Difference Between JSON and XML
JSON and XML are popular data formats in programming. JSON is simple and fast, great for web data. XML is more detailed and structured, better for complex information. As a Python developer, your choice between them depends on your project’s needs.
JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) s based on a subset of the JavaScript Programming Language, whereas XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is similar to HTML in that it uses tags to define elements, but it is not a fixed format like HTML. In this article we will learn the difference between JSON and XML.
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JSON vs XML: Difference Between JSON and XML
| Parameter | JSON | XML |
| Definition | It is a file format that stores and transmits the data objects into human-readable text. | It is a markup language designed to store and distribute data across the web and various APIs. |
| Full-Form | JavaScript Object Notation | eXtensible Markup Language. |
| Language | Derived from javascript. | Derived from SGML. |
| Extension | .json | .xml |
| Data Types | Supports string, number, boolean, and arrays. | Data is in a string format. |
| Tags | No tags | Data is represented in tags. |
| Array | Use an array to represent the data. | Doesn’t use arrays. |
| Comments | Don’t support | Support |
| NameSpace | Don’t support | Support |
| Orientation | Data Oriented | Document Oriented |
| Security | Less Secured | More secured than JSON |
What is JSON?
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 based on a subset of the JavaScript Programming Language. JSON is a text format that is completely language independent but uses conventions that are familiar to programmers of the C-family of languages, including C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, Perl, Python, and many others. These properties make JSON an ideal data-interchange language.
Example: Create a record of Players.
{ “Player”:[ { “Id”: “CPT01” “Name”: “ABC” “Game”: “Cricket” } { “Id”: “CPT02” “Name”: “XYZ” “Game”: “Volleyball” }]}
Advantages and Disadvantages of JSON
- Easy to read and write
- Supports different data types and key-value pairs.
- Doesn’t support namespace and lacks formatting validation.
- Less secure in comparison to XML.
What is XML?
XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is a markup language that is used to store and transport data. It is similar to HTML in that it uses tags to define elements, but it is not a fixed format like HTML. XML tags are not predefined, you must define your own tags. XML is often used to transmit data between a server and a web application, or between different parts of a program.
Example: Create a record of players (same as in example 1)
<root> <Player> <Id> CPT01</Id> <Name>ABC</Name> <Game>Cricket</Game> </Player> <Player> <Id> CPT02</Id> <Name>XYZ</Name> <Game>Volleyball</Game> </Player></root>
Advantages and Disadvantages of XML
- Simplifies the platform exchange process and separates the data from normal HTML documents, while XML is a markup language designed to store and distribute data across the web and various APIs.
- User-defined tags can be created.
- Allows java and C++ to create interfaces for applications that are not web-based.
- Files are bulky and require more sizes.
- XML doesn’t have any data type support and has complex syntaxes.
Key Similarities and Differences between JSON and XML
- JSON is a file format that stores and transmits the data objects into human-readable text.
- JSON uses an array to represent the data, while XML doesn’t use an array.
- XML is more secure than JSON.
- JSON is quite fast as it consumes very less memory space.
- Both JSON and XML are used to store and interchange data in an easily understandable format.
- Both JSON and XML are open sources, i.e., they do not have to pay anything to use.
- XML and JSON both support hierarchical structure.
- Both JSON and XML can be easily parsed and retrieved using an HTTP request.
Conclusion
In this article, we have covered:
- Difference between JSON and XML
- Advantages and Disadvantages of JSON
- Advantages and Disadvantages of XML
Hope, you will like the article.
FAQs
What is JSON?
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's based on a subset of JavaScript language.
What is XML?
XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is a markup language that defines a set of rules for encoding documents in a format that is both human-readable and machine-readable. It's primarily used for the sharing of data across different systems, particularly over the internet.
What are the main difference between JSON and XML?
1. Readability: JSON is generally more readable and concise compared to XML. 2. Data Types: JSON supports basic data types (string, number, array, boolean, null), whereas XML data is all string and needs to be parsed. 3. Parsing: JSON can be parsed by a standard JavaScript function, while XML requires an XML parser. 4. Size: JSON is typically shorter than XML, making it faster to read and write from a network perspective.
When should I use JSON over XML and vice versa?
Use JSON when you need a lightweight format that is easy to read/write and parse. It's ideal for web APIs, configurations, and AJAX requests from web applications. Use XML when dealing with complex documents, need support for namespaces, or require extensive metadata. It's suitable for document markup (like XHTML), web services (SOAP), and when document validation is crucial.
Can JSON and XML be used together?
Yes, they can be used together, but it's not common. Each format serves different needs and is typically chosen based on the specific requirements of the system or application.
Vikram has a Postgraduate degree in Applied Mathematics, with a keen interest in Data Science and Machine Learning. He has experience of 2+ years in content creation in Mathematics, Statistics, Data Science, and Mac... Read Full Bio
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