What type of data format is commonly exchanged using JSON?

The correct choice is based on the nature of JSON, which stands for JavaScript Object Notation. This format is primarily designed for structuring data in a way that's easily understood by humans and machines. JSON represents data as key-value pairs, and this structure makes it particularly suited for exchanging complex data objects between a server and a client, especially in web applications.

For example, when you retrieve data through an API, the information is often formatted in JSON so that it can be effectively parsed and utilized by JavaScript or other programming languages. This usability is why JSON is frequently chosen for data exchange over other formats, such as plain text or HTML.

The other formats listed—text files, style sheets, and HTML documents—serve different purposes. Text files hold unstructured data and lack the specific structure needed for easily conveying complex data objects. Style sheets are used for styling web pages and do not contain data in the sense of key-value pairs. HTML documents represent the structure of web content rather than serving as a medium for data exchange in the way JSON does. This distinction reinforces why data objects encapsulated in JSON are the most relevant and widely used format for data exchange in modern web development.