json
{
"id": 101,
"name": "Ada"
}Notes
Objects are ideal for records with labeled fields.
JSON Objects and Arrays
Patterns for nested objects, arrays, list items, nullability, and common data-shape decisions in JSON.
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Copy the compact sheet, download it, or print it.
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`D` dense toggle · `C` copy all
Object patterns
Objects model named fields and records.
json
{
"user": {
"id": 101,
"profile": {
"city": "Austin",
"timezone": "America/Chicago"
}
}
}Notes
Nested objects group related data and reduce flat key sprawl.
Missing property vs null property
Omitting a field is different from setting it to null.
jsonANYjsonobjectnull
json
{
"nickname": null
}Notes
A missing property can mean "unknown" or "not sent". `null` usually means explicitly empty.
Array patterns
Arrays model ordered collections of values or objects.
json
[
"red",
"green",
"blue"
]Notes
A useful pattern for tags, labels, and simple lists.
json
[
{ "id": 1, "name": "Ada" },
{ "id": 2, "name": "Linus" }
]Notes
Widely used for query results and exports.
Mixed-type arrays are legal but risky
JSON allows mixed types, but they are often harder to consume.
jsonANYjsonarraymixed-types
json
[1, "two", true, null]Notes
Prefer consistent item shapes unless you have a strong reason not to.
Extract a field from each array item
Print one property from every object in an array.
bashANYjsonjqarrays
bash
jq '.[].name' users.jsonNotes
Great for inspecting list payloads quickly.
More in JSON
JSONL and NDJSON
Newline-delimited JSON patterns for logs, streams, ETL, and large-file processing workflows.
JSON API Payload Patterns
Reusable JSON payload shapes for APIs: envelopes, pagination, errors, metadata, partial updates, and event-style messages.
JSON Schema Validation
Practical JSON Schema examples for required fields, types, enums, arrays, nested objects, and validation workflows.
JSON Formatting, Minifying, and Pretty-Printing
Commands and patterns for compact JSON, human-readable formatting, stable sorting, and terminal-friendly inspection.
JSON Validation and Common Errors
How to validate JSON, spot parse failures, repair common mistakes, and debug malformed payloads quickly.
JSON Escaping and Encoding
Escape sequences, Unicode, URLs, embedded JSON strings, and encoding pitfalls when storing or transporting JSON.