.json files
.json file
JavaScript Object Notation
The standard text format for structured data on the web and in config files.
What opens a .json file
- Windows
- Visual Studio Code, Notepad (built in), Any web browser
- macOS
- Visual Studio Code, TextEdit (built in), Any web browser
- Linux
- Visual Studio Code, Text Editor (built in), jq (command line)
- In a browser
- Any web browser, JSON Formatter
What a .json file is
JSON is a lightweight, human-readable way of writing nested data as objects and arrays, standardised as RFC 8259. Almost every web API speaks it and most modern applications store settings in it. It is strict about syntax — no trailing commas, no comments — which is why a config file that looks fine is often rejected over one stray character.
Converting it
A .json file is commonly converted to .csv, .xml, .yaml, .xlsx or .txt. It is a plain text format, so any text editor can open and edit it directly.
Details
- Extension
- .json
- Full name
- JavaScript Object Notation
- Category
- Data
- MIME type
- application/json
- Created by
- Douglas Crockford / IETF
- Format
- Plain text
Common questions
- How do I open a .json file?
- On Windows use Visual Studio Code; on macOS use Visual Studio Code; on Linux use Visual Studio Code. The standard text format for structured data on the web and in config files.
- What is a .json file?
- JavaScript Object Notation. JSON is a lightweight, human-readable way of writing nested data as objects and arrays, standardised as RFC 8259. Almost every web API speaks it and most modern applications store settings in it.
- Can I convert a .json file?
- Yes. It is usually converted to .csv, .xml, .yaml, .xlsx or .txt, either by exporting from one of the programs listed above or with a format converter.
Related pages
- .csv — Comma-Separated Values A spreadsheet as plain text, one row per line — the universal data exchange form
- .xml — Extensible Markup Language A tag-based text format for structured data, still everywhere in enterprise syst
- .yaml — YAML Data File An indentation-based configuration format, readable but unforgiving about whites
- .log — Log File A plain-text record of what a program did, newest events usually at the bottom.
- .torrent — BitTorrent Metainfo File A few kilobytes of metadata describing what to download and from whom — not the
- .dat — Generic Data File A meaningless extension — .dat says only that some program stored data here.
- .vcf — vCard Contact File One or more contacts as plain text — the standard way to move an address book.
- .sql — SQL Script A text file of database commands — often a full database dump.
- .ics — iCalendar Event A calendar invitation or event feed in a plain-text standard format.
- .sqlite — SQLite Database A complete relational database in a single file — the most deployed database in
- .db — Generic Database File An extension many programs use for their data — it does not identify one format.
- .bin — Binary File Raw binary data — most often a disc image paired with a .cue, or device firmware
Sources
- Media Types Registry — IANA
- Official vendor product documentation — At One Place