Is serde_json the standard way to handle JSON in Rust?

Yes, serde_json is the de facto standard for JSON in Rust with overwhelming ecosystem adoption. Nearly all Rust crates expecting JSON use serde_json interfaces. The serde framework provides abstraction layer allowing same code to work with multiple formats (JSON, YAML, TOML, MessagePack). Serde_json offers excellent performance, safety, and idiomatic Rust design. Alternatives exist: simd-json provides faster parsing using SIMD instructions for extreme performance needs. json-rust offers simpler API for basic use cases. However, serde_json ecosystem integration, type safety, and extensive documentation make it the clear choice. Most web frameworks (Actix, Rocket, Axum) use serde_json by default. The derive macros provide compile-time code generation with zero overhead. Community libraries expose serde-compatible types. Test your JSON with our JSON Validator at jsonconsole.com/json-editor to ensure structure compatibility. For any production Rust project, use serde_json unless you have specific performance requirements that justify alternatives. It represents Rust best practices for data serialization.