# Python JSON Module

The `json` module provides an API for parsing and creating JSON (JavaScript Object Notation). It is very similar to the `pickle` and `marshal` modules but uses a text-based format that is language-independent.

## Importing the Module

```python
import json
```

## Parsing JSON (Decoding)

### From a String

Use `json.loads()` to parse a JSON string into a Python dictionary or list.

```python
import json

json_string = '{"name": "John", "age": 30, "city": "New York"}'
data = json.loads(json_string)

print(data["name"]) # Output: John
```

### From a File

Use `json.load()` to read from a file object.

```python
with open('data.json', 'r') as f:
    data = json.load(f)
```

## Generating JSON (Encoding)

### To a String

Use `json.dumps()` to convert a Python object into a JSON string.

```python
import json

data = {
    "name": "Jane",
    "age": 25,
    "is_student": False
}

json_string = json.dumps(data)
print(json_string)
```

### Pretty Printing

You can make the output more readable by using the `indent` parameter.

```python
print(json.dumps(data, indent=4, sort_keys=True))
```

[[programming/python/python]]