JSON mode
Expanded definition
JSON mode is a lighter constraint than structured outputs. It increases the chance of parseable objects but still allows extra keys, missing fields, and wrong types. Use it when you only need a JSON blob. Prefer JSON Schema / structured outputs when downstream code requires exact fields. Always validate in application code. See structured outputs for schema-constrained decoding.
Related terms
Explore adjacent ideas in the knowledge graph.
JSON mode FAQ
What is JSON mode?
JSON mode asks a model to emit syntactically valid JSON, without necessarily matching a specific schema.
How is JSON mode used in AI systems?
JSON mode is a lighter constraint than structured outputs. It increases the chance of parseable objects but still allows extra keys, missing fields, and wrong types. Use it when you only need a JSON blob. Prefer JSON Schema / structured outputs when downstream code requires exact fields. Always validate in application code. See structured outputs for schema-constrained decoding.
Related
Comparisons, tools, and models that connect to this idea.