JSON

JSON

JavaScript Object Notation

• text-based format for storing and exchanging data over the internet in a readable & efficient way

JavaScript Object vs JSON

• diagram
• JavaScript Object
  • A JS object is a data structure in JavaScript used to store collections of data in the form of key-value pairs.
  • const data = { name: "Alice", age: 30 };
• JSON (JavaScript Object Notation)
  • JSON is a string representation of data, based on JavaScript object syntax. It’s used for data exchange between servers and clients. It’s text-based.
  • { "name": "Alice", "age": 30 }
  • Exists only when it’s serialized → u convert a JavaScript object to a JSON thru serialization!

The process

const data = { name: "Alice", age: 30 };
 
// 1. Serialization (turning object to string)
const jsonData = JSON.stringify(data); //'{"name":"Alice","age":30}'
 
// 2. Send this jsonData over the network
 
// 3. Receiving this jsonData & Desserialization
const receivedData = JSON.parse(jsonString);
console.log(receivedData); // { name: "Alice", age: 30 }
// receivedData is back to being a JavaScript object, ready to be used in your program.

• When you send data over the internet, you send the serialized JSON string.
• Serialization: JSON.stringify()
• Deserialization: JSON.parse()