JSON (JavaScript Object Notation)
The universal data format for APIs and webhooks. When Stripe sends a payment event, the data arrives as JSON. Every automation engineer must understand how to read and parse JSON to build reliable workflows.
Expert insight
JSON has no native date type, dates are just strings, and different systems format them differently (ISO 8601, Unix timestamp, "MM/DD/YYYY"). Every integration that moves date data between two systems needs an explicit conversion step, assuming the formats match is one of the most common sources of silent data corruption in automation.
In a real workflow
A webhook delivers order data as JSON, with nested objects for customer and line items.
Common mistakes
- Treating numbers and strings interchangeably, which breaks comparisons.
- Not handling missing keys in nested objects.
Complexity level
Anyone can understand this no technical background needed.
Related terms
API (Application Programming Interface)
A set of rules that allow two software applications to communicate. Most automat…
Webhook
A real-time HTTP notification sent from one app to another when an event occurs.…
Payload
The data carried by a webhook or API call. When a client fills your contact form…
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