JSON: The Basics B U I LT I N FA I R F I E L D C O U N T Y: FRONT END

JSON: The Basics B U I LT I N FA I R F I E L D C O U N T Y: FRONT END DEVELOPERS MEETUP T U E S . M AY 1 4 , 2 0 1 3

About Jeff Fox (@jfox015) 16 year web development professional (Almost) entirely self taught Has used various Ajax-esque data technologies since 2000, including XML, MS data islands and AMF for Flash Develops JavaScript based web apps that rely on JSON for data workflow

Overview What is JSON? Comparisons with XML Syntax Data Types Usage Live Examples

What is JSON?

JSON is A lightweight text based data-interchange format Completely language independent Based on a subset of the JavaScript Programming Language Easy to understand, manipulate and generate

JSON is NOT Overly Complex A “document” format A markup language A programming language

Why use JSON? Straightforward syntax Easy to create and manipulate Can be natively parsed in JavaScript using eval() Supported by all major JavaScript frameworks Supported by most backend technologies

JSON vs. XML

Much Like XML Plain text formats “Self-describing“ (human readable) Hierarchical (Values can contain lists of objects or values)

Not Like XML Lighter and faster than XML JSON uses typed objects. All XML values are type-less strings and must be parsed at runtime. Less syntax, no semantics Properties are immediately accessible to JavaScript code

Knocks against JSON Lack of namespaces No inherit validation (XML has DTD and templates, but there is JSONlint) Not extensible It’s basically just not XML

Syntax

JSON Object Syntax Unordered sets of name/value pairs Begins with { (left brace) Ends with } (right brace) Each name is followed by : (colon) Name/value pairs are separated by , (comma)

JSON Example var employeeData { "employee id": 1234567, "name": "Jeff Fox", "hire date": "1/1/2013", "location": "Norwalk, CT", "consultant": false };

Arrays in JSON An ordered collection of values Begins with [ (left bracket) Ends with ] (right bracket) Name/value pairs are separated by , (comma)

JSON Array Example var employeeData { "employee id": 1236937, "name": "Jeff Fox", "hire date": "1/1/2013", "location": "Norwalk, CT", "consultant": false, "random nums": [ 24,65,12,94 ] };

Data Types

Data Types: Strings Sequence of 0 or more Unicode characters Wrapped in "double quotes“ Backslash escapement

Data Types: Numbers Integer Real Scientific No octal or hex No NaN or Infinity – Use null instead.

Data Types: Booleans & Null Booleans: true or false Null: A value that specifies nothing or no value.

Data Types: Objects & Arrays Objects: Unordered key/value pairs wrapped in { } Arrays: Ordered key/value pairs wrapped in []

JSON Usage

How & When to use JSON Transfer data to and from a server Perform asynchronous data calls without requiring a page refresh Working with data stores Compile and save form or user data for local storage

Where is JSON used today? Anywhere and everywhere! And many, many more!

Simple Example

Simple Demo Build a JSON data object in code Display raw output Display formatted output Manipulate via form input

Questions?

Resources Simple Demo on Github: https://github.com/jfox015/BIFC-Simple-JSON -Demo Another JSON Tutorial: http://iviewsource.com/codingtutorials/gettin g-started-with-javascript-object-notation-jsonfor-absolute-beginners/