JSON is been around for years and embraced by the developers especially those who are doing AJAX (Asynchronous Javascript and XML).
JSON, short for JavaScript Object Notation, is a lightweight computer data interchange format. It is a text-based, human-readable format for representing simple data structures and associative arrays (called objects).
The JSON format is often used as a data format in transmitting data between the client and the server. It is normally serves as an alternative to XML in AJAX (I think it should be AJAJ).
Ive been using it myself and one the problem when you are just starting up with JSON and javascript is the familiarity with the format. If you are used in doing XML then this may be a strange animal to you.
I just want to share tips in checking and reviewing your JSON output format. Here are my method but let start with the tools.
The Tools
1. Firebug
I consider this firefox plugin as the most useful clientside debugging tool for web developers. Ill discuss the features of this in another post but in debugging our JSON outputs this is useful because it provides the best way to see the information we receive from our web server.
2. JsLint
JsLint is a web based json validation tool. It scans your code and evaluate it if there are any errors and violations in standard coding styles. It can check for missing quotes, invalid characters and others but beware it is not so friendly at start. It can show too much errors and warnings even if your code actually working.
This is useful when you are using powerful javascript libraries like Ext Js, YUI or Closure.
You can get the JSON response using firebug and paste it in jslint.