JSONL File – What is .jsonl file and how to open it?


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JSONL File Extension

JSON Lines File – file format by Ian Ward

JSONL (JSON Lines File) is a line-delimited JSON format for representing tabular data as a sequence of JSON objects. It is commonly used for storing and transmitting log files, event data, and other structured data.

Definition and Structure:

A JSONL file is a text file that stores data in a JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) format, but unlike a regular JSON file, it consists of individual JSON objects stored on separate lines. Each line represents a complete JSON object enclosed in curly braces, and the objects can be of varying types, including arrays, strings, numbers, and booleans. JSONL files follow the same syntax and data structure as JSON files, allowing for efficient data storage and sharing.

Advantages and Applications:

JSONL files offer several advantages over traditional JSON files. Firstly, they are easier to process and stream, as each object can be parsed independently. This is particularly useful when working with large datasets, as it allows for incremental processing without the need to load the entire file into memory. Secondly, JSONL files are more flexible and extensible, enabling the addition or removal of objects without affecting the integrity of the file. This makes them suitable for applications where data is constantly being updated or modified. Due to their simplicity and efficiency, JSONL files are commonly used in data warehousing, logging, and streaming applications.

Opening JSONL Files with a Text Editor

JSONL files can be opened and viewed using any plain text editor, such as Notepad (Windows), TextEdit (Mac), or Sublime Text. These editors allow you to read the raw JSON data and understand its structure. However, they may not provide advanced features for manipulating or visualizing the data.

Opening JSONL Files with a JSON Viewer

JSONL files can also be opened using a JSON viewer, a specialized tool designed to display and work with JSON data. These viewers typically provide a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to navigate and explore the data. Some popular JSON viewers include JSONLint, JSON Formatter, and JSON Viewer. These tools offer features such as syntax highlighting, code completion, and validation, making it easier to work with JSONL data. Additionally, they may provide graphical representations of the data, such as tree views or charts.

JSON Lines File (JSONL)

JSON Lines File (JSONL) is a file format that stores JSON objects in a line-delimited format. This makes it easy to parse and process JSON data in a streaming fashion. JSONL files are commonly used for storing large datasets that are too large to be stored in a single JSON file.

The JSONL file format is simple and easy to understand. Each line in a JSONL file is a JSON object. The objects can be of any type, including arrays and nested objects. JSONL files can be opened and edited with any text editor. However, there are also a number of tools and libraries available for working with JSONL files.

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