Why is JSON used in API?

JSON is the preferred format for APIs because it is lightweight, easy to parse, and human-readable. Unlike XML, JSON has minimal syntax overhead, reducing payload size and improving data transfer speeds. Modern programming languages have native support for JSON parsing, making integration seamless. JSON's structure naturally maps to objects and arrays in most languages, eliminating complex parsing logic. It works perfectly with JavaScript, the dominant language for web development, enabling smooth client-server communication. RESTful APIs universally adopt JSON for request and response bodies due to its simplicity. The format is also easier to debug and test compared to alternatives, accelerating development cycles and reducing errors.