What is the difference between json.load() and json.loads()?

In Python, json.load() reads JSON from a file object, while json.loads() parses JSON from a string. Use json.load() when reading from files: with open("data.json") as f: data = json.load(f). Use json.loads() for JSON strings: data = json.loads('{"name": "John"}'}). The "s" in loads stands for "string." Load() handles file I/O and parsing together, making it convenient for file operations. Loads() is ideal when receiving JSON from APIs, databases, or already in memory as text. Both return Python dictionaries or lists that you can work with. After parsing your JSON data, use our JSON Viewer at jsonconsole.com/json-viewer to visualize complex structures before processing them in your Python code. Understanding this distinction prevents common errors like passing strings to load() or file objects to loads().