WHY YOU SHOULD BE USING JSON VS XML

Posted by status 200 on January 7th, 2021

Extensible Markup Language (XML) was once the only option for exchanging open data. However, the development of open data exchange presents more options for developers, each with its own advantages. XML is a common API integration method, but it is not always optimal for your project.

JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) is an interesting alternative. The first thing that comes to mind when it comes to JSON for developers is that it is lightweight compared to other open data exchange options. But that is not the only reason it should be used for the next RESTful API integration. Check out these features.

• Less redundant: JSON is a more compact style than XML and is often easier to read. JSON's lightweight approach can bring significant improvements to RESTful APIs running on complex systems.
• Fast - The parsing process of XML software can be time-consuming. One reason for this problem is the DOM manipulation library, which requires more memory to process large XML files. Since JSON generally uses less data, it can reduce costs and make crawls faster.
• Readable - The JSON structure is simple and readable. Makes it easy to map domain objects, regardless of the programming language you use.
• The structure matches the data: JSON uses a map data structure instead of an XML tree. In some situations, the key/value pairs may limit what you can do, but you get a predictable, easy-to-understand data model.
• Placing objects in code: JSON and code objects match. This is useful for quickly creating domain objects in dynamic languages.
• JSON Limits: JSON limits are ultimately one of the biggest advantages. A common idea among developers is that XML is on top because it supports the modeling of multiple objects. However, JSON restrictions simplify your code, add predictability, and improve readability.

Compared to the XML vs JSON model and data structure is intuitive, making it easy to read and map domain objects directly in your programming language.

XML data structure model

JSON data structure model

The RESTful API is based on simple, reliable, and fast data exchange. JSON is good for each of these attributes, but XML is difficult to implement. As more developers develop their API integration skills, the benefits of simple data sharing become clear.