---
title: "Modern annotation with Instant JSON"
canonical_url: "https://www.nutrient.io/guides/nodejs/json/"
md_url: "https://www.nutrient.io/guides/nodejs/json.md"
last_updated: "2026-05-14T16:53:43.896Z"
description: "Explore Instant JSON for seamless annotation and synchronization across devices. Enjoy compact file sizes and easy schema documentation."
---

# Instant JSON in Node.js workflows

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 our Instant JSON file example](/guides/nodejs/json/example-json-file.md)
- [Effortlessly fill PDF forms with Instant JSON](/guides/nodejs/json/filling-a-form-with-instant-json.md)
- [How Instant JSON works](/guides/nodejs/json/how-it-works.md)

## Pages in this section

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