FileHint

application/json

The MIME type for JSON. The de-facto content type of REST APIs.

Typical extensions

Primary uses

  • REST API responses
  • Config distribution
  • Generic data exchange

In a browser

DevTools renders formatted JSON. Large payloads auto-collapse in some browsers.

On a server

UTF-8 is mandated by the spec. `Content-Type: application/json` is sufficient.

In email

Rarely emailed except as API-response snapshots.

References