JSON Formatter

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What is a JSON Formatter?

A JSON formatter transforms raw or minified JSON data into a clean, readable structure with proper indentation. JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data format used by APIs, configuration files, and web applications. When JSON comes from an API response or gets compressed for storage, it often appears as a single line of text that's nearly impossible to read. Our online JSON formatter adds proper spacing, line breaks, and indentation to make nested objects and arrays visually clear.

JSON Beautifier and Validator

Also known as a JSON beautifier, this tool does more than just format. It validates your JSON syntax first, catching errors before you try to use the data. If your JSON has problems like missing quotes, trailing commas, or mismatched brackets, you'll see a clear error message explaining what's wrong. Once valid, the beautified JSON is easy to read, debug, and modify.

How to Format JSON Online

Using our online JSON formatter is straightforward:

  1. Paste your JSON data into the input field
  2. Click "Format JSON" to beautify with 2-space indentation
  3. Or click "Minify JSON" to compress for production use
  4. Copy the result to use in your code or documentation

The formatter works with any size JSON, from simple key-value pairs to complex nested structures with arrays of objects.

How to Open JSON Files

JSON files use the .json extension and can be opened with various programs. For quick viewing, any text editor works: Notepad on Windows, TextEdit on Mac, or VS Code for syntax highlighting. Web browsers can also display JSON files directly. To open a JSON file, right-click it and choose "Open with" then select your preferred text editor. For formatting and validation, copy the file contents and paste them into our online JSON viewer.

Common JSON Syntax Errors

Most JSON errors come from a few common mistakes:

  • Missing quotes on keys: All keys must be strings in double quotes. Use "name" not name.
  • Single quotes: JSON requires double quotes only. Replace 'value' with "value".
  • Trailing commas: No comma after the last item in an array or object.
  • Mismatched brackets: Every [ needs a ] and every { needs a }.
  • Unescaped special characters: Backslashes and quotes inside strings must be escaped.
  • Comments: JSON does not support comments. Remove any // or /* */.

JSON Examples

Here are some valid JSON examples you can use as reference:

Simple Object:

{
  "name": "John",
  "age": 30,
  "active": true
}

JSON Array of Objects:

[
  { "id": 1, "name": "Apple" },
  { "id": 2, "name": "Banana" },
  { "id": 3, "name": "Cherry" }
]

Nested Structure:

{
  "user": {
    "profile": {
      "firstName": "Jane",
      "lastName": "Doe"
    },
    "settings": {
      "theme": "dark"
    }
  }
}

Format vs Minify JSON

Formatting and minifying are opposite operations. Formatting adds whitespace and indentation for human readability, making it easier to debug and understand the data structure. Minifying removes all unnecessary whitespace to reduce file size, which is ideal for production environments where bandwidth matters. Our tool lets you switch between both formats instantly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Valid JSON must follow strict syntax rules: all keys must be double-quoted strings, values can be strings (double-quoted), numbers, booleans (true/false), null, arrays, or objects. No trailing commas are allowed, and the entire structure must be properly nested with matching brackets and braces.

Paste your JSON into our formatter to see exactly where the error occurs. Common fixes include: adding missing quotes around keys, replacing single quotes with double quotes, removing trailing commas, and ensuring all brackets and braces are properly matched.

A JSON validator checks if your JSON is syntactically correct and reports any errors. A JSON formatter (also called beautifier) takes valid JSON and formats it with proper indentation and line breaks for readability. Our tool does both: it validates your JSON and formats it if valid.

Yes, you can open your JSON file in any text editor, copy the contents, and paste them into our formatter. For .json files, you can also open them directly in your browser and copy the content from there.

This error usually means there's an invalid character or syntax issue. Common causes include: using single quotes instead of double quotes, having a trailing comma after the last item, including comments (JSON doesn't support comments), or having unescaped special characters in strings.

Minifying JSON removes all unnecessary whitespace, line breaks, and indentation to make the file as small as possible. This is useful for reducing file size when sending data over networks or storing JSON in databases where human readability isn't needed.