29 JSON Interview Questions (With Example Answers And Tips)

Updated 20 March 2023

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Professionals use JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) when writing applications with JavaScript. They primarily use this open standard file format to facilitate human-readable data interchange and transmit data between a server and web applications. Learning about interview questions regarding JSON can help you prepare for a related job interview. In this article, we explore some JSON interview questions and provide some example answers that may help you prepare your own.

What Are JSON Interview Questions?

Employers may ask various JSON interview questions to assess how well you understand JSON. These questions relate to the responsibilities of the position you are applying for. The interviewer may ask in-depth questions about JSON's uses, including serialising and transmitting structured data over network connections and using it with modern programming languages. Exploring questions and examining example answers can help you prepare and impress the interviewer.

Related: What Is JavaScript?

General JSON Interview Questions

General JSON interview questions help the interviewer learn about your personality and opinions. Your answers to these questions allow the interviewer to examine your professional journey and understand what you have learnt from your prior experiences. Below is a list of general questions an interviewer may ask you:

Why are you interested in taking on this role?
What interests you the most about computer programming?
This role involves extensive use of JSON. What element of JSON do you appreciate the most?
What are your favourite programming languages?
From your favourite programming languages, which you are most comfortable using?
What are some benefits of JSON for an organisation?
What is one instance where the capabilities of JSON impressed you?
What skills set you apart from other candidates?
When was the last time you used JSON?
What was your experience with JSON like when you last used it?
You have experience with JSON and have done well in past roles. What inspires you to seek new opportunities in the field?
What challenges have you faced when using JSON and how did you overcome them?

Experience And Background Interview Questions

Experience and background interview questions allow an interviewer to acquire in-depth knowledge of your strengths and how you may help the organisation grow. Briefly answer these questions and include experiences that align with the job description of the new role. Below are some questions that an interviewer may ask you during your interview:

Do you possess any certifications in JSON, or have you completed any courses to gain new skills in the field?
Were you ever assigned a complex JSON project? If so, what was it like to complete the project?
Have you worked as an intern or do you have prior experience with JSON?
Can you describe three situations when JSON assisted you in the past?
What do you think are the most important elements of JSON for organisational use?
What do you think is the main purpose of the JSON format?
Can you briefly explain the features of the parse function in JSON?
What are the JSON syntax rules?
How do you convert JSON text to a JavaScript object?
Which browsers offer native JSON support?
How do you decode a JSON string?
How do you delete an index from a JSON object?

5 Interview Questions About JSON With Example Answers

The following are typical interview questions about JSON with example answers you can use to prepare for your upcoming interview:

1. What is JSON?

This is the first question an interviewer may ask. They can assess your understanding of the subject through your response. Give a comprehensive answer that clearly defines what JSON is.

Example: "JSON stands for JavaScript Object Notation, which is a lightweight text-data interchange format. This data storage and communication format relates to a key-value pair of JavaScript object literals. JSON facilitates human-readable data interchange and derives from the JavaScript programming language. It represents simple data structures and associative arrays called objects. JSON restricts values to simple data, so you do not use function calls, variables, comments or computations. Its capabilities support communication between JavaScript and server-side technologies."

2. What other programming languages integrate with JSON?

Here, the interviewer intends to assess how comfortable you are working with other programming languages and platforms. While this may not be part of your current role, your answer communicates your knowledge of different languages and platforms and building integrations. To answer this question, consider listing the languages compatible with JSON, especially those that add value to the organisation.

Example: "Many programming languages are compatible with JSON. The languages that support JSON include C#, C, C++, Java, JavaScript, Python and Ruby. While JSON supports Python natively, there is no solution for parsing JSON data natively in C++. You can read JSON in Python using the JSON module available in the standard library. In Ruby, you can read JSON using the JSON gem."

3. What are the major challenges of using JSON?

Your answer to this question helps the interviewer gauge your ability to work on other platforms. It also allows them to assess your critical thinking skills. To prepare for this question, consider evaluating the benefits and challenges of JSON and referencing other programming languages that the organisation uses. Start with the advantages and then list the challenges.

Example: "There are many platforms, each with its distinct benefits and challenges. While JSON syntax is easy to use and the format features incredible browser compatibility with operating systems, it is not ideal for large-scale data products. The output can be too complex to understand when you have more than a few simple data sets, resulting in an increased margin of error. Since JSON does not have robust security, it is unsafe to use with untrusted services or browsers."

4. What are the benefits of using JSON over XML?

Explain the benefits of JSON and the limitations of Extensible Markup Language (XML). In your answer, mention how fast working with JSON is and briefly explain JSON data. You might also consider mentioning JSON objects and the ease of fetching values.

Example: "Working with JSON is both faster and lighter than working with XML. While there are different objects in JSON, XML data does not have any type. JSON supports data types such as number, string, Boolean, array, value and object. Data is easily accessible because a JSON object is in your JavaScript. Fetching values is simple with JSON because it is similar to reading from an object property in a JavaScript code."

5. Can you list the different data types the JSON format supports?

Your answer to this question allows an interviewer to determine how well you know the various elements of JSON. A brilliant answer describes the different data types JSON supports and what each type means. Consider keeping your answer short while including all the data types and associated elements.

Example: "The JSON format supports number, string, Boolean, array, value, object, whitespace and null data. A number is a double-precision floating-point format in JavaScript, and its types are integer, fraction and exponent. A string is a series of zero or more double-quoted Unicode characters. Some special characters you can use in JSON strings include a backslash escaping with double quotation, backslash, forward-slash, backspace, form feed and newline.

The Boolean includes true or false values and the array is a sequence of values in order. An unordered collection of key-value pairs is an object. You can use whitespace between any pair of tokens."

Tips For Answering Questions During A JSON Interview

Below are some tips to consider while answering JSON interview questions:

Clearly communicate with the interviewers and maintain an enthusiastic tone.
Organise your thoughts before giving each answer.
Highlight your strengths and ensure they align with your answers.
Carefully choose examples that support your skill set.
Mention examples that relate to the role you have applied for.

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