XMLJSON

XMLJSON refers to a family of data representations and tooling designed to map XML documents to JSON objects and, in some cases, back again. The goal is to enable data exchange between XML-centric systems and JSON-based applications while retaining as much of the original structure and metadata as possible. Because there is no single universal standard, multiple mappings exist, each with its own rules and conventions.

Common conventions in XMLJSON mappings include representing XML elements as JSON objects, converting attributes into properties with a prefix such as @, and representing text content with a dedicated key like #text. Repeated elements are typically encoded as arrays. Namespaces may be preserved by encoding them into property names or by discarding them, depending on the mapping. Some approaches add explicit wrappers to distinguish sibling elements with identical names or to separate metadata from data content.

Usage scenarios for XMLJSON include data integration between XML-based services and JSON-first APIs, configuration or data pipelines that must interoperate across formats, and situations where developers need to manipulate XML data using JSON tooling. A simple example converts an XML fragment such as <person id="1"><name>Alex</name><email>[email protected]</email></person> into a JSON object like {"person": {"@id": "1", "name": "Alex", "email": "[email protected]"}}.

Limitations arise from fidelity and ambiguity: attributes, namespaces, and mixed content may be lossy or require additional conventions, and different mappings can yield significantly different JSON structures for the same XML source. XMLJSON is therefore a pragmatic bridge rather than a universal standard. Related topics include XML and JSON, and various XML-to-JSON mapping approaches.