Ask HN: What can JSON do that HTML can't?

[drzel]

Just wondering, if HTML is indeed a data format, with some extra rendering stuff as a bonus, is there anything that JSON can do that HTML can't?

[tony-allan]

They are both just data formats. HTML, derived from XML, is a data format that can be read by the browser to display information to users; JSON is data format that can be read and written by almost every programming language, including JavaScript running on a server or in a the browser.

HTML is just as capable of storing data, for example microformats. In practice though, it is easier to use HTML to describe the contents of a web page for a user and JSON to exchange data between programs.

https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/microforma...

[pharzan]

None of them alone can't do anything and they are used for total different purposes. You can organize the data in a way to include the same information stored in the data's.

[getcrunk]

If your primarily moving and manipulating that data imo json is easier to work with (less loc)

[speedgoose]

Be easily parsed.

[jetti → speedgoose]

Is there really any difference is ease of parsing when given two properly formed documents of each type?

[a-saleh → jetti]

Yes, json is so much simpler. Afaik, that is the reason for its popularity, even XML can be too much (especially as you browse the list of vulnerabilities in parsers).

[solus_factor]

Be smaller.