What is better, UTF-8 or UTF-16?

UTF-8 is generally better for JSON and web applications due to several advantages. UTF-8 is more space-efficient for Western languages, using one byte for ASCII characters versus two bytes in UTF-16. It is the web standard, ensuring maximum compatibility across systems, browsers, and APIs. UTF-8 is backward compatible with ASCII, making legacy system integration easier. JSON specifications recommend UTF-8 as the default encoding. UTF-16 is more efficient for Asian languages that require multiple bytes in UTF-8 but can cause compatibility issues in web environments. For JSON specifically, always use UTF-8 to ensure your data works seamlessly across all platforms and tools. Our JSON Editor at jsonconsole.com uses UTF-8 encoding by default, ensuring your JSON files are compatible with all systems and properly handle international characters without compatibility problems.