JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) is an open standard format for data exchange between applications and services. JSON objects are human-readable lists of key-value pairs. Although its name suggests otherwise, JSON is language-independent. It is specified in the ECMA-404 standard (http://www.ecma-international.org/publications/files/ECMA-ST/ECMA-404.pdf).
ECMA International is an industry association founded in 1961 and dedicated to the standardization of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Consumer Electronics (CE). You can find more information about it at https://www.ecma-international.org.
JSON is very simple and very popular. It is commonly used in AJAX applications, configurations, RESTful web services, apps from social media, and NoSQL database management systems such as MongoDB and CouchDB. Many developers prefer JSON to XML because they see JSON as less verbose and easier to read.
JSON support in SQL is defined in the latest SQL standard—SQL:2016. The standard describes how to store, publish, and query JSON data, and defines the SQL/JSON data model and path language. The specification document (ISO/IEC TR 19075-6:2017) is available at the following web address: https://www.iso.org/standard/67367.html.