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References: Standard Library and JSON

  1. JSON — Wikipedia. Explains the JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) data format, its history, structure, and widespread use in web APIs and data exchange. Covers the key concepts of objects, arrays, strings, and numbers that map directly to Python data types.

  2. Python Standard Library — Wikipedia. Provides an overview of the Python Standard Library, describing the large collection of built-in modules available without installation. Explains how modules like os, sys, and json give Python programs powerful capabilities out of the box.

  3. Serialization — Wikipedia. Covers the concept of converting data structures into a storable or transmittable format, which is exactly what json.dumps and json.loads do. Helps students understand why JSON is so commonly used to save and share Python data.

  4. Python Crash Course by Eric Matthes (No Starch Press). Chapter 10 covers working with files and data formats including JSON, demonstrating json.dumps and json.loads with practical projects that beginner students can follow step by step.

  5. Automate the Boring Stuff with Python by Al Sweigart (No Starch Press; free online at automatetheboringstuff.com). Uses the os, sys, and json modules throughout real-world automation projects, showing students exactly how Standard Library modules simplify everyday programming tasks like reading files and processing data.

  6. Python json Module — Official Documentation — docs.python.org. The authoritative reference for the json module, covering json.loads, json.dumps, encoding, decoding, and formatting options. Essential reading for understanding every parameter and behavior of the functions taught in this chapter.

  7. Working With JSON Data in Python — realpython.com. A beginner-friendly tutorial that walks through reading and writing JSON with Python, including converting between JSON strings and Python dictionaries. Includes clear examples of json.loads and json.dumps with helpful explanations.

  8. Python JSON — w3schools.com. A concise, hands-on introduction to the Python json module with runnable examples showing how to parse JSON strings into Python objects and convert Python data back to JSON format.

  9. Python os Module — programiz.com. Covers the os module with clear examples showing how to work with file paths, list directories, and interact with the operating system. Helps students see how the Standard Library extends Python's built-in capabilities.

  10. Python JSON Module — geeksforgeeks.org. Explains JSON parsing and generation in Python with worked examples covering json.loads, json.dumps, pretty-printing with indent, and common use cases for storing and loading data in student projects.