🔧 JSON Formatter

Beautify and validate JSON data

Sample JSON (click to use):

About JSON Formatter

What is JSON?

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight, text-based data interchange format that's easy for humans to read and write. Despite its name, JSON is language-independent and is used across virtually all modern programming languages. Our JSON formatter helps you beautify, validate, and minify JSON data for better readability and debugging.

Key Features

  • Format (beautify) JSON with proper indentation and spacing
  • Minify JSON to reduce file size and remove whitespace
  • Real-time JSON validation with detailed error messages
  • Syntax highlighting for better readability
  • Large text area support for complex JSON structures
  • One-click clear functionality
  • Sample JSON data for testing
  • Copy-friendly formatted output

Common Use Cases

  • API Development: Format API responses for better readability during testing
  • Debugging: Validate and format JSON data to identify syntax errors
  • Configuration Files: Clean up and validate JSON configuration files
  • Data Processing: Prepare JSON data for analysis or transformation
  • Code Review: Format JSON for better code review and documentation
  • Database Operations: Format JSON documents for MongoDB or other NoSQL databases
  • Web Development: Validate JSON data before sending to servers
  • Learning: Understand JSON structure and syntax

How to Use

  1. Paste or type your JSON data into the input textarea
  2. Click "Format JSON" to beautify your JSON with proper indentation
  3. Click "Minify JSON" to compress your JSON by removing whitespace
  4. The formatted or minified result will appear in the output area
  5. Any syntax errors will be displayed with detailed error messages
  6. Use "Clear All" to reset both input and output areas
  7. Try the sample JSON data to see the formatter in action

JSON Syntax Rules

  • Data is represented in name/value pairs
  • Data is separated by commas
  • Objects are enclosed in curly braces
  • Arrays are enclosed in square brackets []
  • Strings must be enclosed in double quotes
  • Numbers can be integers or floating-point
  • Boolean values are true or false
  • null represents empty values

Data Types Supported

Primitive Types

  • String: "Hello World"
  • Number: 42, 3.14, -10
  • Boolean: true, false
  • Null: null

Complex Types

  • Object: {"key": "value"}
  • Array: [1, 2, 3]
  • Nested Objects: Objects within objects
  • Mixed Arrays: Arrays with different data types

Common JSON Errors

  • Missing quotes: Property names must be in double quotes
  • Trailing commas: Remove commas after the last element
  • Single quotes: Use double quotes instead of single quotes
  • Unescaped characters: Escape special characters like backslashes
  • Missing brackets: Ensure proper opening and closing of brackets
  • Invalid numbers: Numbers cannot start with leading zeros
  • Undefined values: Use null instead of undefined

Best Practices

  • Always validate JSON before using it in production
  • Use meaningful property names that describe the data
  • Keep JSON structure as flat as possible when practical
  • Use consistent naming conventions (camelCase or snake_case)
  • Minify JSON for production to reduce bandwidth
  • Format JSON during development for better readability
  • Handle JSON parsing errors gracefully in your applications
  • Consider using JSON Schema for validation in complex applications