What is CBOR?

Concise Binary Object Representation (CBOR) is a data format that aims to provide the benefits of JSON but in a more compact and efficient binary form. Defined in RFC 8949, CBOR's design supports extremely small code sizes, small message sizes, and easy extensibility without version negotiation.

CBOR Object Signing and Encryption (COSE) algorithms are used to generate passkeys. The type of algorithm is stored within the attestation-object of a passkey operation:

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CBOR builds on the JSON data model, encompassing types such as numbers, strings, arrays, and maps, adding more like bytes for binary data not efficiently handled by JSON. Here’s how CBOR refines data interchange:

Like JSON, CBOR allows for effective data interchange without rigid schema enforcement, facilitating flexible development and rapid evolution at both ends of a communication channel.

Unlike JSON, which requires encoding for binary data (typically in base64), CBOR embraces binary natively, simplifying the representation of binary data like encryption keys or sensor readings.

CBOR's binary nature ensures data is not only more concise but also processed faster than textual formats, crucial for performance-critical applications like those in IoT.

As a stable Internet Standard, CBOR is designed to remain relevant and supportive of new technologies for decades. It supports extensibility through tags that allow for additional data types without altering the core specifications.

• Internet of Things (IoT): CBOR is particularly advantageous for IoT devices, which benefit from its low overhead and efficient data encoding.
• Inter-device Communication: CBOR facilitates compact and quick data exchange between devices in constrained environments.
• Data Security: CBOR Object Signing and Encryption (COSE) provides robust security mechanisms, crucial for secure, authenticated, and private data exchange.

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CBOR is a binary format that reduces the size and increases the speed of data interchange, unlike JSON's text-based format which is more verbose and slower to process.

Yes, CBOR is based on the JSON data model and can represent all JSON data types, plus additional binary types, making it broadly compatible yet more efficient.

CBOR itself focuses on data representation. Security can be implemented on top of CBOR using COSE, which adds signing, encryption, and message authentication.

Absolutely. CBOR's tagging system allows it to adapt to future requirements and incorporate new data types without disrupting existing implementations.

Implementing CBOR requires a CBOR parser and generator. Many programming languages have libraries available that support CBOR, facilitating easy integration into existing systems.