| Feature | XML | JSON |
|---|
| Readability | More verbose | More concise |
| Human-friendly | Somewhat | Highly readable |
| Data Types | Only text (XSD needed for types) | Supports numbers, booleans, arrays |
| Structure | Hierarchical | Key-value (object-based) |
| Parsing Speed | Slower | Faster |
| Metadata Support | Attributes & elements | Limited metadata |
Use XML when:
- You need metadata (attributes).
- Hierarchical document structures (e.g., legal documents).
- Interoperability with legacy systems.
Use JSON when:
- You need fast parsing and lightweight files.
- Data exchange in APIs (REST, GraphQL).