Instant Validation
Validate JSON syntax in real-time. Get clear error messages with line numbers to quickly identify and fix issues.
Free JSON Formatter & Validator
Format, beautify, validate, and minify JSON data instantly. Paste your JSON and get perfectly formatted output with syntax highlighting. Find and fix errors quickly.
JSON Formatter Features
Beautify & Minify
Format JSON with customizable indentation (2 or 4 spaces, tabs) or minify for compact output. One-click transformation.
Copy & Download
Copy formatted JSON to clipboard or download as a .json file. Easy sharing and integration with your workflow.
How to Format JSON
Format and validate JSON in three simple steps.
1
Paste Your JSON
Paste your JSON data into the input area or upload a .json file. The tool accepts any valid or invalid JSON for validation.
2
Format or Validate
Click Format to beautify your JSON with proper indentation. The validator automatically checks for syntax errors.
3
Copy or Download
Copy the formatted JSON to your clipboard or download it as a file. Use minify for compact, single-line output.
Who Uses JSON Formatter?
Developers, data analysts, and API users rely on our JSON formatter daily.
API Developers
Format API responses for debugging, validate request payloads, and beautify JSON for documentation.
Database Administrators
Format MongoDB documents, validate JSON configurations, and prepare data for import/export operations.
Frontend Developers
Debug JSON data from APIs, format mock data for testing, and validate configuration files.
Data Analysts
Clean and format JSON datasets, validate data structure, and prepare JSON for analysis tools.
JSON Formatter FAQ
JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data format used for storing and exchanging data. It's human-readable and widely used in web APIs, configuration files, and data storage. JSON uses key-value pairs and arrays to structure data.
A JSON formatter takes raw or minified JSON and adds proper indentation, line breaks, and spacing to make it human-readable. It also validates the JSON syntax and highlights any errors, making it easier to work with JSON data.
Common JSON errors include: missing quotes around keys, trailing commas after the last item, single quotes instead of double quotes, and unescaped special characters. Our validator shows the exact line and position of errors to help you fix them.
Beautify adds indentation and line breaks for readability (great for debugging). Minify removes all whitespace to create the smallest possible file size (great for production/APIs). Both produce valid JSON.
Yes! All JSON processing happens directly in your browser. Your data is never uploaded to our servers. This ensures complete privacy and security for sensitive configuration files or API data.
You can format JSON with 2 spaces, 4 spaces, or tabs. The default is 2 spaces, which is the most common convention. Choose based on your project's coding standards.
Yes! You can upload .json files directly, or paste JSON content from any source. The formatter handles both methods and processes the content identically.
Common reasons: missing or extra commas, unclosed brackets or braces, unquoted keys (keys must be in double quotes), using single quotes instead of double quotes, or invalid escape sequences in strings.
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