JSON Formatter

Format, beautify, minify, and validate JSON data. Support for multiple indentation styles and instant error detection. All processing happens in your browser - your JSON never leaves your device.

Privacy Notice: All JSON formatting and validation happens in your browser. Your data is never sent to any server.

How to Use the JSON Formatter

Format (Beautify) JSON

  1. Paste your minified or unformatted JSON into the input field
  2. Select your preferred indentation (2 spaces, 4 spaces, or tab)
  3. Click "Format"
  4. Copy the beautifully formatted JSON output

Minify JSON

  1. Paste your formatted JSON into the input field
  2. Click "Minify"
  3. Get compact JSON with all whitespace removed
  4. Perfect for reducing file size or network payload

Validate JSON

  1. Paste your JSON into the input field
  2. Click "Validate"
  3. See instant validation results
  4. Get detailed error messages with line numbers if invalid

What is JSON?

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data-interchange format that's easy for humans to read and write, and easy for machines to parse and generate. It's based on a subset of JavaScript but is language-independent, making it the de facto standard for APIs, configuration files, and data storage.

Why Format JSON?

Readability

Formatted JSON is much easier to read and understand. Proper indentation and line breaks make it simple to see the structure and hierarchy of your data at a glance.

Debugging

When debugging API responses or configuration files, formatted JSON helps you quickly identify issues, spot missing or extra commas, and understand nested structures.

Code Review

Formatted JSON in version control systems makes it easier to review changes, see what data has been added or modified, and collaborate with team members.

Common Use Cases

For Developers

  • Format API responses for easier debugging
  • Beautify configuration files (package.json, tsconfig.json, etc.)
  • Validate JSON before sending to APIs
  • Minify JSON for production deployments
  • Pretty-print log data in JSON format

For Data Engineers

  • Format data exports for analysis
  • Validate JSON data schemas
  • Prepare JSON for data pipeline processing
  • Clean up malformed JSON from legacy systems

For DevOps Engineers

  • Format Kubernetes manifests and configs
  • Validate CloudFormation or Terraform JSON templates
  • Debug infrastructure-as-code configurations
  • Format logging and monitoring data

JSON Formatting Standards

Indentation Options

  • 2 Spaces: Most common in modern JavaScript/TypeScript projects. Compact yet readable.
  • 4 Spaces: Traditional standard, used in many style guides. More visual hierarchy.
  • Tabs: Allows developers to set their preferred visual width. Good for accessibility.

Best Practices

  • Use consistent indentation throughout your project
  • Format JSON files before committing to version control
  • Minify JSON for production to reduce bandwidth
  • Always validate JSON before deployment

Features

  • 100% Client-Side - All formatting happens in your browser using JavaScript
  • Multiple Indentation - Choose between 2 spaces, 4 spaces, or tabs
  • Instant Validation - Immediate feedback on JSON syntax errors
  • Error Details - Get line and column numbers for syntax errors
  • Statistics - See character count, line count, and file size
  • Copy to Clipboard - One-click copy of formatted output
  • Privacy First - Your JSON never leaves your browser

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my JSON data safe?

Yes! All JSON formatting, minification, and validation happens entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Your JSON data never leaves your device and is never sent to any server. We don't log, store, or transmit any data.

What's the difference between formatting and validating?

Formatting takes valid JSON and makes it pretty with proper indentation and line breaks. Validation checks if your JSON is syntactically correct without changing it. Both operations will detect syntax errors, but only formatting produces formatted output.

Can I format very large JSON files?

Yes, this tool can handle large JSON files since all processing happens in your browser's memory. However, for extremely large files (100MB+), you may experience slower performance depending on your device's capabilities.

Why minify JSON?

Minifying JSON removes all unnecessary whitespace, reducing file size. This is important for production environments where you want to minimize network bandwidth, reduce API response times, and optimize storage. The savings can be 30-50% for heavily formatted JSON.

What if my JSON has syntax errors?

If your JSON has syntax errors, the tool will display a detailed error message with the line and column number where the error was detected. Common errors include missing commas, trailing commas, unquoted keys, or mismatched brackets.