Why JSON.parse() Fails for Large Files — Streaming Parsers, JSON Lines, and When to Use Each
Standard JSON.parse() requires the complete document before returning anything — which fails for large files that exceed memory and real-time streaming APIs that never "finish." Here's how streaming JSON parsers work (event-driven, token-by-token), JSON Lines as a simpler alternative that works with standard parsers, the specific use cases where streaming is necessary vs over-engineering, and when high-volume data transfer argues for protobuf instead of JSON entirely.