The short answer
A JSON file stores data as plain text. JSON stands for JavaScript Object Notation, and despite the name it is used far beyond JavaScript. Apps, websites, and APIs lean on it to move information around, because it is easy for software to read and still readable by a person.
Inside, the data sits in name and value pairs, wrapped in curly braces, like {"name": "Sam", "active": true}. That simple shape is the whole reason JSON became so common.
How to open a JSON file
- Any text editor. Notepad on Windows, TextEdit on Mac, or a code editor like VS Code will open it right away. VS Code can also format it so it is easy to read.
- A web browser. Drag the file into Chrome, Edge, or Firefox and it shows the contents. Some browsers even fold and unfold the sections.
- An online JSON viewer. If the file is one long line, paste it into a free formatter and it lays the data out with indentation and colors.
If the file opens as a wall of text with no line breaks, that is normal. It was saved compact to save space. A formatter fixes the readability in one click.
How to share a JSON file
Email and chat apps sometimes block or mangle JSON attachments, and pasting raw JSON into a message looks messy. A link is cleaner.
- Upload the JSON file to snapy.
- Copy the link you get back.
- Send it. The other person opens it in their browser, no account needed.
Upload a file to turn a JSON file into a shareable link, or see how to create a link to any file.