Unit 1 of 3
Data Formats and Parsing
12 min
+100 points
Learning objectives
When you finish this unit, you will be able to:
- Compare data formats (XML, JSON, and YAML).
- Describe parsing of common data format (XML, JSON, and YAML) to Python data structures.
Data formats for automation
DevNet workflows frequently exchange structured data between applications, APIs, and network devices.
XML, JSON, and YAML
- XML: hierarchical markup format; common in legacy and configuration contexts.
- JSON: lightweight, widely used in REST APIs and modern applications.
- YAML: human-readable format; common in Ansible playbooks and configuration files.
Parsing to Python structures
Understand how to parse each format into Python data structures (dictionaries, lists) for use in scripts and automation workflows.
Exam focus: compare format characteristics and recognize parsing approaches for each data type.