JSON Basics

What is the key name in JSON?

In JSON, a key name is the identifier used in key-value pairs within objects. Keys are always strings enclosed in double quotes, appearing before the colon. For example, in {"name": "John", "age": 30}, "name" and "age" are key names. Keys identify and provide access to their associated values. Key names should be descriptive, reflecting the data they represent. While JSON technically allows any string as a key name, best practices recommend using camelCase or snake_case naming conventions. Keys must be unique within an object—duplicate keys will cause undefined behavior. Use our JSON Editor at jsonconsole.com/json-editor to visualize key-value pairs in tree view, making the relationship between keys and values clear. Good key naming improves code readability and makes API responses self-documenting. Choose meaningful names that clearly indicate what data the value contains.
Last updated: December 23, 2025

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