--- description: What is JSON? JSON is a standard format for data exchange, which is inspired by JavaScript. Generally, JSON is in string or text format. JSON stands for JavaScript Object Notation. The syntax of JSON: title: Python JSON: Encode(dumps), Decode(loads) & Read JSON File image: https://www.guru99.com/images/python-json-dumps-loads.png --- [Skip to content](#main) **⚡ Smart Summary** JSON is a lightweight text format for exchanging data, and Python’s built-in json module reads and writes it easily. Here you will learn to encode Python objects with dumps() and decode JSON with loads(), plus file I/O and more. * 📦 **What it is:** JSON is a text format for exchanging data as key-value pairs. * 📥 **import json:** Python’s built-in json module handles all JSON operations. * ➡️ **Encoding:** json.dumps() converts a Python object into a JSON string. * ⬅️ **Decoding:** json.loads() parses a JSON string into a Python object. * 📂 **File I/O:** json.dump() and json.load() write and read JSON files. * 🤖 **AI help:** AI tools like Copilot generate JSON encode and decode code instantly. [ Read More ](javascript:void%280%29;) ![Python JSON dumps loads](https://www.guru99.com/images/python-json-dumps-loads.png) ## What is JSON in Python? **JSON** in Python is a standard format inspired by JavaScript for data exchange and data transfer as text format over a network. Generally, JSON is in string or text format. It can be used by APIs and databases, and it represents objects as name/value pairs. JSON stands for JavaScript Object Notation. **Python JSON Syntax:** JSON is written as key and value pair. { "Key": "Value", "Key": "Value", } JSON is very similar to Python dictionary. [Python](https://www.guru99.com/python-tutorials.html) supports JSON, and it has an inbuilt library as a JSON. ## JSON Library in Python ‘**marshal**‘ and ‘**pickle’** external modules of Python maintain a version of **JSON** Python library. Working with JSON in Python to perform JSON related operations like encoding and decoding, you need to first **import** JSON library and for that in your **.py** file, import json Following methods are available in the JSON Python module | Method | Description | | ------- | ------------------------------ | | dumps() | encoding to JSON objects | | dump() | encoded string writing on file | | loads() | Decode the JSON string | | load() | Decode while JSON file read | ## Python to JSON (Encoding) [JSON](https://www.guru99.com/json-tutorial-example.html) Library of Python performs following translation of Python objects into JSON objects by default | Python | JSON | | ------------------ | ------------- | | dict | Object | | list | Array | | unicode | String | | number – int, long | number – int | | float | number – real | | True | True | | False | False | | None | Null | Converting Python data to JSON is called an Encoding operation. Encoding is done with the help of JSON library method – **dumps()** ### JSON dumps() in Python **json.dumps()** in Python is a method that converts dictionary objects of Python into JSON string data format. It is useful when the objects are required to be in string format for the operations like parsing, printing, etc. Now lets perform our first json.dumps encoding example with Python: import json x = { "name": "Ken", "age": 45, "married": True, "children": ("Alice","Bob"), "pets": ['Dog'], "cars": [ {"model": "Audi A1", "mpg": 15.1}, {"model": "Zeep Compass", "mpg": 18.1} ] } # sorting result in asscending order by keys: sorted_string = json.dumps(x, indent=4, sort_keys=True) print(sorted_string) **Output:** {"person": {"name": "Kenn", "sex": "male", "age": 28}}) Let’s see an example of Python write JSON to file for creating a JSON file of the dictionary using the same function **dump()** # here we create new data_file.json file with write mode using file i/o operation with open('json_file.json', "w") as file_write: # write json data into file json.dump(person_data, file_write) **Output:** Nothing to show…In your system json\_file.json is created. You can check that file as shown in the below write JSON to file Python example. [![Python JSON Encode Example](https://www.guru99.com/images/1/122818_1014_PythonJSONE1.png)](https://www.guru99.com/images/1/122818%5F1014%5FPythonJSONE1.png) ## JSON to Python (Decoding) JSON string decoding is done with the help of inbuilt method **json.loads()** & **json.load()** of JSON library in Python. Here translation table show example of JSON objects to [Python objects ](https://www.guru99.com/python-class-objects-object-oriented-programming-oop-s.html) which are helpful to perform decoding in Python of JSON string. | JSON | Python | | ------------- | ------------------ | | Object | dict | | Array | list | | String | unicode | | number – int | number – int, long | | number – real | float | | True | True | | False | False | | Null | None | Let’s see a basic parse JSON Python example of decoding with the help of **json.loads** function, import json # json library imported # json data string person_data = '{ "person": { "name": "Kenn", "sex": "male", "age": 28}}' # Decoding or converting JSON format in dictionary using loads() dict_obj = json.loads(person_data) print(dict_obj) # check type of dict_obj print("Type of dict_obj", type(dict_obj)) # get human object details print("Person......", dict_obj.get('person')) **Output:** {'person': {'name': 'Kenn', 'sex': 'male', 'age': 28}} Type of dict_obj Person...... {'name': 'John', 'sex': 'male'} [![Python JSON Decode Example](https://www.guru99.com/images/1/122818_1014_PythonJSONE2.png)](https://www.guru99.com/images/1/122818%5F1014%5FPythonJSONE2.png) ### Decoding JSON File or Parsing JSON file in Python Now, we will learn how to read JSON file in Python with Python parse JSON example: **NOTE:** Decoding JSON file is File Input /Output (I/O) related operation. The JSON file must exist on your system at specified the location that you mention in your program. Python read JSON file Example: import json #File I/O Open function for read data from JSON File with open('X:/json_file.json') as file_object: # store file data in object data = json.load(file_object) print(data) **Here data** is a dictionary object of Python as shown in the above read JSON file Python example. **Output:** {'person': {'name': 'Kenn', 'sex': 'male', 'age': 28}} [![Parsing JSON file in Python](https://www.guru99.com/images/1/122818_1014_PythonJSONE3.png)](https://www.guru99.com/images/1/122818%5F1014%5FPythonJSONE3.png) ### RELATED ARTICLES * [How to Install Python on Windows \[Pycharm IDE\] ](https://www.guru99.com/how-to-install-python.html "How to Install Python on Windows [Pycharm IDE]") * [Multithreading in Python with Example: Learn GIL in Python ](https://www.guru99.com/python-multithreading-gil-example.html "Multithreading in Python with Example: Learn GIL in Python") * [Difference Between Python and C++ ](https://www.guru99.com/python-vs-c-plus-plus.html "Difference Between Python and C++") * [Python readline() Method with Examples ](https://www.guru99.com/python-file-readline.html "Python readline() Method with Examples") ### Compact Encoding in Python When you need to reduce the size of your JSON file, you can use compact encoding in Python. Example, import json # Create a List that contains dictionary lst = ['a', 'b', 'c',{'4': 5, '6': 7}] # separator used for compact representation of JSON. # Use of ',' to identify list items # Use of ':' to identify key and value in dictionary compact_obj = json.dumps(lst, separators=(',', ':')) print(compact_obj) **Output:** '["a", "b", "c", {"4": 5, "6": 7}]' ** Here output of JSON is represented in a single line which is the most compact representation by removing the space character from compact_obj ** ### Format JSON code (Pretty print) * The aim is to write well-formatted code for human understanding. With the help of pretty printing, anyone can easily understand the code. Example: import json dic = { 'a': 4, 'b': 5 } ''' To format the code use of indent and 4 shows number of space and use of separator is not necessary but standard way to write code of particular function. ''' formatted_obj = json.dumps(dic, indent=4, separators=(',', ': ')) print(formatted_obj) **Output:** { "a" : 4, "b" : 5 } [![Format JSON code Example](https://www.guru99.com/images/1/122818_1014_PythonJSONE4.png)](https://www.guru99.com/images/1/122818%5F1014%5FPythonJSONE4.png) To better understand this, change indent to 40 and observe the output- [![Format JSON code Example](https://www.guru99.com/images/1/122818_1014_PythonJSONE5.png)](https://www.guru99.com/images/1/122818%5F1014%5FPythonJSONE5.png) **Ordering the JSON code:** **sort\_keys** attribute in Python dumps function’s argument will sort the key in JSON in ascending order. The sort\_keys argument is a Boolean attribute. When it’s true sorting is allowed otherwise not. Let’s understand with Python string to JSON sorting example. Example, import json x = { "name": "Ken", "age": 45, "married": True, "children": ("Alice", "Bob"), "pets": [ 'Dog' ], "cars": [ {"model": "Audi A1", "mpg": 15.1}, {"model": "Zeep Compass", "mpg": 18.1} ], } # sorting result in asscending order by keys: sorted_string = json.dumps(x, indent=4, sort_keys=True) print(sorted_string) **Output:** { "age": 45, "cars": [ { "model": "Audi A1", "mpg": 15.1 }, { "model": "Zeep Compass", "mpg": 18.1 } ], "children": [ "Alice", "Bob" ], "married": true, "name": "Ken", "pets": [ "Dog" ] } As you may observe the keys age, cars, children, etc are arranged in ascending order. ## Complex Object encoding of Python A Complex object has two different parts that is 1. Real part 2. Imaginary part [![Complex Object Encoding of Python](https://www.guru99.com/images/1/122818_1014_PythonJSONE6.png)](https://www.guru99.com/images/1/122818%5F1014%5FPythonJSONE6.png) **Example: 3 +2i** Before performing encoding of a complex object, you need to check a variable is complex or not. You need to create a function which checks the value stored in a variable by using an instance method. Let’s create the specific function for check object is complex or eligible for encoding. import json # create function to check instance is complex or not def complex_encode(object): # check using isinstance method if isinstance(object, complex): return [object.real, object.imag] # raised error using exception handling if object is not complex raise TypeError(repr(object) + " is not JSON serialized") # perform json encoding by passing parameter complex_obj = json.dumps(4 + 5j, default=complex_encode) print(complex_obj) **Output:** '[4.0, 5.0]' ## Complex JSON object decoding in Python To decode complex object in JSON, use an object\_hook parameter which checks JSON string contains the complex object or not. Lets understand with string to JSON Python Example, import json # function check JSON string contains complex object def is_complex(objct): if '__complex__' in objct: return complex(objct['real'], objct['img']) return objct # use of json loads method with object_hook for check object complex or not complex_object =json.loads('{"__complex__": true, "real": 4, "img": 5}', object_hook = is_complex) #here we not passed complex object so it's convert into dictionary simple_object =json.loads('{"real": 6, "img": 7}', object_hook = is_complex) print("Complex_object......",complex_object) print("Without_complex_object......",simple_object) **Output:** Complex_object...... (4+5j) Without_complex_object...... {'real': 6, 'img': 7} ## Overview of JSON Serialization class JSONEncoder JSONEncoder class is used for serialization of any Python object while performing encoding. It contains three different methods of encoding which are * **default(o)** – Implemented in the subclass and return serialize object for **o** object. * **encode(o)** – Same as JSON dumps Python method return JSON string of Python data structure. * **iterencode(o)** – Represent string one by one and encode object o. With the help of encode() method of JSONEncoder class, we can also encode any Python object as shown in the below Python JSON encoder example. # import JSONEncoder class from json from json.encoder import JSONEncoder colour_dict = { "colour": ["red", "yellow", "green" ]} # directly called encode method of JSON JSONEncoder().encode(colour_dict) **Output:** '{"colour": ["red", "yellow", "green"]}' ## Overview of JSON Deserialization class JSONDecoder JSONDecoder class is used for deserialization of any Python object while performing decoding. It contains three different methods of decoding which are * **default(o)** – Implemented in the subclass and return deserialized object **o** object. * **decode(o)** – Same as json.loads() method return Python data structure of JSON string or data. * **raw\_decode(o)** – Represent Python dictionary one by one and decode object o. With the help of decode() method of JSONDecoder class, we can also decode JSON string as shown in below Python JSON decoder example. import json # import JSONDecoder class from json from json.decoder import JSONDecoder colour_string = '{ "colour": ["red", "yellow"]}' # directly called decode method of JSON JSONDecoder().decode(colour_string) **Output:** {'colour': ['red', 'yellow']} ### Decoding JSON data from URL: Real Life Example We will fetch data of CityBike NYC (Bike Sharing System) from specified URL() and convert into dictionary format. Python load JSON from file Example: NOTE:- Make sure requests library is already installed in your Python, If not then open Terminal or CMD and type * (For Python 3 or above) **pip3 install requests** import json import requests # get JSON string data from CityBike NYC using web requests library json_response= requests.get("https://gbfs.citibikenyc.com/gbfs/2.3/gbfs.json") # check type of json_response object print(type(json_response.text)) # load data in loads() function of json library bike_dict = json.loads(json_response.text) #check type of news_dict print(type(bike_dict)) # now get stationBeanList key data from dict print(bike_dict['stationBeanList'][0]) **Output:** { 'id': 487, 'stationName': 'E 20 St & FDR Drive', 'availableDocks': 24, 'totalDocks': 34, 'latitude': 40.73314259, 'longitude': -73.97573881, 'statusValue': 'In Service', 'statusKey': 1, 'availableBikes': 9, 'stAddress1': 'E 20 St & FDR Drive', 'stAddress2': '', 'city': '', 'postalCode': '', 'location': '', 'altitude': '', 'testStation': False, 'lastCommunicationTime': '2018-12-11 10:59:09 PM', 'landMark': '' } ## Exceptions Related to JSON Library in Python: * Class **json.JSONDecoderError** handles the exception related to decoding operation. and it’s a subclass of **ValueError.** * Exception – **json.JSONDecoderError(msg, doc)** * Parameters of Exception are, * msg – Unformatted Error message * doc – JSON docs parsed * pos – start index of doc when it’s failed * lineno – line no shows correspond to pos * colon – column no correspond to pos Python load JSON from file Example: import json #File I/O Open function for read data from JSON File data = {} #Define Empty Dictionary Object try: with open('json_file_name.json') as file_object: data = json.load(file_object) except ValueError: print("Bad JSON file format, Change JSON File") [![JSON Library in Python](https://www.guru99.com/images/1/122818_1014_PythonJSONE7.png)](https://www.guru99.com/images/1/122818%5F1014%5FPythonJSONE7.png) ## Infinite and NaN Numbers in Python JSON Data Interchange Format (RFC – Request For Comments) doesn’t allow Infinite or Nan Value but there is no restriction in Python- JSON Library to perform Infinite and Nan Value related operation. If JSON gets INFINITE and Nan datatype than it’s converted it into literal. Example, import json # pass float Infinite value infinite_json = json.dumps(float('inf')) # check infinite json type print(infinite_json) print(type(infinite_json)) json_nan = json.dumps(float('nan')) print(json_nan) # pass json_string as Infinity infinite = json.loads('Infinity') print(infinite) # check type of Infinity print(type(infinite)) **Output:** Infinity NaN inf ## Repeated key in JSON String RFC specifies the key name should be unique in a JSON object, but it’s not mandatory. Python JSON library does not raise an exception of repeated objects in JSON. It ignores all repeated key-value pair and considers only last key-value pair among them. * Example, import json repeat_pair = '{"a": 1, "a": 2, "a": 3}' json.loads(repeat_pair) **Output:** {'a': 3} ## CLI (Command Line Interface) with JSON in Python **json.tool** provides the command line interface to validate JSON pretty-print syntax. Let’s see an example of CLI [![Command Line Interface with JSON](https://www.guru99.com/images/1/122818_1014_PythonJSONE8.png)](https://www.guru99.com/images/1/122818%5F1014%5FPythonJSONE8.png) $ echo '{"name" : "Kings Authur" }' | python3 -m json.tool **Output:** { "name": " Kings Authur " } ## Advantages of JSON in Python * Easy to move back between container and value (JSON to Python and Python to JSON) * Human readable (Pretty-print) JSON Object * Widely used in data handling. * Doesn’t have the same data structure in the single file. ## Implementation Limitations of JSON in Python * In deserializer of JSON range and prediction of a number * The Maximum length of JSON string and arrays of JSON and nesting levels of object. ## Python JSON Cheat Sheet | Python JSON Function | Description | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | json.dumps(person\_data) | Create JSON Object | | json.dump(person\_data, file\_write) | Create JSON File using File I/O of Python | | compact\_obj = json.dumps(data, separators=(‘,’,’:’)) | Compact JSON Object by removing space character from JSON Object using separator | | formatted\_obj = json.dumps(dic, indent=4, separators=(‘,’, ‘: ‘)) | Formatting JSON code using Indent | | sorted\_string = json.dumps(x, indent=4, sort\_keys=True) | Sorting JSON object key by alphabetic order | | complex\_obj = json.dumps(4 + 5j, default=complex\_encode) | Python Complex Object encoding in JSON | | JSONEncoder().encode(colour\_dict) | Use of JSONEncoder Class for Serialization | | json.loads(data\_string) | Decoding JSON String in Python dictionary using json.loads() function | | json.loads(‘{“\_\_complex\_\_”: true, “real”: 4, “img”: 5}’, object\_hook = is\_complex) | Decoding of complex JSON object to Python | | JSONDecoder().decode(colour\_string) | Use of Decoding JSON to Python with Deserialization | ## FAQs 📦 What is JSON in Python? JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight text format for storing and exchanging data as key-value pairs. Python’s built-in json module encodes and decodes it easily. ➡️ How do you convert a Python object to JSON? Use json.dumps() to convert a dictionary or list into a JSON string, or json.dump() to write it directly to a file. This process is called encoding. ⬅️ How do you parse JSON in Python? Use json.loads() to parse a JSON string into a Python dictionary, or json.load() to read and decode JSON directly from a file object. 🎨 How do you pretty-print JSON in Python? Pass the indent argument to json.dumps(), such as json.dumps(data, indent=4). This formats the JSON with line breaks and indentation for easier reading. 🔀 How do you sort JSON keys in Python? Set sort\_keys=True in json.dumps(), for example json.dumps(data, sort\_keys=True). This arranges the keys in ascending alphabetical order in the output. 🤖 How can AI tools like GitHub Copilot help with JSON? AI assistants like GitHub Copilot autocomplete json.dumps() and loads() calls, generate encoders for custom objects, and build code to fetch and parse JSON from an API. 🧠 Can AI automate JSON parsing in Python? Yes. AI-powered tools can automate generating parsers, map JSON into Python classes, and add error handling for malformed data or missing keys in JSON responses. 🌐 How do you read JSON from an API in Python? Use the requests library to fetch the URL, then pass the response text to json.loads(). Alternatively, call the response object’s .json() method to decode it directly. #### Summarize this post with: ChatGPT Perplexity Grok Google AI **Stay Updated on AI** **Get Weekly AI Skills, Trends, Actionable Advice.** ##### Sign up for the newsletter Subscribe for Free You have successfully subscribed. 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