What is JSON?

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data-interchange format that is commonly used to transmit data between a server and a web application. JSON is based on the JavaScript programming language, but it is a language-independent format that can be used by any programming language.

One of the key features of JSON is that it is a strict format. This means that JSON documents must follow a specific structure and syntax in order to be valid. This strictness ensures that JSON documents are easy to parse and generate, which makes them useful for transmitting data between different systems.

Can comments be used in JSON?

One aspect of JSON's strictness is that it does not allow comments. This means that you cannot include comments in a JSON document. This may seem restrictive, but there are a few reasons why comments are not allowed in JSON.

First, comments are not part of the JSON data model. JSON is a data-interchange format, and comments are not data. They are notes or explanations that are intended for humans, but they are not part of the information that is being transmitted. As a result, comments do not add any value to a JSON document from a data perspective.

Second, comments are not part of the JSON syntax. JSON has a very specific syntax that is designed to be easy to parse and generate. Comments are not part of this syntax, and they would not be recognized by a JSON parser. This means that comments would be treated as invalid characters, and they would cause an error when the JSON document is parsed.

Third, comments are not necessary in JSON. JSON documents are usually short and simple, and they do not require extensive documentation. In many cases, the structure and content of a JSON document is self-explanatory, and comments are not needed. In other cases, the JSON document may be part of a larger system that has its own documentation, and the JSON document itself does not need to be documented.

In summary, comments are not allowed in JSON because they are not part of the JSON data model, syntax, or necessary in most cases. If you need to include documentation or notes in a JSON document, you can use a tool like JSON-LD (JSON for Linking Data) that allows you to add additional information to a JSON document. However, in most cases, comments are not necessary in JSON.