How is JSON stored in PG ?

[David Gauthier <davegauthierpg@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi:

psql (11.5, server 11.3) on linux

I'm considering using JSON as a datatype for something I'm working on.  The reasons are...

1) the 'metadata' (if you want to call it that) in JSON is very flexible.  Doesn't require an alter table or anything like that to change.

2) The customers for this data is probably going to be python code.  IOW, they can sort things out in their code after reading the whole JSON file/record.

3) Nice array of built-in functions for this datatype.

4) There does appear to be the ability to formulate query predicates on the JSON content (just in case)

But #4 has me a bit worried.  I'm wondering how PG stores this data given that its content can be specified in a query predicate.  Does PG just store the content in traditional PG tables ?  If so, I can do that myself.  If not, is there a penalty to be paid at query time if PG needs to get the JSON data, then dismantle into a temp table (or something like that) to query.

Pros and Cons for using JSON ?

Thanks for any help !