JSON
JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight, text-based data interchange format that is easy for humans to read and write, and easy for machines to parse and generate. It is based on a subset of the JavaScript programming language, but it is language-independent, with parsers available for many programming languages. JSON is commonly used to transmit data between a server and web application, serving as an alternative to XML.
Developers should learn JSON because it is the de facto standard for data exchange in web APIs, mobile applications, and configuration files due to its simplicity and widespread support. It is essential for working with RESTful APIs, storing structured data in NoSQL databases like MongoDB, and handling data in modern web development frameworks. JSON's human-readable format also makes it ideal for debugging and configuration purposes.