JSON File

What are JSON files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a JSON file or just wondering what they contain? We explain what these files are used for and show you software that we know can open or otherwise handle your files.

What is a JSON file?

JSON files have multiple uses, and Javascript Object Notation (JSON) Document is one of them. Read more about the other uses further down the page.

Javascript Object Notation (JSON) Document

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a file format that stores structured data in a simple and human-readable way. It is based on a subset of the JavaScript programming language and is commonly used for exchanging data between servers and web applications and persistently storing data.

The structure of a .json file relies on the concept of key-value pairs. Each key represents a specific piece of data, while the value captures data itself. Keys are strings enclosed in double quotes and values can take many forms including Boolean values, numbers, strings, or even arrays.

Syntactically correct .json files need a few specific components established at the beginning and end of each file in order to ensure compatibility with most current software platforms; these include braces at the start and end, colons separating key value pairs, commas delineating different entries, quotation marks around all string values, etc.

For example:

{ "key": "value", "key2": "value2" }

.json files can store various data types, including strings, numbers, booleans, arrays, and objects. They can also be nested, meaning that an object can contain other objects or arrays as values. .json files are often used to store configuration settings, data for web applications or mobile apps, and metadata for media files. They are also used to transmit data between servers and clients in a web API (Application Programming Interface).

JSON files can be opened and edited with a text editor or a specialized JSON editor. They can also be read and parsed by various programming languages, including JavaScript, Python, and Java, making them a popular choice for storing and exchanging data.

How to open JSON files

We have identified six JSON openers that are compatible with this specific type of JSON file.

Programs that open Javascript Object Notation (JSON) Document files

Last updated: January 30, 2023

All known file formats using extension .JSON

While Javascript Object Notation (JSON) Document is a popular type of JSON-file, we know of 24 different uses of the .JSON file extension. Different software may use files with the same extension for different types of data.

MAME Plugin Configuration

We know that one JSON format is MAME Plugin Configuration. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

JSON opener for Windows

We have identified one JSON opener that is compatible with this specific type of JSON file.

More file formats using the JSON extension

Through our research of JSON files, we know that the following formats exist. However, we have not yet analyzed them in detail.

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of JSON files. Remember, different programs may use JSON files for different purposes, so you may need to try out a few of them to be able to open your specific file.

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File.org helps thousands of users every day, and we would love to hear from you if you have additional information about JSON file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.