---
title: "Instant JSON for document annotation"
canonical_url: "https://www.nutrient.io/guides/maui/json/"
md_url: "https://www.nutrient.io/guides/maui/json.md"
last_updated: "2026-05-15T19:10:05.048Z"
description: "Discover how instant JSON enhances document annotation and bookmark synchronization across devices, ensuring minimal syntax and efficient storage."
---

# Explore the Instant JSON format

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

**[Convert Instant JSON to XFDF](https://www.nutrient.io/./convert-to-xfdf/)**\
How to convert Instant JSON to XFDF

## 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

- [Convert JSON to XFDF in MAUI](/guides/maui/json/convert-to-xfdf.md)
- [Understand how Instant JSON transforms PDF changes](/guides/maui/json/how-it-works.md)

## Pages in this section

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