JSON Formatter
Format, beautify, validate and minify JSON directly in your browser.
Format, minify, and validate JSON
Paste JSON, choose readable formatting or compact output, and inspect syntax locally in your browser.
Your JSON is processed locally in your browser and is not sent to a server.
Overview
What is a JSON formatter?
A JSON formatter turns compact or inconsistently spaced JSON into a structured, readable representation. Developers commonly use formatted JSON when reviewing API responses, configuration files, logs, and test data.
The same parsed value can also be minified when compact output is more useful. The workspace reports UTF-8 byte counts, provides two-space, four-space, and tab indentation, and checks JSON syntax before producing output.
Steps
How to format JSON
- Paste JSON into the JSON Input field.
- Select Format JSON.
- Choose two spaces, four spaces, or tabs for indentation.
- Review the formatted result and output size.
- Use Copy to copy the output.
Compact output
How to minify JSON
- Paste valid JSON into the input editor.
- Select Minify JSON.
- Review the compact single-line result and the reported byte reduction.
- Copy the result or move it back into the input for another operation.
{"name":"Orbilyra","features":["format","minify"],"free":true}Example
JSON formatting example
Before
{"name":"Orbilyra","features":["format","minify"],"free":true}After
{
"name": "Orbilyra",
"features": [
"format",
"minify"
],
"free": true
}Comparison
JSON Formatter vs JSON Validator
A formatter primarily changes valid JSON into a readable or compact representation. A validator focuses on confirming whether JSON syntax is valid. This formatter detects parsing errors as part of formatting and also provides a dedicated Validate action.
For syntax-focused checks and clearer parsing errors, use theJSON Validator.
Use cases
When should you minify JSON?
Minified JSON is useful when testing compact payloads, reducing unnecessary whitespace during transfer, or storing fixtures where human readability is not the priority. This tool parses the input and serializes the resulting JavaScript value without indentation.
Minification is not compression or encryption. It does not preserve whitespace, property escape style, or duplicate object keys from the source. Integer literals outside the JavaScript safe integer range are blocked to prevent silent rounding.
Workflows
Common JSON formatting workflows
- Make compact API responses readable while debugging an integration.
- Normalize indentation before sharing a configuration example or test fixture.
- Minify valid JSON when whitespace is unnecessary for a payload or fixture.
- Confirm that copied JSON still parses before using it in code or documentation.
Shortcuts
Keyboard workflow
With focus in the input editor, press Ctrl + Enter (orCommand + Enter on macOS) to format. Add Shift to run the minifier. Every action remains available as a labeled button for keyboard and touch users.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is JSON formatting?
JSON formatting adds consistent indentation and line breaks so structured data is easier to read, review, and debug.
Is my JSON uploaded to a server?
No. Formatting, minifying, and validation happen locally in your browser. Your JSON is not sent to a server by this tool.
Can this tool validate JSON?
Yes. The Validate action checks whether the input can be parsed as valid JSON and displays the browser parsing error when it cannot.
What indentation does the formatter use?
You can format JSON with two spaces, four spaces, or tabs for each indentation level.
What is the difference between formatted and minified JSON?
Formatted JSON includes whitespace for readability. Minified JSON removes unnecessary whitespace to create a compact single-line result.
Does minifying JSON change the data?
The tool parses the input and serializes the resulting JavaScript value without formatting whitespace. It blocks integer literals outside the JavaScript safe integer range, but it does not preserve source-level details such as whitespace or escape style.
Can this formatter handle very large JSON integers?
Integers outside JavaScript’s safe integer range are blocked before formatting or minifying because native JSON parsing could round them. Quote those values as strings or use an arbitrary-precision JSON parser.