What does the JSON Formatter do?
A JSON formatter rewrites JSON with consistent indentation so it is easy to read (beautify), or removes all spaces to make it smaller (minify). It also validates the JSON and points to the line of any syntax error. The data itself never changes.
How to use the JSON Formatter
- Paste your JSON into the input pane.
- Choose Beautify or Minify, then pick 2 spaces, 4 spaces or a tab.
- Turn on Sort keys if you want properties in alphabetical order.
- Copy the result or download it as a .json file.
When it helps
- Making minified API output readable
- Shrinking JSON before sending it
- Normalising key order so two files are easy to compare
Frequently asked questions
What does a JSON formatter do?
It re-indents JSON so it is readable, checks that it is valid and reports the line of any error. A minify option removes whitespace instead.
How do I pretty print JSON?
Paste the JSON, keep Beautify selected and choose an indent. The formatted result appears immediately and can be copied or downloaded.
What is the difference between beautify and minify?
Beautify adds line breaks and indentation for people. Minify removes them to save bytes. Both produce the same data.
Why does it say my JSON is invalid?
Common causes are trailing commas, single quotes, unquoted keys and comments. The error shows the line and column, and the JSON Repair tool can fix these automatically.