JSON Formatter
Format, beautify, and validate JSON online. Paste your JSON below, then click Prettify (or press ⌘/Ctrl + Shift + F) to format it.
Format and Beautify JSON Online
The JSONLint formatter turns compact or inconsistently indented JSON into a readable document. It preserves the data while adding predictable whitespace, line breaks, and indentation so nested objects and arrays are easier to inspect. Everything runs in your browser, so the JSON you paste is not uploaded for server-side formatting.
How to Use the JSON Formatter
- Paste or type JSON in the editor above.
- Select Validate to check the syntax before formatting.
- Select Prettify to add indentation, or choose Compress to remove unnecessary whitespace.
- Optionally sort object keys, then copy the formatted result.
You can also press Ctrl/Cmd + Enter to validate and Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + Fto format valid JSON.
JSON Formatter vs. Related Tools
| Tool | Best for |
|---|---|
| JSON Formatter | Validating and reformatting JSON in one editor |
| JSON Pretty Print | Viewing input and formatted output side by side |
| JSON Minifier | Producing the smallest valid JSON representation |
| JSON Repair | Fixing common syntax mistakes in invalid JSON |
Formatting Does Not Change JSON Values
Beautifying JSON changes whitespace, not the underlying strings, numbers, booleans, arrays, objects, or null values. Object keys are sorted only when you explicitly select that option. Because JSON objects are unordered by the specification, sorting keys can make configuration files and API responses easier to compare without changing their meaning.
What If the JSON Is Invalid?
A formatter must parse the document before it can safely rewrite it. If parsing fails, JSONLint reports the relevant line and column and provides diagnostic error codes. For malformed documents, try the JSON repair tool or use the JSON error analyzer to understand the failure before formatting again.
Common Uses for Formatted JSON
- Reading API responses and webhook payloads
- Reviewing configuration files and package metadata
- Finding misplaced brackets, commas, or nested values
- Preparing fixtures and examples for documentation
- Creating stable, readable diffs for code review
Explore Formatted JSON
After formatting, open the online JSON tree viewer to expand and collapse nested values, use the JSONPath finder to extract matching data, or compare JSON documents side by side.