JSON Formatter

How to Format JSON Online

Our free online JSON formatter tool helps you beautify, validate, and format JSON data with ease. Whether you need to pretty-print JSON for better readability, minify it for production use, or validate JSON syntax, our tool provides all the functionality you need in one place.

Key Features

• Pretty Print: Format JSON with customizable indentation (1-8 spaces or tabs)
• Minify JSON: Remove all whitespace to create compact JSON
• Syntax Validation: Check if your JSON is valid and get detailed error messages
• Key Sorting: Automatically sort object keys alphabetically
• Real-time Processing: See results instantly as you type
• Statistics: Get detailed information about your JSON structure
• Copy to Clipboard: Easy one-click copying of formatted results
• File Upload: Upload JSON files directly from your device

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Input Your JSON

Paste your JSON data into the input area, upload a JSON file, or use our sample data to get started. The tool accepts any valid JSON format, including objects, arrays, and nested structures.

2. Configure Formatting Options

Choose your preferred formatting options:

• Indent Size: Select 1, 2, 4, 8 spaces, or tabs for indentation
• Sort Keys: Enable to sort object keys alphabetically
• Minify: Enable to remove all whitespace and create compact JSON
• Validate Only: Check JSON validity without formatting

3. View Results

The formatted JSON will appear in the output area with syntax highlighting. You'll also see validation status, error messages (if any), and detailed statistics about your JSON structure.

4. Copy or Download

Use the copy button to copy the formatted JSON to your clipboard, or download it as a file for use in your projects.

JSON Formatting Best Practices

1. Consistent Indentation

Use consistent indentation throughout your JSON. Most developers prefer 2 or 4 spaces. Avoid mixing spaces and tabs, and choose one style for your entire project.

2. Key Naming Conventions

Use descriptive, consistent key names. Common conventions include:

• camelCase: firstName, lastName, emailAddress
• snake_case: first_name, last_name, email_address
• kebab-case: first-name, last-name, email-address

3. Data Types

Use appropriate JSON data types:

• Strings: For text data, always use double quotes
• Numbers: For numeric values (integers and decimals)
• Booleans: Use true/false (not "true"/"false")
• Null: Use null for empty values (not "null")
• Arrays: Use square brackets for lists
• Objects: Use curly braces for key-value pairs

4. Structure Organization

Organize your JSON logically:

• Group related data together
• Use consistent nesting levels
• Consider the order of properties for readability
• Use arrays for multiple similar items

Common Use Cases

API Development

Format JSON responses from APIs to make them more readable during development and debugging. This helps identify structure issues and improves code maintainability.

Configuration Files

Format JSON configuration files for applications, ensuring consistent structure and making them easier to read and maintain by team members.

Data Validation

Validate JSON data before processing to catch syntax errors early. This is especially important when working with user input or external data sources.

Documentation

Create well-formatted JSON examples for documentation, tutorials, and API references. Properly formatted JSON is much easier to understand and follow.

JSON Statistics Explained

Our tool provides detailed statistics about your JSON structure:

• Total Keys: Number of object keys in the JSON
• Total Values: Number of primitive values (strings, numbers, booleans, nulls)
• Strings: Count of string values
• Numbers: Count of numeric values
• Booleans: Count of true/false values
• Nulls: Count of null values
• Arrays: Count of array structures
• Objects: Count of object structures
• Max Depth: Maximum nesting level in the JSON

Error Handling

The tool provides detailed error messages for common JSON issues:

• Syntax Errors: Missing commas, brackets, or quotes
• Invalid Characters: Unescaped special characters
• Trailing Commas: Commas after the last array element or object property
• Duplicate Keys: Repeated keys in the same object
• Type Errors: Incorrect data type usage

Performance Tips

Large JSON Files

For very large JSON files, consider:

• Breaking them into smaller, more manageable pieces
• Using streaming parsers for processing
• Implementing pagination for large arrays

Minification

Minified JSON is smaller and faster to transmit, but harder to read. Use minification for:

• Production APIs
• Client-side applications where file size matters
• Data storage where space is limited

Security Considerations

When working with JSON data:

• Validate all input before processing
• Be cautious with user-generated JSON
• Use proper escaping for special characters
• Implement proper error handling
• Consider using JSON Schema for validation