JSON Formatter
Format and validate JSON data with syntax highlighting
Input
Output
What is this JSON Formatter & Validator for?
This free online tool is designed to help you work with JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) data effortlessly. Whether you're a developer, a data analyst, or just someone dealing with JSON, this tool simplifies the process of making your JSON readable, validating its structure, and minimizing its size. All processing happens in your browser - your data never leaves your device, ensuring complete privacy and security.
Complete Feature Set
Our JSON formatter provides comprehensive functionality for all your JSON needs:
- Pretty Printing: Transform minified JSON into clean, indented, hierarchical structure
- Syntax Validation: Real-time error detection with precise line numbers and error descriptions
- Minification: Remove whitespace to reduce file size by up to 40%
- Syntax Highlighting: Color-coded JSON elements for better readability
- Tree View: Collapsible hierarchical display for complex nested data
- File Upload/Download: Work with .json files directly
- Search & Filter: Find specific keys or values in large JSON structures
- Format Conversion: Export to CSV, XML, or YAML formats
- Large File Support: Handle JSON files up to 50MB efficiently
- Keyboard Shortcuts: Ctrl+F (format), Ctrl+M (minify), Ctrl+V (validate)
Before & After Examples
❌ Unformatted (Hard to Read)
{"users":[{"id":1,"name":"John Doe","email":"john@example.com","active":true,"roles":["admin","user"]},{"id":2,"name":"Jane Smith","email":"jane@example.com","active":false,"roles":["user"]}],"total":2,"page":1}✅ Formatted (Clean & Readable)
{
"users": [
{
"id": 1,
"name": "John Doe",
"email": "john@example.com",
"active": true,
"roles": ["admin", "user"]
},
{
"id": 2,
"name": "Jane Smith",
"email": "jane@example.com",
"active": false,
"roles": ["user"]
}
],
"total": 2,
"page": 1
}Common Use Cases for this Tool:
1. Debugging APIs and Web Services:
Problem: API responses often come back as unformatted, single-line JSON, making it impossible to read. If there's an error, it's hard to pinpoint where it is.
Solution: Paste the API response into the formatter to instantly pretty-print it and identify any syntax errors with precise line numbers. Our error highlighting shows exactly where issues occur.
2. Working with Configuration Files:
Problem: Many applications, frameworks, and tools use JSON for their configuration files. Manually editing these can lead to errors if the syntax isn't perfect.
Solution: Upload your config files directly, validate them for syntax errors, and download the corrected version. Prevent deployment issues before they happen.
3. Sharing and Collaborating on Data:
Problem: Sharing large, unformatted JSON with colleagues can be frustrating and lead to misinterpretations.
Solution: Format your JSON and use the tree view to collapse sections. Export to multiple formats (CSV for spreadsheets, XML for systems) to match your team's needs.
4. Learning and Understanding JSON:
Problem: JSON syntax can seem intimidating to beginners, especially with nested structures.
Solution: Use our syntax highlighting and tree view to visualize JSON structure. Error messages explain exactly what's wrong and how to fix it, making learning interactive and intuitive.
5. Optimizing Data Transmission:
Problem: Large JSON payloads can slow down web applications and increase bandwidth usage.
Solution: Our minifier removes all unnecessary whitespace, reducing file size by up to 40%. Perfect for API responses, mobile apps, and bandwidth-sensitive applications.
6. Data Analysis and Migration:
Problem: Converting JSON data for analysis in Excel or importing into databases requires format transformation.
Solution: Convert JSON arrays to CSV for spreadsheet analysis, or transform to XML for legacy system integration. Search functionality helps locate specific data points in large datasets.
Technical Specifications
Supported Standards:
- • JSON (RFC 7159/8259)
- • JSON5 (extended syntax)
- • JSONL (JSON Lines)
- • GeoJSON validation
Performance:
- • Files up to 50MB supported
- • Sub-second processing for most files
- • Mobile-responsive design
- • Works offline after initial load
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is my data secure when using this tool?
A: Yes! All processing happens locally in your browser. Your JSON data never leaves your device or gets sent to any server, ensuring complete privacy and security.
Q: What browsers are supported?
A: All modern browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. The tool is fully responsive and works on mobile devices too.
Q: Can I format very large JSON files?
A: Yes, we support files up to 50MB. For extremely large files, consider breaking them into smaller chunks for better performance.
Q: What if my JSON has syntax errors?
A: Our validator will highlight the exact line and character where errors occur, with clear descriptions of what's wrong and suggestions for fixing them.
💡 Pro Tips
- • Use the tree view to navigate complex nested structures
- • Search for specific keys using Ctrl+/ for large JSON files
- • Convert to CSV for easy analysis in Excel or Google Sheets
- • Bookmark this page - it works offline after first visit
🔒 Privacy & Security
- • All processing happens in your browser
- • No data is sent to external servers
- • Safe for sensitive or confidential JSON data
- • No registration or sign-up required