var foo = { "a": 1, "b": true, c: [1, true, "2"] };
Please correct me if I'm wrong here, but as far as I know, this is a valid json object. But it's also a javascript object.
Are JSON objects based on the javascript language? Or is it the other way around?
Thanks
Are JSON objects based on the javascript language?
Yes.
See the specification:
JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) is a lightweight, text-based, language-independent data interchange format. It was derived from the ECMAScript Programming Language Standard.
Note that ECMAScript is the standardised version of JavaScript.
"Please correct me if I'm wrong here, but as far as I know, this is a valid json object"
No.
"But it's also a javascript object."
yes.
UPDATE: my original answer continues below, but I missed an important syntax error which is helpfully pointed out by @badunk
The string
{ "a": 1, "b": true, c: [1, true, "2"] }
is JSON. JSON is just about notation - about which symbols make up valid syntax, and what they mean if they are processed.
Your code:
var foo = { "a": 1, "b": true, c: [1, true, "2"] };
..is a piece of javascript. When this is parsed and processed, the part on the right side of the assignment is called a javascript object literal. That is, a piece of javascript that denotes a literal object. But because it is in fact an object, it is not notation anymore - it is processed into a runtime data structure.
The term JSON is useful when you're talking about data exchange, for instance over HTTP. If a HTTP response passes a sting like this:
{ "a": 1, "b": true, c: [1, true, "2"] }
it is valid JSON. If that would be interpreted, it would result in a javascript object.
from the JSON website
JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data-interchange format. It is easy for humans to read and write. It is easy for machines to parse and generate. It is based on a subset of the JavaScript Programming Language.
So the answer to your question will be yes.
One can argue that there's no such thing as a "JSON object" (http://benalman.com/news/2010/03/theres-no-such-thing-as-a-json/).
Your code, above, is in fact an object literal. JSON, on the other hand, is just a string representation of an object, i.e. it's a serialisation.
as @Roland pointed out, the statement itself is a javascript expression, not JSON. Ignoring that, however, and evaluating whether the following is JSON:
{ "a": 1, "b": true, c: [1, true, "2"] }
I disagree with the other answers here, this is not valid JSON. Strictly speaking, properties must be enclosed in quotes. See the SO post here. This is correct JSON:
{ "a": 1, "b": true, "c": [1, true, "2"] }
JSONmeans JavaScript Object Notation. That should pretty much answer your question, and also imply what came first.