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Basics

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data-interchange format that is easy for humans to read and write and easy for machines to parse and generate. It is commonly used for data exchange in web applications, APIs, and configuration files.

Key Features

Human-readable and compact.
Language-independent but based on JavaScript syntax.
Widely supported across programming languages.

JSON Syntax Rules

1. Data is Organized as Key-Value Pairs

A key is always a string enclosed in double quotes. A value can be a string, number, object, array, boolean, or null.

{
  "name": "John",
  "age": 30,
  "isStudent": false
}

2. Objects

An object is an unordered set of key-value pairs. Enclosed in curly braces {}. Keys must be unique.

{
  "id": 1,
  "title": "Introduction to JSON",
  "author": {
    "firstName": "Alice",
    "lastName": "Smith"
  }
}

3. Arrays

An array is an ordered list of values. Enclosed in square brackets [].

{
  "tags": ["JSON", "Tutorial", "Data Format"],
  "scores": [95, 87, 78]
}

4. Supported Data Types

String: Enclosed in double quotes (""). Example: "example"
Number: Integers or decimals. Example: 42, 3.14
Boolean: true or false
Null: Represents no value: null
Object: A collection of key-value pairs.
Array: A collection of values.

Common Uses of JSON

1. Data Exchange

APIs often send and receive data in JSON format.

{
  "status": "success",
  "data": {
    "id": 101,
    "name": "Sample Item",
    "price": 19.99
  }
}

2. Configuration Files

Applications use JSON for configuration settings.

{
  "theme": "dark",
  "language": "en",
  "notifications": {
    "email": true,
    "sms": false
  }
}

3. Storing Structured Data

JSON is used in databases like MongoDB and local storage in web applications.

{
  "inventory": [
    { "id": 1, "name": "Widget A", "quantity": 100 },
    { "id": 2, "name": "Widget B", "quantity": 50 }
  ]
}

Validating JSON

1. Online Tools

Websites like jsonlint.com allow you to validate JSON.

2. Integrated Tools in Editors

Most code editors (e.g., VS Code) have plugins to validate JSON.

3. Programmatic Validation

In many programming languages, JSON parsers will validate JSON while parsing.

import json

json_data = '{"name": "John", "age": 30}'
try:
    parsed_data = json.loads(json_data)
    print("Valid JSON")
except json.JSONDecodeError as e:
    print("Invalid JSON:", e)

Tips for Using JSON Effectively

Keep it Simple: Avoid deeply nested structures unless necessary.
Use Meaningful Keys: Keys should clearly describe the value.
Validate Early: Validate JSON before processing it.
Follow Conventions: Use lowercase keys with underscores or camelCase.
Document Your Structure: Clearly describe the expected JSON structure in your project documentation.

JSON in Your Project

For your project, JSON can be used to:

Define items and their attributes (e.g., IDs, categories, and descriptions).
Organize links to external resources like datasheets or images.
Represent relationships between items (e.g., parent-child relationships for storage entities).

{
  "items": [
    {
      "id": "T001",
      "name": "Transistor BC547",
      "category": "Transistors",
      "description": "General-purpose NPN transistor.",
      "files": {
        "datasheets": ["datasheets/transistors/bc547.pdf"],
        "photos": ["photos/components/bc547.jpg"]
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "R123",
      "name": "Resistor 10k",
      "category": "Resistors",
      "description": "Used in low-power circuits."
    }
  ]
}

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