javascript objects vs arrays vs JSON
<p>Despite much googling and hair-pulling, I can't for the life of me articulate the difference between json, objects, and arrays (in javascript).  Below is how I've been using 2-dimensional data containers (afraid to use the words "array," "object," or "json" here).  Please tell me what these two examples are?</p>

<pre><code>//first example:
[{"record_id":1,"name":"Frank"},
    {"record_id":2,"name":"Sally"}]


//second example:
{"countries": 
    [{"id":1,"name":"Canada"},
        {"id":2,"name":"Mexico"}],
"states":
    ["id":1,"name":"Maine"},
        {"id":2,"name":"Alaska"}]
    }
</code></pre>
