Is a primitive type considered JSON?

Question

Most place the JSON is in format like

{
    color: \"red\",
    value: \"#f00\"
}

Or

[  
    { color: \"red\",     value: \"#f0         


        

Answer 1

{ "astring" } is not valid JSON and neither is "astring" or astring, as we need both a key and a value, e.g. { KEY : VALUE } where KEY is always a string and VALUE can be a string, number, boolean, or null.

From the spec:

Yes, as the spec says, JSON can be a top level primitive value without an object wrapping it. – Andy Ray

If I understood it correctly, that comment is not correct. Valid JSON is never a top-level primitive value by itself. If you're still confused, this should clear things up:

2. JSON Grammar

   A JSON text is a sequence of tokens. The set of tokens includes six structural characters, strings, numbers, and three literal names.

   A JSON text is a serialized object or array.

   JSON-text = object / array

   These are the six structural characters:

   begin-array = ws %x5B ws ; [ left square bracket

   begin-object = ws %x7B ws ; { left curly bracket

   end-array = ws %x5D ws ; ] right square bracket

   end-object = ws %x7D ws ; } right curly bracket

   name-separator = ws %x3A ws ; : colon

   value-separator = ws %x2C ws ; , comma

   Insignificant whitespace is allowed before or after any of the six structural characters.