Did I choose the right JSON structure?

Question

JSON

Actually a question. Which JSON option is better/correct.easier to bypass.

{
  "date": 2012-05-14,
  "tags": {
    "Python": 1,
    "Java": 3,
    "Linux": 8
  },
  "status": 0
}

{
  "date": "2012-05-14",
  "tags": [
{"Python": 1},
{"Java": 3},
{"Linux": 8}
  ],
 
  "status": 0
}

In the second case, how do I understand the array of tags, and in the first case they are like subobjects?

Answer 1

It all depends on the destination. In the first one, the tags object is guaranteed to contain one language (key) each. This can be said to be safer, but if you need several such keys (languages), then the 2nd option is better. However, the 2nd option will be more difficult to process (if you need to know the selected key (language)). This is how it will be better (for the 2nd option):

{
  "date": "2012-05-14",
  "tags": [
    {"id": "Python", "value": 1},
    {"id": "Java", "value": 3},
    {"id": "Linux", "value": 8}
  ],
  "status": 0
}