Developer
JSON Formatter
Format, validate and minify JSON with clear, readable error messages.
JSON Formatter workspace
Ready
Output appears here
Choose Format or Minify to see the result.
Processed in your browser. Your JSON is not uploaded or saved.
About this tool
What it does
Turn messy JSON into readable, indented text, check that it is valid, or minify it again when you need it compact.
Useful for developers and anyone who needs to read, check or tidy JSON from an API, a config file or a log.
Main benefits
- Format, validate and minify in one place
- Clear, readable error messages
- Quick checks without installing anything
How to use
How to use the JSON Formatter
- Paste your JSON into the Input box.
- Choose an indent style (2 spaces, 4 spaces or tab), then select Format to make it readable, or Minify to make it compact.
- If the JSON is not valid, the error message shows what is wrong and where, by line and column.
- Copy the result, or download it as a .json file.
Good to know
- The tool checks standard JSON. Comments, trailing commas and single-quoted strings are not valid JSON and are reported as errors.
- Very large results are previewed in part to keep the page responsive; Copy and Download always give the complete output.
Your privacy
Your JSON is processed by your browser. It is not uploaded, and it is not saved: closing or reloading the page discards it. Read the Privacy Policy.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to paste private JSON here?
The JSON is processed in your browser and is not sent anywhere or saved. As with any tool, avoid pasting secrets on a shared or untrusted computer.
What is the difference between formatting and minifying?
Formatting adds line breaks and indentation so people can read the data. Minifying removes all unnecessary whitespace so the data is as compact as possible. The values stay the same.
Why does my JSON show an error?
Common causes are a missing or extra comma, unquoted keys, single quotes instead of double quotes, or a trailing comma. The message points to the line and column where parsing failed.