🧱 JSON Object – Syntax, Structure, and Examples (2025 Guide)
🧲 Introduction – What is a JSON Object?
A JSON object is the most commonly used structure in JSON (JavaScript Object Notation). It represents a collection of key/value pairs, much like a dictionary in Python or an object in JavaScript. Each key is a string, and the value can be any valid JSON data type.
🎯 In this guide, you’ll learn:
- What a JSON object looks like
- How to write and access key/value pairs
- Valid object syntax with examples
- Real-world use cases in programming and APIs
✅ JSON Object – Syntax and Structure
📌 Format:
{
"key1": value1,
"key2": value2,
...
}
🔑 Rules:
- Enclosed in curly braces
{ }
- Each key must be a string in double quotes
- Each key is followed by a colon
:
- Key/value pairs are separated by commas
🧪 Example – Simple JSON Object
{
"name": "Alice",
"age": 28,
"isStudent": false
}
🔍 Explanation:
"name": "Alice"
→ string value"age": 28"
→ number value"isStudent": false
→ boolean value
🧪 Example – Nested JSON Object
{
"employee": {
"id": 1001,
"name": "John Doe",
"department": {
"name": "Sales",
"floor": 3
}
}
}
🔍 Explanation:
- The outer object contains a key
"employee"
whose value is another object - The
"department"
key also contains a nested object with its own key/value pairs
🧪 Example – JSON Object with Array
{
"user": {
"name": "Jane",
"roles": ["admin", "editor", "viewer"]
}
}
🔍 Explanation:
"roles"
is a key whose value is an array of strings- JSON objects can contain arrays as values
⚙️ JSON Object in JavaScript
✅ Example:
const user = {
name: "Alice",
age: 30,
isActive: true
};
console.log(user.name); // Output: Alice
console.log(user["age"]); // Output: 30
🔍 Explanation:
- You can access object properties using dot notation or bracket notation
- Keys are automatically parsed as strings
🚫 Common Mistakes in JSON Objects
❌ Mistake | 💥 Problem |
---|---|
Missing quotes around keys | JSON requires keys to be in double quotes |
Trailing comma after last pair | Invalid in JSON |
Using single quotes | JSON only supports double quotes |
❗ Invalid:
{
name: 'Alice', // ❌ missing quotes
}
✅ Valid:
{
"name": "Alice"
}
📌 Summary – Recap & Next Steps
JSON objects form the foundation of most JSON structures. They allow you to represent entities with multiple attributes using readable, key-based notation.
🔍 Key Takeaways:
- A JSON object is a collection of key/value pairs
- Keys must be strings in double quotes
- Values can be strings, numbers, booleans, null, arrays, or other objects
- Syntax must follow strict formatting rules
⚙️ Real-world use:
JSON objects are used in REST API responses, config files, databases, and front-end JavaScript apps.
❓ FAQ – JSON Object
❓ What is a JSON object?
✅ A JSON object is a set of key/value pairs wrapped in curly braces {}
.
❓ Can a JSON object contain another object?
✅ Yes. Objects can be nested inside other objects for hierarchy.
❓ Are JSON keys case-sensitive?
✅ Yes. "Name"
and "name"
are treated as different keys.
❓ Do JSON keys need to be quoted?
✅ Yes. All keys must be enclosed in double quotes.
❓ Can I use numbers as keys in JSON?
✅ Yes, but they must still be quoted as strings.
{ "1": "first", "2": "second" }
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