JSON vs XML vs EDI — The Data Format Landscape
Understand when you'll encounter JSON, XML, and EDI — parsing strategies, enterprise legacy formats, and why healthcare still uses HL7.
If JSON is the language of the modern web, then XML is the language of the enterprise past, and EDI is the language of industries that were exchanging electronic data before the internet existed. All three are alive and well in 2026, and you'll encounter all three if you work on anything that touches enterprise systems.
You already know JSON — it's been in every lesson so far. But the moment you integrate with a healthcare system, a government API, a banking platform, or a supply chain system, you'll run face-first into XML and EDI. And you'll need to know enough to not panic.
JSON — The Modern Default
JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) dominates modern APIs because it's simple, lightweight, and maps naturally to data structures in every programming language:
{
"order": {This lesson is part of the Guild Member curriculum. Plans start at $29/mo.