What is a JSON file
JSON files are used for storing structures of simple data sets by using a text-based and human-readable format. Initially, JSON files were closely associated to the JavaScript programming language, but since various programming APIs support this file type, it can nowadays be seen as language-independent. This alternative to XML files is most commonly used by Ajax Web applications.
JSON files are used as a data interchange format. This interchange commonly occurs between computers that are connected via the internet. Thus, it is rarely the case that files with a JSON extension are saved on a computer's hard drive. Some applications however still use this file format. For example: profile data from Google+ could be saved and downloaded in the JSON file format, while Mozilla Firefox uses said file format to store bookmark backup data.
Here's a small, but not exhaustive list of programs that can open JSON documents:
- Microsoft Notepad
- Microsoft WordPad
- Notepad ++
- Mozilla Firefox
