---
title: "Instant JSON format for annotations and bookmarks | Nutrient Document Engine"
canonical_url: "https://www.nutrient.io/guides/document-engine/json/"
md_url: "https://www.nutrient.io/guides/document-engine/json.md"
last_updated: "2026-05-20T19:49:34.767Z"
description: "Discover the Instant JSON format for managing annotations and bookmarks, enabling fast synchronization across devices and users."
---

# Optimize documents with Instant JSON support

Instant JSON is a format we created for bringing annotations and bookmarks into a modern format while keeping all important properties to make the Instant JSON spec work with PDF. The format is fully documented and can be converted to XFDF to make it interoperable.

It’s designed for synchronizing annotations to a server and across users, devices, or sessions. It can be used without licensing Nutrient Instant or Document Engine.

## Key capabilities

- **Annotation diff** — Built-in support for comparing changes

- **Deleted annotations**— Can store deleted annotations, unlike XFDF

- **Minimal syntax** — Features an intuitive and comprehensive structure

- **Compact file size** — Faster loading, less storage and network transfer

## Guides for Instant JSON

**[How it works](https://www.nutrient.io/./how-it-works/)**\
Learn how Instant JSON files are applied to documents

**[Annotations schema](https://www.nutrient.io/./schema/annotations/)**\
Learn about the Instant JSON schema used for annotations

**[File attachments schema](https://www.nutrient.io/./schema/file-attachments/)**\
Learn about the Instant JSON schema used for file attachments

**[Form field values schema](https://www.nutrient.io/./schema/form-field-values/)**\
Learn about the Instant JSON schema used for form field values

**[Form fields schema](https://www.nutrient.io/./schema/form-fields/)**\
Learn about the Instant JSON schema used for form fields

**[Bookmarks schema](https://www.nutrient.io/./schema/bookmarks/)**\
Learn about the Instant JSON schema used for bookmarks

**[Actions schema](https://www.nutrient.io/./schema/actions/)**\
Learn about the Instant JSON schema used for actions

**[Comments schema](https://www.nutrient.io/./schema/comments/)**\
Learn about the Instant JSON schema used for comments

## Reference for Instant JSON

For complete description of the Instant JSON format, refer to the [Instant JSON reference](https://www.nutrient.io/api/reference/document-engine/instant-json@1.8.3/) guide.
---

## Related pages

- [Download the instant JSON file example](/guides/document-engine/json/example-json-file.md)
- [Understanding Instant JSON for efficient PDF management](/guides/document-engine/json/how-it-works.md)

## Pages in this section

- [Create and manage PDF bookmarks with Instant JSON](/guides/document-engine/json/schema/bookmarks.md)
- [Understanding Instant JSON action types](/guides/document-engine/json/schema/actions.md)
- [Understanding Instant JSON attachments and schemas](/guides/document-engine/json/schema/file-attachments.md)
- [Streamline document discussions with Instant Comments](/guides/document-engine/json/schema/comments.md)
- [Instant JSON format for PDF annotations explained](/guides/document-engine/json/schema/annotations.md)
- [Sync PDF form field values using Instant JSON](/guides/document-engine/json/schema/form-field-values.md)
- [Effective guidelines for PDF form field types](/guides/document-engine/json/schema/form-fields.md)