This Python JSON lesson is for a beginner. Read the short notes, run each example, then change one name or number and run it again.
JSON is a text format for objects and lists. json.dumps turns a Python dict into text. json.loads turns text back into a dict.
JSON uses true, false, and null. Python uses True, False, and None. The json module translates them.
Example 1: Start here
dumps is for text. dump, without the s, writes to a file.
import json # load a tool that comes with Python
payload = {"name": "Meera", "active": True} # a dictionary; each key has one value
text = json.dumps(payload) # the value written as JSON text
print(text)
print(json.loads(text)["name"])
Example 2: Dump to text
dumps turns a dictionary into a JSON string.
import json # load a tool that comes with Python
print(json.dumps({"city": "Chennai", "seats": 24}))
Example 3: Load it back
loads reads JSON text and returns a dictionary.
import json # load a tool that comes with Python
data = json.loads('{"city": "Chennai"}') # the value read from JSON text
print(data["city"])
Example 4: A list in JSON
A JSON array becomes a Python list.
import json # load a tool that comes with Python
print(json.loads('["Python", "SQL"]'))
dumps is for text. dump, without the s, writes to a file.
