JSON vs Alternatives

Discussions debate the strengths and limitations of JSON as a data format for exchange, configuration, and serialization, often defending it against alternatives like YAML, TOML, or new human-friendly proposals.

➡️ Stable 0.6x Programming Languages
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Keywords

EDN CSV CEO INI BSON SQL THE DSL XML JSON5 json format yaml data binary html formats xml document typed

Sample Comments

angersock Feb 2, 2015 View on HN

Why not just use JSON until you've got a compelling reason not to?

ludamad Nov 17, 2016 View on HN

JSON isn't just about human readability, it's about being a 'good enough' standard for data exchange. What binary format would you use that people could parse as reliably as JSON?

rockostrich Aug 28, 2022 View on HN

It's JSON with some syntactical sugar. Is that really so bad?

nojvek Jul 17, 2022 View on HN

I read some samples, how is this better than good ol JSON?

hot_gril Jan 9, 2023 View on HN

I agree, same reason people use json in the first place despite the inefficiency, it's easier.

kreco Jan 2, 2026 View on HN

Can you tell me what was the context that lead you to create this?Unrelated JSON experience:I worked on a serializer which save/load json files as well as binary file (using a common interface).From my own use case I found JSON to be restrictive for no benefit (because I don't use it in a Javascript ecosystem)So I change the json format into something way more lax (optional comma, optional colon, optional quotes, multi line string, comments).I wish we would stop pretendi

astrodust May 26, 2015 View on HN

JSON is great for a lot of things, but sometimes CSV is better. Sometimes packed binary is better. JSON for all things is a bad plan.

kulig Oct 30, 2020 View on HN

Json is just a format. There are trillions of formats that work just as well as json.

cheeselip420 Mar 7, 2023 View on HN

one reason why JSON is superior to things like TOML or YAML for these use-cases...

bryanh Nov 30, 2011 View on HN

Sure, its okay. But compared to the ease of JSON...