XML and JSON in 2026
The article discusses the current status and future of JSON and XML as data interchange formats. JSON, celebrating its 25th anniversary, remains unchanged and widely used, while XML is considered by some to be obsolete. Both technologies have had significant impacts, but their relevance is now largely taken for granted.
- ▪JSON is 25 years old and remains immutable, with no plans for a new RFC despite accumulated errata.
- ▪XML is viewed by some as a failed experiment, yet it has proven successful in establishing a data interchange format independent of various computing environments.
- ▪Both JSON and XML are now largely taken for granted, with many developers not needing to think about them anymore.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
The best thing about long-lived incumbent technologies like JSON and XML is that nobody really has to think about them much any more. Except for, I do occasionally, because while I’m not the inventor of either, my name’s on the front of both official specifications. Hey, it’s JSON’s 25th birthday, what a run! And what ever happened to XML? Let’s shake off the dust and have a look. JSONiana · RFC 8259 is now nine years old and, like all the RFCs, is immutable. And, as is usually the case, a list of errata has built up over the years. Until a few days ago, many of the errata apparently hadn’t ever been looked at for a period measured in years. Now they’ve all been rejected or accepted.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at ongoing by Tim Bray.
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