representing simple [data structures](https://www.mindstick.com/blog/301312/data-structures-and-their-applications) and associative arrays, called objects. JSON is syntax for storing and exchanging text information.\
JSON is a text format that is completely language [independent](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/98599/what-is-the-longest-river-in-the-commonwealth-of-independent-states) but uses conventions that are familiar to programmers of the C-family of languages, including C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, Perl, Python, and many others. These properties make JSON an ideal data-interchange language.
##### JSON is built on two structures:
· A collection of name/value pairs. In various languages, this is realized as an object, record, struct, dictionary, [hash table](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/157906/what-is-the-difference-between-a-hash-table-and-an-array-when-would-you-use-one-over-the-other), keyed list, or [associative array](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/606/length-of-javascript-object-ie-associative-array).
· An ordered list of values. In most languages, this is realized as an array, vector, list, or sequence.
JSON is not only a syndication format (e.g. an [alternative](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/2324/what-is-the-alternative-to-the-mvc) to XML); it is a language-independent data interchange format.
##### Why JSON?
For AJAX [applications](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/12847/how-to-choose-the-right-ethernet-cable-for-industrial-applications), JSON is faster and easier than XML.
##### Using XML:
##### · Fetch an XML document
##### · Use the XML DOM to loop through the document
##### · Extract values and store in variables
##### \
Using JSON:
##### · Fetch a JSON string
##### · eval() the JSON string
##### JSON Syntax Rule:
##### JSON syntax is a subset of the JavaScript object notation syntax.
##### · Data is in name/value pairs
##### · Data is separated by comma
##### · Curly brackets holds objects
##### · Square brackets holds arrays
Example: In this example, simply I have created [JSON object](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/699/how-to-parse-into-json-object-using-json-parse-in-node-js) and store some values after then set these values into proper names.
```
JSON Object Creation Demo JSON Object Creation in JavaScript
Name:
Age:
Address:
Phone:
```
Now save this file in html format and open it with [web browser](https://www.mindstick.com/blog/301688/best-web-browsers-for-2023).
---
Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/blog/304/introduction-to-json
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