JSON Formatter & Validator

What Is JSON?

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight, text-based data interchange format. It's easy for humans to read and write, and easy for machines to parse and generate. JSON is language-independent and widely used in web APIs, configuration files, and data storage.

How to Use This JSON Formatter

Paste your JSON data into the input field on the left. Click Format / Validate to pretty-print your JSON with proper indentation. If your JSON contains syntax errors, the tool will display a clear error message showing where the problem is.

Use Minify to compress your JSON by removing all unnecessary whitespace — perfect for reducing payload sizes in API calls or configuration files.

Features

• Real-time validation — Instantly verify if your JSON is well-formed
• Pretty printing — Format JSON with 2 spaces, 4 spaces, or tabs
• Minification — Compact JSON by stripping whitespace
• Error highlighting — Clear error messages with position info
• 100% client-side — Your data never leaves your browser

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my data safe?

Yes. This tool runs entirely in your browser. No data is sent to any server.

What is valid JSON?

Valid JSON must be a properly formatted object (wrapped in curly braces {}) or array (wrapped in square brackets []). Strings must use double quotes. Trailing commas are not allowed.

What's the difference between JSON and a JavaScript object?

JSON is stricter: keys must be double-quoted strings, no trailing commas, no comments, no undefined values. JavaScript objects are more flexible but aren't valid JSON.