JSON
2 synonyms for JSON, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A plain-text format for storing and sending structured data, using labelled values grouped inside braces and lists inside square brackets. It is readable by people and easily processed by most programming languages.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
JavaScript Object Notation
data-interchange format
How to use JSON
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
JSON file
parse JSON
valid JSON
JSON payload
return JSON
Pronounced like the name Jason. Used as an uncountable noun and as a modifier: "a JSON file", "parse the JSON".
Etymology
An initialism of JavaScript Object Notation, from the fact that its syntax follows the way objects are written in JavaScript.
Full origin of JSON →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between JSON and XML?
Both carry structured data as text. JSON is lighter, with less punctuation, and maps directly onto the lists and key-value structures most languages already have. XML is more verbose but supports features JSON lacks, such as attributes, namespaces and schema validation, and is still common in older enterprise systems.
Is JSON the same as JavaScript?
No. JSON is a data format whose syntax was taken from JavaScript's way of writing objects. It contains data only — no functions, no logic — and is used by languages far beyond JavaScript.
What does it mean when JSON is "invalid"?
The text does not follow the format's rules — commonly a missing comma or bracket, a trailing comma, or single quotes where double quotes are required. Parsers reject the whole document rather than guessing, so one small error stops the entire file being read.
