Working With JSON Data in Python

Philipp AcsanyDecember 22, 2024About 5 min

Working With JSON Data in Python 관련

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to read and write JSON-encoded data in Python. You'll begin with practical examples that show how to use Python's built-in ”json” module and then move on to learn how to serialize and deserialize custom data.

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This tutorial has a related video course created by the Real Python team. Watch it together with the written tutorial to deepen your understanding:

Working With JSON in Python – Real Python

Learn how to work with Python's built-in json module to serialize the data in your programs into JSON format. Then, you'll deserialize some JSON from an online API and convert it into Python objects.

Python’s json module provides you with the tools you need to effectively handle JSON data. You can convert Python data types to a JSON-formatted string with json.dumps() or write them to files using json.dump(). Similarly, you can read JSON data from files with json.load() and parse JSON strings with json.loads().

JSON, or JavaScript Object Notation, is a widely-used text-based format for data interchange. Its syntax resembles Python dictionaries but with some differences, such as using only double quotes for strings and lowercase for Boolean values. With built-in tools for validating syntax and manipulating JSON files, Python makes it straightforward to work with JSON data.

By the end of this tutorial, you’ll understand that:

JSON in Python is handled using the standard-library json module, which allows for data interchange between JSON and Python data types.
JSON is a good data format to use with Python as it’s human-readable and straightforward to serialize and deserialize, which makes it ideal for use in APIs and data storage.
You write JSON with Python using json.dump() to serialize data to a file.
You can minify and prettify JSON using Python’s json.tool module.

Since its introduction, JSON has rapidly emerged as the predominant standard for the exchange of information. Whether you want to transfer data with an API or store information in a document database, it’s likely you’ll encounter JSON. Fortunately, Python provides robust tools to facilitate this process and help you manage JSON data efficiently.

While JSON is the most common format for data distribution, it’s not the only option for such tasks. Both XML and YAML serve similar purposes. If you’re interested in how the formats differ, then you can check out the tutorial on how to serialize your data with Python.

Interactive Quiz

Working With JSON Data in Python Quiz – Real Python

In this quiz, you'll test your understanding of working with JSON in Python. By working through this quiz, you'll revisit key concepts related to JSON data manipulation and handling in Python.

Introducing JSON

(1/4) Working With JSON Data in Python

Writing JSON With Python

(2/4) Working With JSON Data in Python

Reading JSON With Python

(3/4) Working With JSON Data in Python

Interacting With JSON

(4/4) Working With JSON Data in Python

Conclusion

Whether you want to transfer data with an API or store information in a document database, it’s likely that you’ll encounter JSON. Python provides robust tools to facilitate this process and help you manage JSON data efficiently. You need to be a bit careful when you do data roundtrips between Python and JSON because they don’t share the same set of data types. Still, the JSON format is a great way to save and exchange data.

In this tutorial, you learned how to:

Understand the JSON syntax
Convert Python data to JSON
Deserialize JSON to Python
Write and read JSON files
Validate JSON syntax

Additionally, you learned how to prettify JSON data in the terminal and minify JSON data to reduce its file size. Now, you have enough knowledge to start using JSON in your projects. If you want to revisit the code you wrote in this tutorial or test your knowledge about JSON, then click the link to download the materials or take the quiz below. Have fun!

Interactive Quiz

Working With JSON Data in Python Quiz – Real Python

In this quiz, you'll test your understanding of working with JSON in Python. By working through this quiz, you'll revisit key concepts related to JSON data manipulation and handling in Python.

Frequently Asked Questions

Now that you have some experience with working with JSON in Python, you can use the questions and answers below to check your understanding and recap what you’ve learned.

These FAQs are related to the most important concepts you’ve covered in this tutorial.

What is JSON?

JSON stands for JavaScript Object Notation, a text-based format for data interchange that you can work with in Python using the standard-library json module.

Is JSON good for Python?

Yes, JSON is widely used for data interchange in Python because it’s lightweight, language-independent, and easy to parse with Python’s built-in json module.

How do you write JSON with Python?

You can write JSON with Python by using the json.dump() function to serialize Python objects into a JSON file.

How do you connect JSON with Python?

You connect JSON with Python by using the json module to serialize Python objects into JSON and deserialize JSON data into Python objects.

How do you convert a Python dictionary to a JSON-formatted string?

You can use the json.dumps() function from Python’s json module to convert a Python dictionary to a JSON-formatted string.

What's the difference between json.dump() and json.dumps() in Python?

json.dump() writes JSON data to a file, while json.dumps() returns a JSON-formatted string.

How can you read JSON data from a file into a Python program?

You can use the json.load() function to deserialize JSON data from a file into a Python object.

Why might you use the indent parameter in json.dumps() or json.dump()?

You can use the indent parameter to format the JSON output with specified indentation, making it more readable.

How can you validate JSON syntax using the command line?

You can use Python’s json.tool module in the command line to validate JSON syntax by running python -m json.tool <filename>.

Watch Now

This tutorial has a related video course created by the Real Python team. Watch it together with the written tutorial to deepen your understanding:

Working With JSON in Python – Real Python

Learn how to work with Python's built-in json module to serialize the data in your programs into JSON format. Then, you'll deserialize some JSON from an online API and convert it into Python objects.

Working With JSON Data in Python