What is JSON vs XML?

JSON and XML are both data interchange formats, but JSON is simpler and more lightweight. JSON uses key-value pairs with minimal syntax, while XML uses verbose opening and closing tags. JSON is faster to parse and produces smaller file sizes, making it ideal for web APIs. XML supports attributes, namespaces, and schemas, offering more flexibility for complex document structures. JSON integrates naturally with JavaScript, while XML requires additional parsing libraries. XML is better suited for documents with metadata and mixed content, whereas JSON excels at structured data exchange. Most modern APIs prefer JSON for its simplicity, speed, and ease of use in web applications.