JSON vs XML - Which One is Better?

When it comes to data exchange between systems, two major formats have dominated the industry: JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) and XML (eXtensible Markup Language). Both formats have their strengths, but modern development heavily favors JSON. Let’s explore why.

Syntax Simplicity

JSON offers a cleaner, shorter, and more readable syntax compared to XML. While XML requires closing tags, attributes, and nested structures, JSON keeps it simple with key-value pairs and arrays.

JSON:
{ "name": "John", "age": 30 }

XML:

  John
  30

  

Data Size and Performance

JSON files are generally smaller in size because they do not require verbose markup tags. Smaller payloads mean faster transmission, quicker parsing, and lower bandwidth usage — critical for mobile and web apps.

Readability

JSON is easier for humans to read and edit. XML’s nested structure and verbose syntax can make simple data hard to review manually.

Compatibility

While XML has been around longer and is supported in legacy systems, JSON is natively supported in JavaScript and most modern programming languages, including Python, Java, Go, and Swift.

Use Cases

• JSON: REST APIs, mobile applications, web services, NoSQL databases (e.g., MongoDB).
• XML: Legacy enterprise systems, SOAP APIs, configuration files in older applications.

When to Choose XML?

XML is still a better choice if you need document validation (DTD, XSD schemas), namespaces, or highly complex hierarchical data. For general API communication and app development, JSON is typically the better choice.

Conclusion

Today, JSON is the preferred format for most new projects due to its simplicity, efficiency, and strong support across platforms. However, XML still has its place in specialized areas. If you're working with JSON data, make sure to validate and format it using Fshup's free tools!