JavaScript JSON Vs XML

XML Data

The following XML examples defines an employees object, with an array of 3 employees:

JSON Data

The following JSON examples defines the same employees object:

JSON vs XML - Similarity

JSON is Like XML Because:

• Both JSON and XML are "self describing" (human readable)
• Both JSON and XML are hierarchical (values within values)
• Both JSON and XML can be parsed and used by lots of programming languages
• Both JSON and XML can be fetched with an XMLHttpRequest

JSON vs XML - Difference

JSON is Unlike XML Because:

• XML has to be parsed with an XML parser. JSON can be parsed by a standard JavaScript function.
• JSON doesn't use end tag
• JSON is shorter
• JSON is quicker to read and write
• JSON can use arrays

Why JSON is Better Than XML

XML is much more difficult to parse than JSON. JSON is parsed into a ready-to-use JavaScript object.

For AJAX applications, JSON is faster and easier than XML.

Using XML:

• Fetch an XML document
• Use the XML DOM to loop through the document
• Extract values and store in variables

Using XML:

• Fetch a JSON string
• JSON.Parse the JSON string