What's the Best JSON Date Format for Compatibility and Clarity?

The Enigma of JSON Date Formats: Unraveling the Right and the Best

The realm of JSON data exchange is often confounded by the existence of multiple date formats. From ".NET JavaScriptSerializer" to "JavaScript built-in JSON objects," the variety can be perplexing. Amidst this confusion, one may wonder which format is the definitive "right" one.

Contrary to popular belief, JSON itself does not impose any specific date formatting. However, for compatibility and clarity, JavaScript introduces a standard format:

"2012-04-23T18:25:43.511Z"

This format offers several advantages:

• Human readability and compactness
• Correct sorting
• Precision with fractional seconds
• Compliance with ISO 8601
• Endorsement by W3C and XKCD

While alternative formats, such as milliseconds since 1970, provide easy portability, the aforementioned standardized format remains the optimal choice for JSON date representation. Its intuitiveness, accuracy, and wide recognition make it the preferred option for effective data exchange.

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