Could we confirm if this straightforward string is considered valid JSON data?

There are numerous intricate questions on Stack Overflow about whether a complex structure is considered valid JSON.

However, what about something much simpler?

"12345"

Would the provided code snippet be considered valid JSON?

Answer №1

Affirmative, in the majority of situations. It serves as valid JSON syntax that represents a JSON value.

The prevalent confusion stems from Douglas Crockford's RFC 4627, which initially outlined the application/json internet media type back in 2006. The document stated:

A JSON text is a serialized object or array.

Nevertheless, Crockford clarified in a 2013 post (regrettably deleted along with the rest of Google+, but archived here):

JSON is essentially a grammar, encompassing numbers and strings. Usage of JSON needs to be more restrictive by nature. RFC-4627 is just one potential utilization and was never meant to serve as the definitive standard for JSON itself.

The provided string exemplifies a genuine JSON value, yet it would have been inaccurate to employ it as the complete "JSON text" content of an application/json HTTP response. However, this notion no longer holds true: RFC-4627 became obsolete in 2014 with the release of RFC 7159, allowing the use of any JSON value:

A JSON text is a serialized value. It's important to note that prior JSON specifications restricted a JSON text to either an object or an array.

In 2013, a "standard for JSON itself" was also introduced in the form of ECMA-404, and JSON was defined within edition 5.1 of the ECMAScript (JavaScript) specification found in ECMA-262. These standards, alongside most parsers, permit any JSON value to function as a complete JSON text, even if it's merely a basic string.

Answer №2

Since 2014, RFC 7159 has replaced the older JSON RFCs and established that every JSON value counts as valid JSON text and legitimate application/json content - even strings. However, it does highlight the challenge of compatibility with previous JSON implementations:

Keep in mind that before, some JSON specifications limited a JSON text to only being an object or an array. Systems that exclusively produce objects or arrays instead of a valid JSON text remain interoperable because all systems will recognize them as compliant JSON texts.

Answer №3

This JSON string is considered valid, although it does not conform to a JSON object format.

For more information on JSON, visit json.org

Answer №4

When this query was originally crafted, it would not have constituted a legitimate JSON text. Rather, it would have been a valid string that could potentially be part of a JSON text.

The initial specification stated:

A JSON text is a serialized object or array.

This implies that the primary structure had to be either {} or [], and couldn't just start with a string.

The most recent specification now states:

A JSON text is a serialized value. It's worth noting that previous versions of the JSON specifications restricted a JSON text to being an object or an array.

As a result, any value, including a string like "12345", can now constitute a complete JSON text and is considered valid.

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