JSON Structure Guide - Learn JSON Formatting Best Practices

What is JSON?

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data-interchange format. It is easy for humans to read and write, and strictly follows the RFC 8259 standard.

Data Types

JSON supports the following native data types:

• String A sequence of characters enclosed in double quotes (e.g., "Hello").
• Number Integer or floating-point (e.g., 42, 3.14).
• Boolean true or false.
• Null Represents an empty value (null).
• Array An ordered list of values enclosed in square brackets ([]).
• Object A collection of key/value pairs enclosed in curly braces ({ }).

Syntax Rules

{
  "string": "Keys must be double-quoted strings",
  "number": 123,
  "boolean": true,
  "null_value": null,
  "array": [
    "No trailing commas are allowed in the last item",
    2
  ],
  "object": {
    "nested": "structures work fine"
  }
}

Specifications & Standards

JSON is defined by several standards that have evolved over time. While they are mostly identical, understanding the differences can be helpful for strict compliance.