CODEWITHSUNDEEP
arraysjsonobject
screenMonkey MonkeyMan
screenMonkey MonkeyMan

Reputation: 423

Difference between JSON structures

I'm learning JSON and its structure. I have read documentation but still feel a bit confused on the the different structures and what they mean and how they are set up.

Let's take this for an example:

[
    {"firstName":"Jocke","job":"developer"},
    {"firstName":"Anna","job":"skydiver"},
    {"firstName":"Peter","job":"pilot"}
]

Now, this is valid. Is this counted as an object? The reason I ask is because of the brackets [] that I normally associate with arrays. So if (I assume) this is an object, then is the code below an array?

[ "value1", "value2", "value3" ]

The difference being not using {} and :

Now if I'm right on the two first (object, array), then I'm on track, but there is still one thing I don't quite grasp. I have seen this structure as well:

{ "people":
    [
        {"firstName":"Jocke","job":"developer"},
        {"firstName":"Anna","job":"skydiver"},    
        {"firstName":"Peter","job":"pilot"}
    ]
}

This is also valid, and I assume it's still an object. What confuse me is "people". What is that in the context of an object, why is it there, and why would I need it?

Upvotes: 1

Views: 264

Answers (2)

dxjuv
dxjuv

Reputation: 909

First one is an array of objects.

[
    {"firstName":"Jocke","job":"developer"},
    {"firstName":"Anna","job":"skydiver"},
    {"firstName":"Peter","job":"pilot"}
]

The one you showed in the end is a Json object which has one Object which is People and People itself is an Array of objects. 

{ "people":
    [
        {"firstName":"Jocke","job":"developer"},
        {"firstName":"Anna","job":"skydiver"},    
        {"firstName":"Peter","job":"pilot"}
    ]
}

An array is treated as a special object and is a first class citizen in Json.

In short, Every place where you can use Objects, You can also use array of Objects.

Upvotes: 1

StepUp
StepUp

Reputation: 38189

As mdn says:

The JavaScript Array class is a global object that is used in the construction of arrays; which are high-level, list-like objects.

It is an array of objects:

[
    {"firstName":"Jocke","job":"developer"},
    {"firstName":"Anna","job":"skydiver"},
    {"firstName":"Peter","job":"pilot"}
]

Array of strings:

[ "value1", "value2", "value3" ]

An object with property people which contains array:

{ "people":
    [
        {"firstName":"Jocke","job":"developer"},
        {"firstName":"Anna","job":"skydiver"},    
        {"firstName":"Peter","job":"pilot"}
    ]
}

Upvotes: 2

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