formatsJSON

formatsJSON is a proposed meta-format for describing data formats using JSON. It provides a standardized container to catalog formats, their metadata, and how to validate and parse data.

The aim is to improve interoperability across software components by enabling dynamic discovery of format capabilities rather than relying on hard-coded assumptions.

A formatsJSON document is a JSON object containing a top-level formats array and a metadata section. Each entry represents a data format and includes fields for identification, encoding, and validation information.

Typical format entries include id, name, version, mimeType, charset, and optional compression. A schema field can hold a JSON Schema describing the data structure, while an examples field may provide sample payloads for testing.

FormatsJSON supports references to external validators and reusable schemas, facilitating consistency across projects. It is intended as a descriptive layer rather than a replacement for format specifications themselves.

Common use cases include data catalogs, API contracts, data interchange between systems, and archival metadata management.

Limitations include the lack of official consensus and the need for ongoing maintenance to reflect evolving formats and validation rules.

See also JSON, JSON Schema, data interchange formats.