Difference between json and json schema?

JSON is a data interchange format for representing structured data, while JSON Schema is a vocabulary for validating and annotating JSON documents. JSON contains actual data like {"name": "John", "age": 30}, whereas JSON Schema defines rules about what that data should look like. JSON Schema specifies data types, required fields, value constraints, and structural requirements. For example, a schema might require that "age" must be a positive integer and "name" must be a string. JSON is used to transmit and store data, while JSON Schema ensures data quality and consistency through validation. Developers use JSON Schema to document API contracts, validate user input, and enforce data standards across systems. JSON Schema itself is written in JSON format, making it easy to process programmatically while serving a completely different purpose than regular JSON data.