JSON Formatting: Why Readable Code Matters

The Two Faces of JSON

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is the lingua franca of modern APIs. But there's a constant tension between human-readable and machine-efficient formats.

When to Beautify

• Debugging: When an API returns an error, pretty-printed JSON lets you spot the issue instantly.
• Documentation: Code samples in docs should always be formatted for readability.
• Code Reviews: Reviewers shouldn't need to parse one-liners.
• Configuration Files: Settings files read by humans should be well-indented.

When to Minify

• Production APIs: Every byte counts when serving millions of requests.
• Storage: Logs and databases benefit from compact JSON.
• Network Transfer: Smaller payloads mean faster load times.

Common JSON Errors

1. Trailing Commas: JSON doesn't allow commas after the last item.
2. Single Quotes: Always use double quotes for strings.
3. Unquoted Keys: Object keys must be strings in quotes.
4. Comments: Standard JSON doesn't support comments.

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