title: What are the drawbacks to a JSON server-side data storage file?
body: <p>I'm looking for alternative data storage methods to SQL (<strong>That is to say, I do <em>not</em> want to use SQL, even for queries</strong>) and came across a few based on JSON. Talking with friends who do database work, they said I shouldn't consider these, but wouldn't elaborate. <strong>What are the potential</strong> (and practical) <strong><em>drawbacks</em> to using JSON as a data storage file format?</strong></p>
  
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  <p>I figured JSON would be <strong>better</strong> than SQL for these reasons:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>JSON is <strong>strictly defined</strong> and doesn't have flavors (Oracle, Microsoft, MySQL, etc.)</li>
  <li>Since Google started making Chrome, JS interpreters have made reading, parsing, and outputting JS (and thus JSON) a <em>very</em> <strong>fast and easy</strong> process.</li>
  <li>Database <strong>output could be pure JSON</strong>, erasing the need for a middle-man interpreter for browsers, etc.</li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>among others...</p>