Reading Between the Curly Braces: On Textual Data Serialization Format Usability

2026-07-28

AI Summary

This study addresses the lack of systematic understanding regarding the usability of textual serialization formats such as JSON and XML, particularly concerning the factors that influence cognitive efficiency and user experience. Through a large-scale crowdsourced experiment (N=215) complemented by semi-structured interviews (N=9), the authors conduct a mixed-methods evaluation of multiple formats in realistic editing tasks. While HJSON and YAML demonstrate marginal advantages in specific modification scenarios, these benefits vanish in both simpler and more complex contexts. Crucially, the findings reveal that usability is not primarily determined by syntactic differences but rather by socio-technical ecosystem factors—including tooling support, documentation quality, and community practices. This work provides the first empirical evidence that ecosystem support exerts a more decisive influence on format usability than syntax design alone.

Abstract

Textual data serialization formats, such as JSON or XML, are ubiquitous, supporting tasks like software configuration and data tabularization. Despite their prominence, little is known about their usability. What makes one good or bad? Is there a best one for cognitive efficiency? We explore these questions via a (N=215) crowd work study and a (N=9) semi-structured interview study. We find that format distinctions (like indentation versus curly braces) do not consistently translate into substantial usability differences. While HJSON and YAML performed better than other formats in certain modification tasks, these advantages disappeared in more realistic settings where task complexity was either trivial or highly demanding. Instead, usability appears driven by sociotechnical ecosystems: the tooling, documentation, and community practices surrounding a format matter more than syntax.

Problem

• data serialization
• usability
• cognitive efficiency
• textual formats
• sociotechnical ecosystems

Innovation

• data serialization formats
• usability study
• sociotechnical ecosystems
• cognitive efficiency
• empirical evaluation