7 Best Java JSON Libraries

Here are the best open-source Java JSON libraries for your applications. You can use these software tools to parse, manipulate, and generate JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) data in Java applications.

JSON is a lightweight data-interchange format widely used in modern web applications for data transfer between client-side and server-side applications. JSON is easy to read and write for humans and machines, making it a popular choice for data serialization. Java JSON libraries are essential for any Java developer working with JSON data. They provide a convenient and efficient way to work with JSON data, making it easier to build modern web applications that require data serialization and deserialization. There are several Java libraries available for working with JSON data. Certain high-performance JSON processors for Java provide a powerful data-binding framework for converting JSON and Java objects. Also, some lightweight libraries provide simple APIs for parsing and generating JSON data. Besides, you can find simple JSON libraries that provide basic JSON parsing and generation capabilities. 

We have handpicked the top and trending open-source Java JSON libraries for your next application development project. Each library has strengths and weaknesses, and the choice depends on the project’s specific requirements. Some factors to consider when choosing a JSON library include performance, ease of use, compatibility with other libraries and frameworks, and the size of the library.

Jackson:

• Used in enterprise applications as a high-performance JSON processor.
• Provides a powerful data binding framework for converting between JSON and Java objects.
• Supports streaming, tree model, and data binding.

Gson:

• Used to convert Java Objects into their JSON representation.
• Provides simple APIs for parsing and generating JSON data.
• It is easy to use, efficient, and compatible with other Java libraries and frameworks.

JSON.simple:

• Used to encode or decode JSON text.
• Provides basic JSON parsing and generation capabilities.
• It is lightweight, easy to use, and compatible with older versions of Java.

JSON-lib:

• Used for transforming beans, maps, collections, java arrays, and XML to JSON and vice-versa.
• Supports various data types, including JSON arrays and objects.
• Provides simple APIs for parsing and generating JSON data and is compatible with older versions of Java.

Genson:

• Used for java conversion, data binding, streaming, etc.
• Supports both serialization and deserialization.
• It is lightweight, easy to use, and supports various data types.

Jettison:

• Used for converting XML to JSON and vice-versa with the help of StAX.
• Supports JSON processing in a Java-based environment.
• It provides simple APIs for parsing and generating JSON data and is compatible with various Java libraries and frameworks.

JSONassert:

• Used to write JSON unit tests in less code.
• It is great for testing REST interfaces and supports JSON assertions.
• Allows to test JSON responses by comparing them with expected JSON data.