## What is JSON - a simple explanation JSON is a lightweight data format that is easy for humans to read and write.  It’s actually an acronym which stands for **Ja**vScript **O**bject **N**otation but despite being derived from JavaScript, JSON is completely language-independent which means it can be used across various programming languages and platforms.  The "Object Notation" part of JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) sounds complicated but it simply refers to the way data is structured and represented in JSON format, which is inspired by JavaScript’s object syntax. We’ll look more closely at this when we come onto the syntax in a second. #### **Who uses JSON and what do they use it for?** JSON is predominantly used by engineers but engineers and non-engineers alike will likely come across JSON at some point during their time in tech since JSON is used for common things including: 1. **Data exchange and analysis** - JSON is widely used for data exchanges between different systems and applications.  2. **API communication and web services** - most modern APIs now use JSON as their primary data format for request and responses. It’s pretty easy to read and is lightweight and because it’s closely linked to Javascript objects, it makes working with APIs on the web much easier. 3. **Data storage -** noSQL databases like MongoDB use JSON-like formats to store documents. ## Key characteristics and syntax - the important bits worth knowing JSON is popular because it’s simple to read and understand. But having said that, if you’re not quite sure what the structure of JSON’s syntax is, reading and understanding it can still be tricky. Let’s take a look at some of the most important bits worth knowing about JSON’s syntax along with some examples together. #### **“Object notation” explained** As we mentioned earlier, JSON is an acronym for Javascript Object Notation and the “Object notation” part of this refers to the way data is structured and represented in JSON format, inspired by Javascript. **How object notation in JSON works** JSON is written in key-value pairs, which is similar to how ‘objects’ are structured in javascript. In JSON, an object is a fundamental data structure that represents a collection of key-value pairs enclosed in curly braces {}. It's one of the primary ways to organize and structure data in JSON format. Let’s imagine we work at a fintech SaaS company for a second and consider how objects might be used. In this case, you might have a series of different JSON objects which represents the following: - User accounts - Financial transactions  - Investment portfolio - Loan application Technical architects and software engineers would typically decide which objects need to exist in an application and when new features are built, existing objects may be updated to reflect new capabilities or new objects might need to be created to power the new capabilities.