JSON Escape Unescape

JSON Escape Unescape - Escape and Unescape JSON Strings Online

Escape and unescape JSON strings instantly with our free online JSON escape/unescape tool. Properly handle quotes, backslashes, control characters, and special characters in JSON strings according to RFC 7159 standards. Whether you're building APIs, working with JSON data, or embedding JSON strings in code, our tool makes it easy to escape and unescape JSON strings.

What is JSON Escaping?

JSON escaping is the process of converting special characters in strings to their escaped equivalents so they can be safely used in JSON format. JSON strings must be properly escaped to ensure valid JSON syntax and prevent parsing errors. The JSON specification (RFC 7159) defines specific escape sequences for special characters.

Why is JSON Escaping Important?

Valid JSON Syntax

JSON escaping ensures that strings containing special characters (like quotes, newlines, tabs) are properly formatted for JSON, preventing syntax errors and ensuring valid JSON that can be parsed correctly.

Data Integrity

Proper escaping preserves the original meaning of special characters while making them safe for JSON representation. This ensures data integrity when transmitting or storing JSON data.

API Compatibility

Many APIs and web services require properly escaped JSON strings. Escaping ensures compatibility with JSON parsers and API endpoints.

How JSON Escaping Works

JSON uses backslash (\) as the escape character. The following escape sequences are defined in the JSON specification:

Standard Escape Sequences

• \" - Double quote (")
• \\ - Backslash (\)
• \/ - Forward slash (/) - optional but recommended
• \b - Backspace
• \f - Form feed
• \n - Newline (line feed)
• \r - Carriage return
• \t - Tab
• \uXXXX - Unicode character (4 hexadecimal digits)

How to Use the JSON Escape Unescape Tool

1. Enter your text: Paste or type the text you want to escape or unescape
2. Choose mode: Select "Escape" to escape JSON strings or "Unescape" to remove escaping
3. View results: The escaped or unescaped text appears automatically in the output area
4. Copy or download: Use the copy button or download the result as a text file
5. Swap mode: Use the swap button to quickly switch between input and output

Key Features of Our JSON Escape Unescape Tool

⚡ Real-time Processing

See escaped or unescaped results instantly as you type. No need to click buttons - the conversion happens automatically with optimized performance.

🔄 Bidirectional Conversion

Escape JSON strings or unescape them back to original text with a simple mode selection.

📋 RFC 7159 Compliant

Follows the official JSON specification (RFC 7159) for escape sequences, ensuring compatibility with all JSON parsers.

📊 Conversion Statistics

See input/output length, character count changes, and detailed breakdown of escaped sequences (quotes, backslashes, newlines, tabs, etc.).

📁 File Upload Support

Upload text files directly for processing, making it easy to escape or unescape large JSON strings.

🔒 Privacy & Security

All processing happens entirely in your browser. We don't store, log, or transmit your data to our servers.

Example JSON Escaping

Before Escaping:

He said "Hello World"
Path: C:\Users\Documents\file.txt
Price: $100.00
Tab: col1	col2	col3

After Escaping:

He said \"Hello World\"\nPath: C:\\Users\\Documents\\file.txt\nPrice: $100.00\nTab: col1\tcol2\tcol3

Common Use Cases

API Development

Escape JSON strings before sending them in API requests or responses to ensure proper formatting and prevent parsing errors.

Code Generation

Escape JSON strings when generating code that includes JSON data, ensuring valid syntax in your programming language.

Data Transmission

Escape JSON strings before transmitting them over networks or storing them in databases to ensure data integrity.

JSON Parsing

Unescape JSON strings to retrieve the original text from escaped JSON data, useful for debugging and data extraction.

Configuration Files

Escape JSON strings in configuration files or environment variables to ensure proper parsing and prevent syntax errors.

Testing and Debugging

Test JSON escaping and unescaping to verify proper handling of special characters in your applications.

JSON Escaping in Code

In most programming languages, you should use built-in JSON functions rather than manual escaping:

JavaScript/TypeScript

// Escape (recommended)
const escaped = JSON.stringify(text);

// Unescape
const unescaped = JSON.parse('"' + escapedText + '"');

Python

import json

# Escape
escaped = json.dumps(text)

# Unescape
unescaped = json.loads('"' + escaped_text + '"')

Java

import com.google.gson.Gson;

// Escape
Gson gson = new Gson();
String escaped = gson.toJson(text);

// Unescape
String unescaped = gson.fromJson('"' + escapedText + '"', String.class);

Tips for Best Results

• Use built-in functions: In production code, always use language-specific JSON functions (like JSON.stringify() in JavaScript) rather than manual escaping
• Test thoroughly: Test escaped strings with your JSON parser to ensure compatibility
• Check output: Verify that escaped strings are valid JSON and can be parsed correctly
• Handle Unicode: Unicode characters are automatically escaped as \uXXXX sequences when needed
• Consider context: Remember that JSON escaping is different from HTML, URL, or SQL escaping

JSON vs Other Escaping Methods

JSON escaping is different from other escaping methods:

• HTML Escaping: Uses entities like " for quotes
• URL Escaping: Uses percent encoding like %22 for quotes
• SQL Escaping: Uses doubled quotes ('') for single quotes
• JSON Escaping: Uses backslash sequences like \" for quotes

Always use the appropriate escaping method for your specific use case.