Python All-in-One For Dummies

Chapter 2

Juggling JSON Data

IN THIS CHAPTER

Organizing JSON data

Understanding serialization

Loading data from JSON files

Dumping Python data to JSON

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a common marshalling format for object-oriented data. That term, marshalling format, generally means a format used to send the data from one computer to another. However, some databases, such as the free Realtime Database at Google’s Firebase, actually store the data in JSON format as well. The name JavaScript at the front sometimes throws people off a bit, especially when you’re using Python, not JavaScript, to write your code. But don’t worry about that. The format just got its start in the JavaScript world. It’s now a widely known general purpose format used with all kinds of computers and programming languages.

In this chapter you learn exactly what JSON is, as well as how to export and import data to and from JSON. If you find that all the buzzwords surrounding JSON make you uncomfortable, don’t worry. We’ll get through all the jargon first. As you’ll see, JSON data is formatted almost the ...