Comment by elcritch

CBOR (and MsgPack) still embraces that simplicity. It provides the same types of key-value, lists, and basic values.

However the types are more precise allowing you to differentiate between int32’s or int64’s or between strings or bytes.

Essentially you can replace json with it and gain performance, less ambiguity but with the same flexibility. You do need a step to print CBOR in human readable form, but it has a standardized human readable form similar to a typed json.