Format Your JSON

Paste your raw JSON string below and click a button to process it.

Formatted Output

Your formatted JSON will appear here.

Size
0 bytes
Lines
0
Status
-

How to Use This JSON Formatter

  1. Paste JSON: Copy and paste your raw JSON data into the input text area.
  2. Process:
    • Click Format/Beautify to make the JSON human-readable with proper indentation and syntax highlighting.
    • Click Validate to check if your JSON is syntactically correct without changing its format.
    • Click Minify to compress the JSON into a single line, removing all unnecessary whitespace.
  3. View Results: The processed JSON will appear in the output area below.
  4. Check Stats: See the size, line count, and validation status of your JSON.
  5. Copy or Download: Use the buttons to copy the formatted JSON to your clipboard or download it as a `.json` file.

Tip: This tool runs entirely in your browser. Your JSON data is never sent to any server, ensuring complete privacy.

About JSON

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight, text-based data interchange format. It's easy for humans to read and write and easy for machines to parse and generate. JSON is built on two structures:

  • A collection of name/value pairs (like an object, dictionary, hash table, or associative array).
  • An ordered list of values (like an array, vector, list, or sequence).

It is a common data format used for asynchronous browser-server communication (AJAX), storing configuration files, and transmitting data between a server and web application.

Common Use Cases

  • APIs: Web APIs frequently use JSON to send and receive data.
  • Configuration Files: Many applications use JSON files for settings.
  • Data Storage: NoSQL databases like MongoDB store data in JSON-like documents.
  • Web Development: Used heavily in JavaScript for front-end and back-end (Node.js) development.

Basic JSON Syntax Rules

  • Data is in name/value pairs, separated by colons (`:`).
  • Data pairs are separated by commas (`,`).
  • Objects are enclosed in curly braces (`{}`).
  • Arrays are enclosed in square brackets (`[]`).
  • Keys must be strings, enclosed in double quotes (`"`).
  • Values can be strings (in double quotes), numbers, booleans (`true`, `false`), `null`, objects, or arrays.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between formatting and minifying JSON?
A: Formatting/Beautifying adds indentation, line breaks, and often syntax highlighting to make JSON easy for humans to read. Minifying removes all unnecessary characters (like whitespace and line breaks) to make the file as small as possible, which is useful for reducing bandwidth when sending data over the web.
Q: Is my JSON data safe to paste here?
A: Yes, absolutely. This JSON formatter works entirely within your browser. Your data is never transmitted over the internet or stored on any server. You can even disconnect from the internet after loading the page and it will still work.
Q: What does it mean if my JSON is "invalid"?
A: An "invalid" JSON means it contains a syntax error and does not conform to the JSON standard. Common mistakes include missing commas, unmatched brackets or braces, using single quotes instead of double quotes for strings or keys, trailing commas in objects or arrays, and using comments (which are not allowed in standard JSON).
Q: Can I format very large JSON files?
A: This tool can handle quite large JSON strings directly in your browser's memory. However, extremely large files (several megabytes or more) might cause your browser tab to slow down or become unresponsive. For such cases, dedicated desktop software might be more suitable.
Q: Why does the formatted output look different from my input?
A: When you click "Format/Beautify", the tool parses your JSON string into a JavaScript object and then re-serializes it with standard formatting. This process normalizes the structure (e.g., consistent spacing) and validates it. If your input was already valid, the data is the same, just presented differently. If it was invalid, you'll get an error message instead.