JSON Formatter & Minifier - Beautify & Organise Your JSON Code

Transform messy JSON into beautifully formatted code. Validate, format, and minify JSON instantly with our free online tool.

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Free JSON Formatter & Validator

Transform unreadable, minified JSON into beautifully formatted, properly indented code with our free online JSON Formatter. This easy-to-use tool helps developers, data analysts, and API users clean up messy JSON data, making it easier to read, edit, and validate.

Whether you're debugging API responses, cleaning up configuration files, or preparing JSON for documentation, our formatter handles it all. It validates your JSON in real-time, shows detailed statistics, and offers both formatting and minification options. No signup required, completely free, and all processing happens in your browser for maximum privacy.

What is JSON?

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data interchange format that's easy for humans to read and write, and easy for machines to parse and generate. It's widely used for transmitting data between a server and web application, storing configuration settings, and as a data format for APIs.

JSON consists of key-value pairs and ordered lists of values. It supports several data types including strings, numbers, booleans, null, objects, and arrays. Its simplicity and universality have made it the de facto standard for web APIs and configuration files across virtually all programming languages and platforms.

How to Use This JSON Formatter

  1. Paste your JSON data into the editor above or click the "Paste" button to paste from clipboard.
  2. The tool will automatically validate your JSON and show any errors in real-time.
  3. Click "Format JSON" to beautify and properly indent your JSON code.
  4. Click "Minify JSON" to remove all whitespace and create compact JSON.
  5. Adjust indentation size (2, 4, or 8 spaces) or switch to tabs based on your preference.
  6. Use "Copy to Clipboard" to copy the formatted or minified JSON.
  7. View detailed statistics including file size, line count, and nesting depth.
  8. Click "Clear" to start over with new JSON data.

Common Use Cases

API Development & Testing: Format API responses for easier debugging, validate request payloads before sending, and compare JSON structures. Essential for REST API development, GraphQL queries, and webhook payloads.

Configuration Files: Clean up and validate configuration files for applications (package.json, tsconfig.json, .eslintrc, etc.), making them easier to read and maintain while ensuring proper syntax.

Data Analysis: Format JSON data exports from databases or analytics tools for better readability. Validate data structures before importing into analysis tools or databases.

Documentation & Learning: Create well-formatted JSON examples for technical documentation, tutorials, and code snippets. Help beginners understand JSON structure with properly indented, readable examples.

Code Optimization: Minify JSON for production environments to reduce file size and improve load times. Perfect for optimizing web applications, mobile apps, and reducing bandwidth usage.

Debugging & Troubleshooting: Quickly identify structural issues in JSON data, validate syntax errors, and compare formatted versions to spot differences in data structures.

Why Use Our JSON Formatter?

  • ✓Real-Time Validation: Instantly validates JSON syntax and shows clear error messages to help you identify and fix issues quickly.
  • ✓Format & Minify: Both beautify JSON with proper indentation and minify for production use - two tools in one.
  • ✓Customizable Indentation: Choose between tabs or spaces, and select 2, 4, or 8 space indentation to match your coding style.
  • ✓Detailed Statistics: View file size, line count, and nesting depth to understand your JSON structure at a glance.
  • ✓One-Click Copy & Paste: Quickly paste JSON from clipboard and copy formatted results with a single click.
  • ✓100% Free & Private: No signup required, unlimited usage, and all processing happens locally in your browser - your data never leaves your device.
  • ✓Developer-Friendly: Monospace font, syntax-aware editing, and keyboard shortcuts for a professional coding experience.
  • ✓Mobile Responsive: Works perfectly on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices with an optimized responsive design.

JSON Best Practices

  • •Always use double quotes for strings and property names (single quotes are not valid in JSON).
  • •Avoid trailing commas after the last item in objects or arrays as they cause validation errors.
  • •Use consistent indentation (2 or 4 spaces) throughout your JSON files for better readability.
  • •Keep JSON simple and flat when possible - excessive nesting makes data harder to work with.
  • •Use descriptive property names that clearly indicate the data they contain.
  • •Minify JSON for production environments to reduce file size, but keep formatted versions for development.
  • •Validate JSON before deployment to catch syntax errors that could break your application.