What is a JSON File and How to open it

Ever gotten a JSON file and been unable to open it? It happens frequently. A JSON file’s definition and opening instructions are provided below.

What is a JSON file?

Data is sent between web servers and online apps using JSON, which stands for JavaScript Object Notation. Despite having JavaScript roots, it has grown to be so widely used on the internet in recent years. Numerous databases and computer languages are compatible with it. The.json file extension is how you can identify a JSON file.

JSON files are not executed. It is not an executable file like an EXE. The text file can be read. As a result, most text editing programs can be used to open it. But not all of them let you edit the file as well, and doing so with some of them can destroy the formatting of the content. When choose which program to utilize, bear that in mind.

How to Open a JSON File

JSON files cannot be opened in Windows by default with a plain text editor. The program will need to be manually selected. Here are instructions on how to open a JSON file in both browsers and the most popular text editors.

There are 9 different ways that you can use to open a json file. These are:

1. Open JSON files by using Apple TextEdit

Mac OS includes Apple Text Edit as standard software. It is a platform with an integrated word processor and text editor. On your Mac, you may quickly open and edit JSON files by using this program. Observe it as follows.

1. Start TextEdit on your Mac computer.
2. Click File and choose the Open menu item.
3. Locate and click the JSON file.

2. Open JSON files by using Vim Editor

The well-known Vi editor of UNIX was replaced by Vim. It is a free file opening program that enables you to view and edit your files. Initially developed for Linux, this software. In the end, though, they produced numerous iterations of editors for different operating systems, including Windows and Mac. To open JSON files, follow these steps.

1. Open Vim and copy the JSON file’s path.
2. Paste the path from your clipboard into vim and press the spacebar.
3. Finally, press Enter.

3. Open JSON files by using Web Browser

A good platform for viewing JSON files is Mozilla Firefox. Mozilla Firefox supports a variety of file types in addition to those with the.json extension, including.HTML,.CSS,.MFL,.CHM,.XPT, and others. Firefox opens the file in a format that is human readable, unlike most other programs. Make sure you have the Firefox browser downloaded before continuing with the instructions below.

1. Start File Explorer and find the JSON file.
2. Select the Properties menu item with a right-click on it.
3. Select Change… from the File Type drop-down menu.
4. Look up Mozilla Firefox, then click on it. If it’s not listed on the menu, click the More Apps link at the bottom and try looking again.
5. Select OK from the menu.
6. Also click OK on the Properties tab.
7. At this point, click the JSON file to open it. The file appears in a tab of Firefox.

4. Open JSON files by using C0hrome Extension

Chrome makes it simple to open JSON files. Large amounts of data may, however, appear disorganized and challenging to comprehend. JSON files may be read easily by adding an extension. The structured and ordered material will appear better. This technique works with Windows, Linux, and MacBooks.

1. Launch Chrome, then navigate to the Chrome Web Store.
2. Type “JSON Viewer” into the search bar and hit the Enter key.
3. Launch the extension you wish to include.
4. Select the Add to Chrome link.
5. Choosing Add Extension from the confirmation box in step five.
6. Synchronize the extension with your gadget.
7. Locate the JSON file using File Explorer after that.
8. Choose the Properties option when you right-click on the file.
9. Select Change… from the File Type drop-down menu.
10. Do a search for Google Chrome and then select it.
11. Select OK.
12. Also, on the Properties tab, click the OK button.
13. Return to and open the JSON file. The file will be displayed in a new Chrome tab.

5. Open JSON files by using Notepad

Notepad is the easiest program to use to read a JSON file. Everyone has access to a JSON file because Notepad is included in every Windows 10 edition as well as earlier Windows operating systems. As follows:

1. Open your JSON file by right-clicking it and choosing Open with > Another App from the menu.
2. A window with an app list will open. To see all the programs that are accessible to you, click the More apps option.
3. Select OK after selecting Notepad from the expanded list of apps.

Now your JSON file can be read. If you like, you can edit it as well and save any updates.

6. Open JSON files by using Firefox

JSON files can also be read by web browsers like Firefox and Chrome. You only need to create a new browser tab and drag your JSON file into it. As an alternative, you can open the file by following the identical procedures as before, but selecting Firefox or Chrome in place of Notepad.

Firefox understands the data and displays it to you in a more comprehensible format. To access the original JSON statements, nevertheless, go to the Raw Data section. You cannot change the JSON file when using a web browser like Firefox, which is the only drawback. It is only visible to you.

7. Open JSON files by using Notepad++

Notepad is an obsolete plain text program. Notepad++ is among the most well-known alternative text editors.

Since Notepad++ is a source code editor, it contains many more features than a standard text editor. It includes superior search, auto-completion, syntax highlighting, support for different programming languages, and much more. JSON file reading and editing are also included in this.

Open your JSON file using Notepad++, which is available for free download. As follows:

1. In the Windows search bar, type Notepad++ after downloading and installing the program. To open the app, choose the first result.
2. Click File, then choose Open to locate and open your JSON file.

Rreading a JSON file is significantly simpler than reading a Notepad document.

8. Open JSON files fy using ATOM

Operating systems other than Windows, macOS, and Linux are supported by the open-source markdown editor Atom. It functions as a plain text editor, coding environment, and straightforward JSON file reader. Here is a guide on using Atom to open a JSON file.

Download and set up Atom, first.

Run the software, second.

3. Select Open File under File.
4. Locate your JSON file and launch it.

Now, any platform can read and edit your JSON file.

9. Open JSON files by using Any Text Editor

You have the option. The text-based structure of JSON files makes them simple to read. The data therein can be manually dissected and analyzed with the correct app. Your option will rely on your objectives. Firefox, Chrome, or Notepad will do the trick if you merely want to open a JSON file to examine what it contains. Use a code editor, such as Notepad++ or Atom, instead if you intend to edit the file.