JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) is a data interchange format created from a subset of JavaScript. The Internet Engineering Task Force's RFC 4627 describes JSON as follows:
"JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) is a lightweight, text-based, language-independent data interchange format. It was derived from the ECMAScript Programming Language Standard. JSON defines a small set of formatting rules for the portable representation of structured data."
JSON developers use JSON as an alternative data interchange format to XML. XML is widely used to exchange data in a heterogeneous environment. However, some developers consider XML as too verbose for exchanges between a web browser and a web server as part of a rich internet application. For more information about XML, see OpenEdge Development: Working with XML.
JSON's appeal as an alternative to XML comes from smaller HTTP messages and less complicated syntax. The smaller messages and simpler syntax can provide a significant performance advantage over XML. As a result, JSON is popular for rich internet applications, especially AJAX applications. JSON's popularity in AJAX applications makes it ideal for WebSpeed® developers.
