Executive Summary
JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) remains the backbone of the internet. However, our 2026 study reveals that even as LLMs assist with code generation, human syntax errors persist at a steady rate. We analyzed anonymized validation logs to identify which patterns lead to the most frustration.
#1 Villain: The Trailing Comma
Despite modern engines evolving, 42% of all JSON validation failures in our dataset were caused by trailing commas in objects or arrays.
"user_id": 101, // Error here42%
The "Friday Afternoon" Spike
We observed a statistically significant increase in error rates between 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM on Fridays. Fatigue is the enemy of valid JSON.
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Use this Data
We encourage journalists and researchers to use our findings. Please credit SmallUnitTools.com as the source of this anonymized dataset.