In plain language
JSON organizes information with keys, values, lists, and nested objects in a form both people and software can read.
Example
An API returns {"status":"paid","order_id":"A123"} to describe an order.
Related terms
Common misconception
JSON is not JavaScript code and does not support comments, functions, or unquoted property names.
Implementation guidance
Validate against a schema when possible, use a parser rather than string concatenation, preserve data types, and avoid logging sensitive fields.