JSON Formatter & Validator

Format, beautify, validate and minify JSON data

How to Format JSON

  1. Paste your JSON: Enter or paste your raw JSON data into the input box above.
  2. Click Format: Press the "Format / Beautify" button to pretty-print your JSON with proper indentation and syntax highlighting.
  3. Copy the result: Click "Copy Result" to copy the formatted JSON to your clipboard.

You can also click "Minify" to compress JSON into a single line, or "Validate" to check whether your JSON is valid. All processing happens entirely in your browser -- your data is never sent to any server.

What is JSON?

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data interchange format that is easy for humans to read and write, and easy for machines to parse and generate. It is based on a subset of JavaScript and is used extensively in web APIs, configuration files, and data storage. JSON supports six data types: strings, numbers, booleans, null, arrays, and objects.

A valid JSON document must have an object ({}) or array ([]) as its root element (though modern parsers also accept primitive values). Keys in JSON objects must be double-quoted strings, and trailing commas are not allowed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is JSON formatting?

JSON formatting (also called "pretty-printing" or "beautifying") is the process of adding consistent indentation, line breaks, and spacing to a JSON string so that it is easier to read and understand. A formatted JSON document uses two or four spaces of indentation for each nesting level, places each key-value pair on its own line, and aligns brackets and braces clearly. This is the opposite of minified JSON, which removes all unnecessary whitespace.

How do I validate JSON?

To validate JSON, paste your data into the input box and click the "Validate" button. The tool will attempt to parse your JSON and report whether it is valid or invalid. If the JSON is invalid, an error message will indicate the approximate location of the problem (line and position), helping you quickly find and fix syntax errors such as missing commas, unmatched brackets, or unquoted keys.

What is JSON minification?

JSON minification is the process of removing all unnecessary whitespace (spaces, tabs, and line breaks) from a JSON string to reduce its size. Minified JSON is functionally identical to the original but takes up fewer bytes, making it ideal for network transmission, API responses, and storage. For example, a formatted JSON file of 1 KB might minify down to just 400 bytes.