# Data Types

The protocol description below will contain references to various types, which are collected here for reference

| Type        | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|-------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| string      | A simple quoted string, following standard JSON rules; see [the JSON spec](http://json.org) for details.                                                                                                                                                                               |
| decimal     | A decimal value, encoded in a JSON string. The contents will be a series of digits, followed by an optional decimal point and additional digits.                                                                                                                                       |
| timestamp   | The number of seconds since 1970-01-01 UTC. This is usually provided for compatibility; implementors should use the more precise timestampms when available. When used as an input, either the millisecond or second precision is usable; this is unambiguous for dates past 1/29/1970 |
| timestampms | The number of milliseconds since 1970-01-01 UTC. The begin date is the standard UNIX epoch, so this will be 1000 times the UNIX timestamp in seconds. This will be transmitted as a JSON number, not a string.                                                                         |
| integer     | A whole number, transmitted as a JSON number.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| boolean     | A JSON boolean, the literal string `true` or `false`                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| array       | a JSON array. Each element contains a payload that will be described.                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |