JSON Formatter & Beautifier - Free Online Tool

A JSON formatter takes compressed or messy JSON and turns it into a clean, indented structure. It validates the syntax, highlights errors, and makes objects and arrays easy to read. Use it to debug API responses, polish documentation examples, or review config files without scanning a single minified line.

1. Paste JSON: Drop in a response, config, or log snippet.
2. Choose indentation: Pick 2 or 4 spaces to match your style guide.
3. Get results: View the formatted output instantly. Copy it or download a .json file for your repo.

• Faster debugging: Spot missing commas or quotes quickly with clear structure and error highlights.
• Cleaner docs: Share readable examples in API guides and pull requests.
• Local privacy: All parsing happens in your browser, so sensitive payloads stay on your device.

Use case 1: Debug API responses

Format a minified REST or GraphQL response to trace fields and verify values before shipping changes.

Use case 2: Review config files

Open cloud or app configs, format them, and confirm keys or secrets are in the right place.

Use case 3: Prep teaching material

Create tidy JSON samples for workshops or onboarding decks without writing them by hand.

Basic example

Input: {"name":"John","age":30,"active":true}
Output:

{
  "name": "John",
  "age": 30,
  "active": true
}

Advanced example

Input: {"users":[{"id":1,"roles":["admin","editor"]},{"id":2,"roles":["viewer"]}],"meta":{"total":2,"page":1}}
Output:

{
  "users": [
    {
      "id": 1,
      "roles": ["admin", "editor"]
    },
    {
      "id": 2,
      "roles": ["viewer"]
    }
  ],
  "meta": {
    "total": 2,
    "page": 1
  }
}

Invalid JSON syntax

Missing quotes, trailing commas, or unescaped characters trigger parse errors. The formatter points to the line so you can fix it fast.

Mixed quotes

JSON requires double quotes. Replace single quotes before formatting to avoid unexpected token errors.

• Keep 2-space indentation for compact snippets and 4-space for teaching materials.
• Validate before committing; a quick format pass often catches production-breaking typos.
• Combine with the JSON minifier to shrink files after review.

• Convert between formats with the YAML formatter and XML formatter.
• Clean query strings using the URL encoder/decoder before embedding JSON in URLs.

Formatting runs locally in your browser. No JSON content is uploaded or stored, keeping API responses and configs private.