JSON File Extension

Question

I've been saving all my json files with .txt extension and they worked with jquery ajax calls.

When I change the extension to .json and in my jquery ajax call -- jQuery.ajax() -- I specify

• dataType: "json",
• contentType: "application/json; charset=utf-8",

the files no longer work. Why so?

Shouldn't all json files have an extension .json? I'm using IIS server.

JSON

{ "rows": [ 
  {"row":[ 
    {"cells": [ 
      {"data": "Edit"}, 
      {"data": "030194"} 
    ]} 
  ]}, 
  {"row":[ 
    {"cells": [ 
      {"data": "Add"}, 
      {"data": "030194"} 
    ]} 
  ]}  
]}

jQuery

jQuery.ajax ({ 
  type: "GET", 
  url: "localhost/ABC.json", 
  dataType: "json", 
  contentType: "application/json; 
  charset=utf-8", 
  cache: "false", 
  success: function(response){}  
});

Can someone please tell me why extension .json is not working? It works if I change it to .txt

Answer 1

The correct extension is .json, and the mime type is application/json (reference: this Wikipedia page). Generally speaking, however, it should work with any extension so long as your data structure is valid and your web server is doing what it's supposed to.

Answer 2

IIS comes bundled with a bunch of MIME type handlers. This means when you enter a URL that ends with, for example, .png, IIS knows that this is an image, and dispatches the appropriate response to tell the client (browser) that it's an image (so it can be rendered as such).

.json doesn't have a MIME type handler by default. You need to set one up:

• Load IIS Manager
• Browse the tree nodes up to your web app or website
• Double click on the MIME Types feature (lower pane)
• Click Add (RHS under "Add", or right-click and pick Add)
• Put .txt under the extension field and application/json as the MIME type

You're done! Try requesting the JSON file in the browser; if it renders correctly (as text), awesome. If not, you may have to tell IIS to render it as text/plain instead.