JavaScript Objects vs. JSON: What are the Key Differences?

JavaScript Object vs. JSON: Understanding the Differences

Introduction

In the realm of programming, JavaScript objects and JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) play vital roles. Both are used extensively for data manipulation and exchange, but their inherent differences can be confusing. This article delves into the key distinctions between JavaScript objects and JSON to clarify their usage and applications.

Question 1: Validity of Key Names

In JavaScript objects, key names can be either quoted or unquoted, except when they are reserved words or contain special characters. For instance:

var obj = {one: 1, "two": 2, "three": 3};

However, in JSON, key names must always be enclosed in double quotes. This ensures compatibility when exchanging data between different languages:

{
  "one": 1,
  "two": 2,
  "three": 3
}

Question 2: Object vs. JSON

When converting a JavaScript object to JSON using JSON.stringify(), the result is a string representation of the object. The stringified JSON is simply a plain text representation of the data, while the original JavaScript object remains an active, dynamic entity within the JavaScript runtime.

Question 3: Parsing JSON

To parse a JSON string and create a corresponding JavaScript object, the recommended method is JSON.parse(). This method is widely supported in modern browsers. However, older browsers may require an additional library such as json2.js for JSON parsing.

jQuery also provides jQuery.parseJSON(), which automatically falls back to a custom implementation for browsers that do not support JSON.parse(). This ensures cross-browser compatibility.

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