JSON Formatter
Validate, format, and minify your JSON code instantly.
Validate & Format JSON Online
JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is the language of the web, but raw JSON files often come as a single, unreadable line of text. Our JSON Formatter instantly beautifies your code, adding proper indentation and spacing to make it human-readable.
Beyond just formatting, this tool acts as a JSON Validator. It scans your code for syntax errors—like missing commas or unclosed braces—and highlights exactly where the problem is, helping you debug API responses and configuration files in seconds.
How to Use
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1Paste Data: Copy your raw JSON string and paste it into the left input box.
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2Format or Minify: Click the Format button to beautify the code with indentation, or Minify to compress it into a single line.
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3Copy Result: Once processed, click "Copy" to grab the clean code for your project.
Key Features
🔒 Private & Secure
Your data never leaves your browser. Logic runs entirely on your device, making it safe for sensitive data.
⚡ Instant Validation
Detect syntax errors immediately. We flag the exact issue so you don't have to hunt for missing brackets.
💎 Minification
Reduce file size by removing whitespace. Perfect for optimizing payloads for production APIs.
🛠️ Dev-Friendly
Uses a monospaced font and allows tab indentation, making it feel like a real code editor.
Common JSON Errors & How to Fix Them
Trailing Commas
{"key": "value",}
JSON does not allow a comma after the last key-value pair. Our validator will flag this instantly.
Single Quotes
{'key': 'value'}
Strings in JSON must be wrapped in double quotes. Single quotes are valid in JavaScript but not JSON.
JSON Best Practices
To ensure your JSON data is parsable by any system, follow these standards:
- Use CamelCase for Keys: e.g.,
"userName"instead of"user_name"(though both are valid). - Limit Nesting Depth: Extremely deep nesting makes data hard to read and parse.
- No Comments: Remember, standard JSON does not support comments. Keep documentation separate.
- Use UTF-8 Encoding: JSON is defined as a sequence of Unicode characters.
JSON vs. XML vs. YAML
| Format | Parsing Speed | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| JSON | Fastest | Web APIs, Mobile Apps |
| XML | Slow | Enterprise Systems, SOAP |
| YAML | Moderate | Configuration Files (DevOps) |
Why Use This Tools?
- API Debugging APIs often return unformatted JSON. Formatting it helps developers quickly spot data structure issues.
- Configuration Many apps use `.json` files for config. This tool ensures your syntax is valid before deploying changes.
- Data Cleaning Convert messy, minified data from logs into a clean, readable format for analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my data sent to a server?
No. This tool is 100% client-side. Your JSON code is processed in your own browser's memory and is never transmitted to us.
Why is my JSON showing an error?
JSON is strict. Common errors include trailing commas, using single quotes instead of double quotes, or missing closing braces.
Does it strip comments?
Standard JSON does not support comments. This validator adheres to the strict JSON standard, so comments will cause a syntax error.
Can I format huge files?
Yes! Since it runs locally, it can handle large files much faster than server-based tools, limited only by your browser's memory.