JSON Formatter

Format, validate, and minify JSON

Features

  • JSON validation with error display
  • Customizable indentation
  • JSON minification (compression)
  • Sort keys alphabetically
  • Syntax highlighting
  • Statistics and analysis

Frequently Asked Questions

What is JSON?

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data format for exchanging data between systems.

How do I recognize invalid JSON?

The formatter displays errors with line number and description when JSON is invalid.

What does minifying JSON mean?

Minifying removes all unnecessary whitespace and line breaks to reduce file size.

What is a JSON Formatter?

A JSON formatter is an indispensable tool for developers that converts JSON data (JavaScript Object Notation) into a well-readable, structured format. JSON is the most widely used data format for exchanging data between web servers and clients, APIs, and configuration files. While machine-readable JSON data is often on a single line without formatting, our formatter makes it readable and understandable for humans.

Our free online JSON formatter offers more than just formatting: It validates your JSON syntax in real-time, displays errors with precise line numbers, and offers customizable indentation options. The tool works completely in your browser, which means your data never reaches our servers – perfect for working with sensitive API data or configuration files.

With features like minification (compression), alphabetical sorting of keys, and detailed statistics, our tool helps developers work more efficiently. Whether you're debugging API responses, editing configuration files, or optimizing JSON data for production – our formatter covers all requirements.

Why Use a JSON Formatter?

When working with APIs, you often receive JSON responses delivered in a single, unreadable line. A JSON formatter makes this data immediately understandable by structuring and indenting it. This is especially important when debugging, when you need to quickly understand what data an API returns and where potential errors lie.

JSON validation is another critical aspect: A single missing comma or incorrect bracket can cause your entire application to crash. Our tool detects syntax errors immediately and shows you exactly where the problem is. This saves valuable development time and prevents frustrating error hunts.

For production, JSON minification is essential: By removing all unnecessary whitespace and line breaks, you significantly reduce file size, leading to faster loading times and lower bandwidth usage. This is especially important for mobile applications and high-traffic APIs.

Features and Professional Usage

Our JSON formatter offers customizable indentation (2, 4, or 8 spaces) to match your coding standards. The alphabetical key sorting function is ideal for version control and makes diffs clearer, as similar data always appears in the same order.

Syntax highlighting makes the JSON structure recognizable at a glance: keys, values, numbers, and strings are color-coded. The statistics function shows you the number of lines, file size, and number of keys – useful information for performance optimization and data analysis.

One-click copy and download functions significantly speed up your workflow. You can paste formatted JSON directly into your code or save it as a file. Real-time validation means you get immediate feedback while editing JSON data.

Practical Use Cases

API Development and Testing: Format API responses from REST endpoints for better readability. Debug POST/PUT requests by validating and structuring the sent JSON data.

Configuration Management: Edit JSON configuration files for Node.js, React, Angular, or other frameworks. Ensure your package.json, tsconfig.json, or other config files are correctly formatted.

Data Migration: Transform JSON data between different systems. Sort keys for consistent data structures when migrating from one database to another.

Performance Optimization: Minify JSON data for production to save bandwidth. Analyze the size of your JSON payloads and optimize data structures for faster transmission.

JSON Formatter - Free online | Instant Tools