.properties - MajickTek/Java-Properties GitHub Wiki

Probably the simplest key-value format out there.

Here is an example file, from Wikipedia:

# You are reading the ".properties" entry.
! The exclamation mark can also mark text as comments.
# The key characters =, and : should be written with
# a preceding backslash to ensure that they are properly loaded.
# However, there is no need to precede the value characters =, and : by a backslash.
website = https://en.wikipedia.org/
language = English
# The backslash below tells the application to continue reading
# the value onto the next line.
message = Welcome to \
          Wikipedia!
# Add spaces to the key
key\ with\ spaces = This is the value that could be looked up with the key "key with spaces".
# Unicode
tab : \u0009
# If you want your property to include a backslash, it should be escaped by another backslash
path=c:\\wiki\\templates
# However, some editors will handle this automatically

As you can see, it is fairly simple.

To fake hierarchical data which normally is only available to the XML format, do this:

a=first
a.b=second
a.b.c=third