3.5 Data Formats

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight, structured data format that is easy for humans to read and machines to parse.

Purpose: Data exchange between systems and applications.

Examples: Web APIs, configuration files.

A text file stores data as plain, unformatted text.

Purpose: Simple data storage and logs.

Examples: System logs, notes, configuration values.

CSV (Comma Separated Values) stores structured data in rows and columns separated by commas.

Purpose: Data exchange between spreadsheets and databases.

Examples: User lists, reports exported from systems.

UTF‑8 is a character encoding standard that supports a wide range of characters and symbols.

Purpose: Ensure text is displayed correctly across systems.

Examples: Multilingual data storage and communication.

ASCII is a character encoding standard that represents basic English characters using numeric values.

Purpose: Simple, low‑overhead text representation.

Examples: Legacy systems and communication protocols.

XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is a structured, self‑describing data format that uses tags to define elements.

Purpose: Complex data exchange with defined structure.

Examples: Configuration files, document storage, system integration.

Data formats determine how easily data can be transformed, processed, and exchanged. Choosing the correct format improves efficiency, interoperability, and security.

In digital support and security, organisations must judge whether a format supports structured or unstructured data, system compatibility, and transformation requirements.