If you've played with Power Automate, Microsoft's new workflow tool, you've likely come across some JSON-related content. If you've never worked in software development, this may be the first time you've seen data formatted this way; you've likely only seen XML-formatted data in applications like Microsoft Dynamics 365. In this blog, we'll break down the key things to know about JSON and how you can use it to create powerful Flows for your business.
What is Power Automate?
Formally known as Microsoft Flow, Power Automate is Microsoft's code-less tool designed to automate your business's repetitive and manual tasks. With Power Automate, you can:
- Automate business processes.
- Pass data between nearly every application in the Microsoft Stack.
- Connect to any publicly available API.
- Automatically send reminders and create events for your business.
- And much more!
for countless examples of how Power Automate can fit your business needs.
What is JSON?
JSON is a language-independent data interchange format. Essentially, it is a lightweight way of displaying and transporting data in applications regardless of what coding language that application is written in. XML, on the other hand, is an older format used to transport data that has become less popular over the years.
Power Automate and JSON
Power Automate utilizes JSON to display and transport data between your Flow Steps. If you've ever troubleshooted a Flow by reviewing its Run history, you will see that most Flow Steps have inputs and outputs that contain JSON. Therefore, understanding JSON is key to creating and troubleshooting Flows successfully.
JSON consists of Arrays(denoted with braces), Objects (denoted with curly braces) and Properties (displayed as Key-Value Pairs). These come together to create a data hierarchy that can be understood by almost any modern application. Suppose you create a Flow Step that queries the Accounts table...
