Interchange Formats
Interchange formats are standardized data structures or protocols used to exchange information between different systems, applications, or components. They enable interoperability by providing a common language for data representation, ensuring that data can be accurately parsed and understood regardless of the underlying technology. Common examples include JSON, XML, and CSV, which are widely used in web APIs, configuration files, and data storage.
Developers should learn interchange formats to facilitate seamless data exchange in distributed systems, such as when building RESTful APIs, integrating third-party services, or serializing data for storage and transmission. They are essential for ensuring compatibility between heterogeneous systems, reducing integration complexity, and enabling data portability across platforms and programming languages.