JSON

If you do not know anything about JSON, please, spend some time on learning JSON structure.

What is JSON?

JSON stands for

• Java
• Script
• Object
• Notation

N.B. Don’t be scared. JSON is easy to learn and use! This is not a programming language!!!

JSON is data-storing format that easy to read and write for humans and robots.

• key: value - this is key-value pair.
• Key and value are separated with semicolon (:), no exceptions.
• Multiple key-values are separated with comma (,), no exceptions.
• Spaces and line breaks are ok till they not the part of key or value.
• The key is always text inserted between double quotes (" ").
• But value can be different types:
  • string - "sample text", "cool\nthings"
  • number - 42, -300, 6.62e-34
  • object - { "name": "Jason", "likes": ["apples", "oranges"] }
  • array - ["apple", "banana", "orange"], [1, true, 3, "meow"]
  • boolean - true, false
  • null - null

About strings

Strings can store any characters you want, but some of them need to be escaped:

• double quote - \"
• slash - \\
• backslash - \/ (escaping is optional)
• newline - \n (use this if you want to add newline to value)
• carriage return - \r
• horizontal tab - \t
• backspace - \b
• form feed - \f
• unicode character - \uxxxx

Example

{
  "name": "Pumpkin",
  "age": 7,
  "likes": [
    "patting",
    "sleeping in a garden",
    "salmon"
  ],
  "appearance": "Orange Tabby",
  "owner_name": "Jane Doe",
  "phone_number": "+447712345678",
  "address": {
    "country": "England",
    "city": "London",
    "street": "Crown Street",
    "house": 38,
    "notes": null
  }
}

Recommended sources

• Learn X in Y minutes, Where X=json - quick JSON tutorial
• JSON official site - official website that explains the format using flowcharts