How to format JSON
JSON is the standard data format for APIs, config files, and web applications. Minified JSON saves bandwidth but is hard to read. Pretty-printed JSON with indentation makes debugging and code review much easier. Developers constantly switch between formatted and minified JSON when testing APIs or editing configuration.
This formatter runs in your browser. Paste JSON into the input area and click Format to beautify with 2-space indentation, or Minify to remove whitespace. Invalid JSON shows a clear error message with the parser's feedback so you can fix syntax issues quickly.
Because processing is local, API responses containing sensitive data, internal config, or customer information never leave your machine. That is safer than pasting into random online formatters with unknown data policies.
Use the Copy button to grab formatted output for documentation, tickets, or your codebase. Clear the input and start over anytime.
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Why use this JSON formatter?
IDE formatters work great until you are reading JSON in a browser tab, Slack message, or log file. A quick paste-and-format tool saves context switching. This one does not phone home with your data.
Both beautify and minify are one click away. Test an API response, format it to find a field, minify it again for a curl command — the workflow takes seconds.
Error messages from the built-in JSON parser help you locate typos: missing commas, trailing commas, unquoted keys, and mismatched brackets. Faster than guessing what is wrong in a single-line blob.
Frequently asked questions
- Is my JSON sent to a server?
- No. Parsing and formatting happen entirely in your browser using JavaScript's JSON.parse and JSON.stringify.
- What indentation does Format use?
- Pretty-print uses 2 spaces per level, which is the most common convention for JSON config files and API docs.
- Can this validate JSON?
- Yes. If the input is invalid, the tool shows an error instead of output. Valid JSON always produces formatted or minified output.
- Is there a size limit?
- Very large JSON files may slow down older devices, but there is no artificial cap. Most API responses format instantly.