CCNA AI and Network Operations Practice Question
Which two statements correctly describe JSON?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common exam trap is mistaking JSON for XML or a routing protocol. Some candidates incorrectly believe JSON requires angle-bracket tags around fields, which is actually an XML characteristic. Others confuse JSON with routing protocols used by controllers, which it is not. JSON is solely a data format for representing structured data, primarily using key-value pairs and arrays. Misunderstanding this can lead to selecting incorrect answers that describe XML or routing protocols instead of JSON’s actual function in network automation and programmability.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
It commonly represents data as key-value pairs
JSON is a lightweight data-interchange format commonly used in APIs. It represents data using key-value pairs and arrays. It is not the same as XML, which uses angle-bracket tags. JSON is not a routing protocol. JSON can carry various data types including strings, numbers, booleans, arrays, objects, and null, not only integers.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
It commonly represents data as key-value pairs
Why this is correct
At its heart, a JSON object is an unordered collection of key/value pairs, where each key is a unique string and each value can be any valid JSON type. This pattern makes it easy to represent structured data such as device interfaces, routing tables, or interface statistics. Most programming languages natively parse this structure into a dictionary or map.
- ✓
It is often used in REST API payloads
Why this is correct
REST APIs commonly select JSON as the payload format for requests and responses because it is lightweight, language-neutral, and easy for both humans and machines to read. Network automation tools, controllers, and programmability interfaces (e.g., Cisco DNA Center or IOS-XE RESTCONF) exchange JSON to create, read, update, and delete resources. It pairs naturally with HTTP methods and status codes.
- ✗
It requires angle-bracket tags around every field
Why it's wrong here
JSON does not use angle-bracket tags; that syntax is characteristic of XML or HTML. A JSON document is built with curly braces for objects, square brackets for arrays, and colon-separated key/value pairs, with no markup tags around fields. Trying to place fields inside tags would actually produce invalid JSON that parsers would reject.
When this WOULD be correct
In a question about XML syntax, an option stating 'It requires angle-bracket tags around every field' would be correct.
- ✗
It is a routing protocol used by controllers
Why it's wrong here
JSON is a data-interchange format, not a networking protocol. While software-defined networking controllers and automation platforms use JSON as a way to encode configuration and telemetry data, routing decisions themselves are made by protocols such as OSPF, EIGRP, or BGP. The J in JSON stands for JavaScript, not routing.
When this WOULD be correct
In a question asking 'Which protocol is used by SDN controllers to communicate with network devices?', options like OpenFlow, NETCONF, or OSPF could be correct. If the question specifically mentioned 'a protocol used for path selection in controller-based networks', then a routing protocol would be the answer.
- ✗
It can only carry integer values
Why it's wrong here
JSON's value model is far broader than integers: the specification defines strings, booleans, null, arrays, and objects, and numbers can be integers or decimals. A field such as "hostname":"R1" or "up":true is perfectly valid JSON. Restricting JSON to integer values would reject most real-world API payloads.
When this WOULD be correct
If a question asked 'Which data type is used to represent whole numbers in JSON?' then 'integer' would be correct, but JSON itself is not limited to integers.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The 200-301 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓It commonly represents data as key-value pairsCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
At its heart, a JSON object is an unordered collection of key/value pairs, where each key is a unique string and each value can be any valid JSON type. This pattern makes it easy to represent structured data such as device interfaces, routing tables, or interface statistics. Most programming languages natively parse this structure into a dictionary or map.
✗It requires angle-bracket tags around every fieldWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
JSON uses curly braces, brackets, colons, and commas for structure, not angle-bracket tags like XML.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a question about XML syntax, an option stating 'It requires angle-bracket tags around every field' would be correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse JSON with XML, as both are data interchange formats, and XML does use angle-bracket tags.
✗It is a routing protocol used by controllersWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
JSON is a data-interchange format, not a routing protocol. Routing protocols like OSPF or BGP are used by controllers in network environments, but JSON has no routing functionality.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a question asking 'Which protocol is used by SDN controllers to communicate with network devices?', options like OpenFlow, NETCONF, or OSPF could be correct. If the question specifically mentioned 'a protocol used for path selection in controller-based networks', then a routing protocol would be the answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse JSON with protocols used in network automation (e.g., NETCONF, RESTCONF) or assume that because controllers use JSON for data representation, JSON itself is a protocol.
✗It can only carry integer valuesWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
JSON can carry strings, booleans, arrays, objects, and null values, not just integers.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If a question asked 'Which data type is used to represent whole numbers in JSON?' then 'integer' would be correct, but JSON itself is not limited to integers.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse JSON with a simple data format or think it only supports numeric values due to limited exposure.
Analysis generated from the official 200-301blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Visual reference
Quick reference
Routing Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Metric | Max Hops | Algorithm | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIP v2 | Hop count | 15 | Bellman-Ford | Distance vector |
| OSPF | Cost (bandwidth) | Unlimited | Dijkstra (SPF) | Link state |
| EIGRP | Composite metric | Unlimited | DUAL | Hybrid |
| IS-IS | Cost | Unlimited | Dijkstra | Link state |
| BGP | Policy / attributes | Unlimited | Path vector | Path vector |
RIP's 15-hop limit makes it unsuitable for large networks. OSPF and EIGRP dominate modern enterprise deployments.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Network Management Approaches: Device, Cloud, Controller, Automation, and IaC
Key term
JSON
JSON is a lightweight, text-based format for storing and exchanging data that is easy for humans to read and write and easy for machines to parse and generate.
Key term
CAN
A CAN (Controller Area Network) is a robust vehicle bus standard designed to allow microcontrollers and devices to communicate with each other without a host computer.
About these practice questions
This 200-301 question is part of Courseiva's 1,389-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on 200-301
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A network engineer queries a REST API and receives data in JSON format. Which statement about JSON is correct?
medium- A.JSON is a transport protocol that replaces HTTPS
- ✓ B.JSON stores data as key-value pairs and arrays
- C.JSON can be used only with Cisco DNA Center
- D.JSON requires XML tags around each object
Why B: JSON is a lightweight data-interchange format that represents data as key-value pairs and arrays. Option A is incorrect because JSON is not a transport protocol; it is a data format exchanged over HTTPS. Option C is incorrect because JSON is platform-agnostic and used by many APIs, not limited to Cisco DNA Center. Option D is incorrect because JSON uses a flexible syntax with colons and brackets, not XML tags.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 200-301 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 200-301 exam.