Difference between JSON and XML

Both JSON and XML are popular data interchange formats used to store and transfer structured data between systems. JSON is lightweight and commonly used in web APIs, while XML is more verbose but offers richer features like schemas and namespaces.

Same Data in Both Formats

Here is how the same student data looks in JSON and XML ?

JSON Format

{
    "student": {
        "name": "Alice",
        "age": 20,
        "courses": ["Math", "Science", "English"]
    }
}

XML Format

<student>
    <name>Alice</name>
    <age>20</age>
    <courses>
        <course>Math</course>
        <course>Science</course>
        <course>English</course>
    </courses>
</student>

Notice how JSON is more compact − it uses key-value pairs and square brackets for arrays. XML uses opening and closing tags for every element, making it more verbose but self-describing.

Key Differences

Conclusion

JSON is lightweight, easier to parse, and preferred for web APIs and modern applications. XML is more feature-rich with namespace and schema support, making it suitable for complex document structures and enterprise systems like SOAP web services.