JSON (JavaScript Object Notation)

JSON is the de facto standard for APIs and configuration files due to its simplicity.

Data types

• Objects: Key-value pairs wrapped in {}.
• Arrays: Ordered lists wrapped in [].
• Strings, Numbers, Booleans, Null: Primitive values.

Best practices

• Validate JSON schema to prevent malformed data.
• Escape special characters in strings to avoid injection.
• Minimize whitespace in production for smaller payloads.
• Use consistent formatting for readability in source control.

Security considerations

• Avoid eval() or unsafe deserialization.
• Validate input before processing.
• Set size limits to prevent denial of service.