< draft-crockford-jsonorg-json   rfc4627.txt 
JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) D. Crockford
Internet Draft JSON.org
draft-crockford-jsonorg-json-04.txt February, 2006
Intended status: Informational
Expires: June 10, 2006
JavaScript Object Notation (JSON)
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Task Force (IETF), its areas, and its working groups. Note that Request for Comments: 4627 JSON.org
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Copyright Notice Copyright Notice
Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2006). Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2006).
Abstract Abstract
JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) is a light-weight, text-based, JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) is a lightweight, text-based,
language-independent, data interchange format. It was derived from language-independent data interchange format. It was derived from
the ECMAScript Programming Language Standard. JSON defines a small the ECMAScript Programming Language Standard. JSON defines a small
set of formatting rules for the portable representation of structured set of formatting rules for the portable representation of structured
data. data.
Conventions used in this document 1. Introduction
The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT",
"SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this
document are to be interpreted as described in [RFC-2119].
The grammatical rules in this document are to be interpreted as
described in [RFC-4234].
1. Introduction
JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) is a text format for the JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) is a text format for the
serialization of structured data. It is derived from the object serialization of structured data. It is derived from the object
literals of JavaScript, as defined in the ECMAScript literals of JavaScript, as defined in the ECMAScript Programming
Programming Language Standard, Third Edition [ECMA]. Language Standard, Third Edition [ECMA].
JSON can represent four primitive types (strings, numbers, booleans, JSON can represent four primitive types (strings, numbers, booleans,
and null) and two structured types (objects and arrays). and null) and two structured types (objects and arrays).
A string is a sequence of zero or more Unicode characters [UNICODE]. A string is a sequence of zero or more Unicode characters [UNICODE].
An object is an unordered collection of zero or more name/value An object is an unordered collection of zero or more name/value
pairs, where a name is a string, and a value is a string, number, pairs, where a name is a string and a value is a string, number,
boolean, null, object, or array. boolean, null, object, or array.
An array is an ordered sequence of zero or more values. An array is an ordered sequence of zero or more values.
The terms "object" and "array" come from the conventions of The terms "object" and "array" come from the conventions of
JavaScript. JavaScript.
JSON's design goals were to be minimal, portable, textual, and a JSON's design goals were for it to be minimal, portable, textual, and
subset of JavaScript. a subset of JavaScript.
2. JSON Grammar 1.1. Conventions Used in This Document
The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT",
"SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this
document are to be interpreted as described in [RFC2119].
The grammatical rules in this document are to be interpreted as
described in [RFC4234].
2. JSON Grammar
A JSON text is a sequence of tokens. The set of tokens includes six A JSON text is a sequence of tokens. The set of tokens includes six
structural characters, strings, numbers, and three literal names. structural characters, strings, numbers, and three literal names.
A JSON text is a serialized object or array. A JSON text is a serialized object or array.
JSON-text = object / array JSON-text = object / array
These are the six structural characters: These are the six structural characters:
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Insignificant whitespace is allowed before or after any of the six Insignificant whitespace is allowed before or after any of the six
structural characters. structural characters.
ws = *( ws = *(
%x20 / ; Space %x20 / ; Space
%x09 / ; Horizontal tab %x09 / ; Horizontal tab
%x0A / ; Line feed or New line %x0A / ; Line feed or New line
%x0D ; Carriage return %x0D ; Carriage return
) )
2.1. Values 2.1. Values
A JSON value MUST be a object, array, number, or string, or one of A JSON value MUST be an object, array, number, or string, or one of
the three literal names: the following three literal names:
false false null true
null
true
The literal names MUST be in lower case. No other literal names The literal names MUST be lowercase. No other literal names are
are allowed. allowed.
value = false / null / true / object / array / number / string value = false / null / true / object / array / number / string
false = %x66.61.6c.73.65 ; false false = %x66.61.6c.73.65 ; false
null = %x6e.75.6c.6c ; null null = %x6e.75.6c.6c ; null
true = %x74.72.75.65 ; true true = %x74.72.75.65 ; true
2.2. Objects 2.2. Objects
An object structure is represented as a pair of curly brackets An object structure is represented as a pair of curly brackets
surrounding zero or more name/value pairs (or members). A name is surrounding zero or more name/value pairs (or members). A name is a
a string. A single colon comes after each name, separating the string. A single colon comes after each name, separating the name
name from the value. A single comma separates a value from a from the value. A single comma separates a value from a following
following name. The names within an object SHOULD be unique. name. The names within an object SHOULD be unique.
object = begin-object [ member *( value-separator member ) ] object = begin-object [ member *( value-separator member ) ]
end-object end-object
member = string name-separator value member = string name-separator value
2.3. Arrays 2.3. Arrays
An array structure is represented as square brackets surrounding An array structure is represented as square brackets surrounding zero
zero or more values (or elements). Elements are separated by or more values (or elements). Elements are separated by commas.
commas.
array = begin-array [ value *( value-separator value ) ] array = begin-array [ value *( value-separator value ) ] end-array
end-array
2.4. Numbers 2.4. Numbers
The representation of numbers is similar to that used in most The representation of numbers is similar to that used in most
programming languages. A number contains an integer component programming languages. A number contains an integer component that
which may be prefixed with an optional minus sign, which may be may be prefixed with an optional minus sign, which may be followed by
followed by a fraction part and/or an exponent part. a fraction part and/or an exponent part.
Octal and hex forms are not allowed. Leading zeros are not Octal and hex forms are not allowed. Leading zeros are not allowed.
allowed.
A fraction part is a decimal point followed by one or more digits. A fraction part is a decimal point followed by one or more digits.
An exponent part begins with the letter E in upper or lower case, An exponent part begins with the letter E in upper or lowercase,
which may be followed by a plus or minus sign. The E and optional which may be followed by a plus or minus sign. The E and optional
sign are followed by one or more digits. sign are followed by one or more digits.
Numeric values that cannot be represented as sequences of digits Numeric values that cannot be represented as sequences of digits
(such as Infinity and NaN) are not permitted. (such as Infinity and NaN) are not permitted.
number = [ minus ] int [ frac ] [ exp ] number = [ minus ] int [ frac ] [ exp ]
decimal-point = %x2E ; . decimal-point = %x2E ; .
digit1-9 = %x31-39 ; 1-9 digit1-9 = %x31-39 ; 1-9
e = %x65 / %x45 ; e E e = %x65 / %x45 ; e E
exp = e [ minus / plus ] 1*DIGIT exp = e [ minus / plus ] 1*DIGIT
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frac = decimal-point 1*DIGIT frac = decimal-point 1*DIGIT
int = zero / ( digit1-9 *DIGIT ) int = zero / ( digit1-9 *DIGIT )
minus = %x2D ; - minus = %x2D ; -
plus = %x2B ; + plus = %x2B ; +
zero = %x30 ; 0 zero = %x30 ; 0
2.5. Strings 2.5. Strings
The representation of strings is similar to conventions used in The representation of strings is similar to conventions used in the C
the C family of programming languages. A string begins and ends family of programming languages. A string begins and ends with
with quotation marks. All Unicode characters may be placed within quotation marks. All Unicode characters may be placed within the
the quotation marks except for the characters which must be quotation marks except for the characters that must be escaped:
escaped: quotation mark, reverse solidus, and the control quotation mark, reverse solidus, and the control characters (U+0000
characters (U+0000 through U+001F). through U+001F).
Any character may be escaped. If the character is in the Basic Any character may be escaped. If the character is in the Basic
Multilingual Plane (U+0000 through U+FFFF) then it may be Multilingual Plane (U+0000 through U+FFFF), then it may be
represented as a six-character sequence: a reverse solidus represented as a six-character sequence: a reverse solidus, followed
followed by the lower case letter u followed by four hexadecimal by the lowercase letter u, followed by four hexadecimal digits that
digits which encode the character's code point. The hexadecimal encode the character's code point. The hexadecimal letters A though
letters A though F can be in upper or lower case. So, for F can be upper or lowercase. So, for example, a string containing
example, a string containing only a single reverse solidus only a single reverse solidus character may be represented as
character may be represented as "\u005C". "\u005C".
Alternatively, there are two-character sequence escape Alternatively, there are two-character sequence escape
representations of some popular characters. So, for example, a representations of some popular characters. So, for example, a
string containing only a single reverse solidus character may be string containing only a single reverse solidus character may be
represented more compactly as "\\". represented more compactly as "\\".
To escape an extended character that is not in the Basic To escape an extended character that is not in the Basic Multilingual
Multilingual Plane, then the character is represented as a Plane, the character is represented as a twelve-character sequence,
twelve-character sequence, encoding the UTF-16 surrogate pair. encoding the UTF-16 surrogate pair. So, for example, a string
So, for example, a string containing only the G clef character containing only the G clef character (U+1D11E) may be represented as
(U+1D11E) may be represented as "\uD834\uDD1E". "\uD834\uDD1E".
string = quotation-mark *char quotation-mark string = quotation-mark *char quotation-mark
char = unescaped / char = unescaped /
escape ( escape (
%x22 / ; " quotation mark U+0022 %x22 / ; " quotation mark U+0022
%x5C / ; \ reverse solidus U+005C %x5C / ; \ reverse solidus U+005C
%x2F / ; / solidus U+002F %x2F / ; / solidus U+002F
%x62 / ; b backspace U+0008 %x62 / ; b backspace U+0008
%x66 / ; f form feed U+000C %x66 / ; f form feed U+000C
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%x72 / ; r carriage return U+000D %x72 / ; r carriage return U+000D
%x74 / ; t tab U+0009 %x74 / ; t tab U+0009
%x75 4HEXDIG ) ; uXXXX U+XXXX %x75 4HEXDIG ) ; uXXXX U+XXXX
escape = %x5C ; \ escape = %x5C ; \
quotation-mark = %x22 ; " quotation-mark = %x22 ; "
unescaped = %x20-21 / %x23-5B / %x5D-10FFFF unescaped = %x20-21 / %x23-5B / %x5D-10FFFF
3. Encoding 3. Encoding
JSON text SHALL be encoded in Unicode. The default encoding is UTF-8. JSON text SHALL be encoded in Unicode. The default encoding is
UTF-8.
Since the first two characters of a JSON text will always be ASCII Since the first two characters of a JSON text will always be ASCII
characters [RFC-0020], it is possible to determine if an octet stream characters [RFC0020], it is possible to determine whether an octet
is UTF-8, UTF-16 (BE or LE), or UTF-32 (BE or LE) by looking at the stream is UTF-8, UTF-16 (BE or LE), or UTF-32 (BE or LE) by looking
pattern of nulls in the first four octets. at the pattern of nulls in the first four octets.
00 00 00 xx UTF-32BE 00 00 00 xx UTF-32BE
00 xx 00 xx UTF-16BE 00 xx 00 xx UTF-16BE
xx 00 00 00 UTF-32LE xx 00 00 00 UTF-32LE
xx 00 xx 00 UTF-16LE xx 00 xx 00 UTF-16LE
xx xx xx xx UTF-8 xx xx xx xx UTF-8
4. Parsers 4. Parsers
A JSON parser transforms a JSON text into another representation. A A JSON parser transforms a JSON text into another representation. A
JSON parser MUST accept all texts that conform to the JSON grammar. JSON parser MUST accept all texts that conform to the JSON grammar.
A JSON parser MAY accept non-JSON forms or extensions. A JSON parser MAY accept non-JSON forms or extensions.
An implementation may set limits on the size of texts that it An implementation may set limits on the size of texts that it
accepts. An implementation may set limits on the maximum depth of accepts. An implementation may set limits on the maximum depth of
nesting. An implementation may set limits on the range of numbers. nesting. An implementation may set limits on the range of numbers.
An implementation may set limits on the length and character contents An implementation may set limits on the length and character contents
of strings. of strings.
5. Generators 5. Generators
A JSON generator produces JSON text. The resulting text MUST A JSON generator produces JSON text. The resulting text MUST
strictly conform to the JSON grammar. strictly conform to the JSON grammar.
6. IANA Considerations 6. IANA Considerations
The MIME media type for JSON text is application/json. The MIME media type for JSON text is application/json.
Type name: text Type name: application
Subtype name: json Subtype name: json
Required parameters: n/a Required parameters: n/a
Optional parameters: n/a Optional parameters: n/a
Encoding considerations: 8bit if UTF-8; binary if UTF-16 or UTF-32 Encoding considerations: 8bit if UTF-8; binary if UTF-16 or UTF-32
JSON may be represented using UTF-8, UTF-16 or UTF-32. When JSON JSON may be represented using UTF-8, UTF-16, or UTF-32. When JSON
is written in UTF-8, JSON is 8bit-compatible. When JSON is written is written in UTF-8, JSON is 8bit compatible. When JSON is
in UTF-16 or UTF-32, the binary content-transfer-encoding must be written in UTF-16 or UTF-32, the binary content-transfer-encoding
used. must be used.
Security considerations: Security considerations:
Generally there are security issues with scripting languages. Generally there are security issues with scripting languages. JSON
JSON is a subset of JavaScript, but it is a safe subset that is a subset of JavaScript, but it is a safe subset that excludes
excludes assignment and invocation. assignment and invocation.
A JSON text can be safely passed into JavaScript's eval() A JSON text can be safely passed into JavaScript's eval() function
function (which compiles and executes a string) if all of the (which compiles and executes a string) if all the characters not
characters not enclosed in strings are in the set of characters enclosed in strings are in the set of characters that form JSON
which form JSON tokens. This can be quickly determined in tokens. This can be quickly determined in JavaScript with two
JavaScript with two regular expressions and calls to the test and regular expressions and calls to the test and replace methods.
replace methods.
var my_JSON_object = !(/[^,:{}\[\]0-9.\-+Eaeflnr-u \n\r\t]/.test( var my_JSON_object = !(/[^,:{}\[\]0-9.\-+Eaeflnr-u \n\r\t]/.test(
text.replace(/"(\\.|[^"\\])*"/g, ''))) && text.replace(/"(\\.|[^"\\])*"/g, ''))) &&
eval('(' + text + ')'); eval('(' + text + ')');
Interoperability considerations: n/a Interoperability considerations: n/a
Published specification: RFC-XXXX Published specification: RFC 4627
Applications that use this media type: Applications that use this media type:
JSON has been used to exchange data between applications written JSON has been used to exchange data between applications written
in all of these programming languages: ActionScript, C, C#, in all of these programming languages: ActionScript, C, C#,
ColdFusion, Common Lisp, E, Erlang, Java, JavaScript, Lua, ColdFusion, Common Lisp, E, Erlang, Java, JavaScript, Lua,
Objective CAML, Perl, PHP, Python, Rebol, Ruby, and Scheme. Objective CAML, Perl, PHP, Python, Rebol, Ruby, and Scheme.
Additional information: Additional information:
Magic number(s): n/a Magic number(s): n/a
skipping to change at line 349 skipping to change at page 7, line 35
Author: Author:
Douglas Crockford Douglas Crockford
douglas@crockford.com douglas@crockford.com
Change controller: Change controller:
Douglas Crockford Douglas Crockford
douglas@crockford.com douglas@crockford.com
7. Security Considerations 7. Security Considerations
See Security considerations in Section 6. See Security Considerations in Section 6.
8. Examples 8. Examples
This is a JSON object: This is a JSON object:
{ {
"Image": { "Image": {
"Width": 800, "Width": 800,
"Height": 600, "Height": 600,
"Title": "View from 15th Floor", "Title": "View from 15th Floor",
"Thumbnail": { "Thumbnail": {
"Url": "http://scd.mm-b1.yimg.com/image/481989943", "Url": "http://www.example.com/image/481989943",
"Height": 125, "Height": 125,
"Width": "100" "Width": "100"
}, },
"IDs": [116, 943, 234, 38793] "IDs": [116, 943, 234, 38793]
} }
} }
Its Image member is an object whose Thumbnail member is an object Its Image member is an object whose Thumbnail member is an object
and whose IDs member is an array of numbers. and whose IDs member is an array of numbers.
This is a JSON array containing two objects: This is a JSON array containing two objects:
[ [
{ {
skipping to change at line 399 skipping to change at page 8, line 38
"Address": "", "Address": "",
"City": "SUNNYVALE", "City": "SUNNYVALE",
"State": "CA", "State": "CA",
"Zip": "94085", "Zip": "94085",
"Country": "US" "Country": "US"
} }
] ]
9. References 9. References
9.1 Normative References 9.1. Normative References
[ECMA] European Computer Manufacturers Association, "ECMAScript [ECMA] European Computer Manufacturers Association, "ECMAScript
Language Specification 3rd Edition", December 1999, Language Specification 3rd Edition", December 1999,
<http://www.ecma-international.org/publications/files/ <http://www.ecma-international.org/publications/files/
ecma-st/ECMA-262.pdf>. ecma-st/ECMA-262.pdf>.
[RFC-0020] Cerf, V., "ASCII format for Network Interchange", [RFC0020] Cerf, V., "ASCII format for network interchange", RFC 20,
RFC 0020, October 16, 1969. October 1969.
[RFC-2119] Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate [RFC2119] Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate
Requirement Levels", RFC 2119, March 1997. Requirement Levels", BCP 14, RFC 2119, March 1997.
[RFC-4234] Crocker, D., "Augmented BNF for Syntax Specifications: [RFC4234] Crocker, D. and P. Overell, "Augmented BNF for Syntax
ABNF", RFC 4234, October 2005. Specifications: ABNF", RFC 4234, October 2005.
[UNICODE] The Unicode Consortium, "The Unicode Standard [UNICODE] The Unicode Consortium, "The Unicode Standard Version 4.0",
Version 4.0", 2003, 2003, <http://www.unicode.org/versions/Unicode4.1.0/>.
<http://www.unicode.org/versions/Unicode4.1.0/>.
Author's Address Author's Address
Douglas Crockford Douglas Crockford
JSON.org JSON.org
Contact Email: douglas@crockford.com EMail: douglas@crockford.com
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Administrative Support Activity (IASA).
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