Which formats are commonly used for data serialization in APIs?

The choice of JSON and XML as common formats for data serialization in APIs is well-founded due to the characteristics and widespread adoption of these formats.

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is lightweight and easy for both humans and machines to read and write. It is particularly popular in web APIs because of its compatibility with JavaScript and its ability to effectively represent complex data structures while maintaining a compact format. JSON's syntax allows for the representation of objects, arrays, numbers, and strings, making it versatile for various use cases.

XML (eXtensible Markup Language) has been a long-standing standard for data serialization. It is more verbose than JSON but is highly structured and supports namespaces, which is useful in complex data interchange scenarios. XML allows for the usage of schema definitions, facilitating validation and the definition of data types.

Both JSON and XML are widely supported across numerous programming languages, web frameworks, and tools, making them the de facto standards for data interchange in APIs. This compatibility enhances their utilization in various applications, from web services to configuration files.

In contrast, other formats like CSV and TXT lack the structured nature needed for complex data representation, while HTML and Markdown primarily serve to format text for display rather than for structured data interchange. Lastly,