What is JSON and how is it used in APIs?

What is JSON and how is it used in APIs?

JSON stands for JavaScript Object Notation. It's a lightweight data interchange format that's easy for humans to read and write, and easy for machines to parse and generate. In APIs, JSON is commonly used to transmit data between a server and a client.

Can you give me an example of JSON data?

Sure! Here's a simple example of JSON data representing a user:

{
  "name": "John Doe",
  "age": 30,
  "email": "[email protected]"
}

How do I parse JSON in Python?

In Python, you can use the json module to parse JSON data. Here's a quick example:

import json

# JSON string
json_data = '{"name": "John Doe", "age": 30}'

# Parse JSON
data = json.loads(json_data)
print(data['name'])  # Output: John Doe

What are the advantages of using JSON over XML?

JSON is generally more lightweight and easier to read than XML. It has a simpler syntax, which makes it faster to parse and generate. Additionally, JSON is natively supported in JavaScript, making it a popular choice for web APIs.