JSON at Work

Chapter 1. JSON Overview

The JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) data format enables applications to communicate over a network, typically through RESTful APIs. JSON is technology-agnostic, nonproprietary, and portable. All modern languages (e.g., Java, JavaScript, Ruby, C#, PHP, Python, and Groovy) and platforms provide excellent support for producing (serializing) and consuming (deserializing) JSON data. JSON is simple: it consists of developer-friendly constructs such as Objects, Arrays, and name/value pairs. JSON is not limited to Representational State Transfer (REST); it also works with the following:

• Node.js (which stores project metadata in package.json)

• NoSQL databases such as MongoDB (see Chapter 9)

• Messaging platforms such as Kafka (see Chapter 10)

JSON Is a Standard

In the early days, REST’s detractors derided RESTful Web Services as being non-standard, but (just like HTTP) JSON is in fact a standard. Both the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and Ecma International (formerly the European Computer Manufacturers Association, or ECMA) have recognized JSON as a standard. Douglas Crockford originally created JSON in 2001, and initially standardized it in 2006 under RFC 4627 through the IETF; see the JSON specification. In the fall of 2013, Ecma International also standardized JSON under ECMA 404; see their JSON specification. With Ecma recognition (per Douglas Crockford; see his Google+ page), JSON is now considered a formal international data processing standard. ...