{ } JSON Formatter & Beautifier

What is a JSON formatter?

A JSON formatter (also called a JSON beautifier or pretty printer) takes raw, compressed JSON and reformats it with consistent indentation and line breaks so it is easy to read, review, and debug. FormatMyJSON also validates your JSON as you type and can minify it back down to a single compact line — all in your browser, with nothing uploaded to a server.

How to use

• Paste your JSON into the Input panel on the left.
• It formats automatically as you type, or click Format JSON.
• Choose an indentation — 2 spaces, 4 spaces, or a tab — from the selector.
• As you type, the status shows whether your JSON is valid or invalid; click Format (or Minify) to see the parser's message pinpointing the first error.
• Copy the result from the Formatted Output panel, or click Minify to compress it to one line.

Format vs. Minify vs. Validate — when to use each

• Format (beautify): use when you want to read JSON — inspecting an API response, reviewing a config file, or debugging a data feed.
• Minify: use when you want the smallest output — reducing payload size, embedding JSON compactly, or storing it on a single line.
• Validate: happens as you type. The status flags valid or invalid JSON; clicking Format or Minify surfaces the parser's message and the position of the first syntax error, so you catch mistakes before shipping.

Choosing an indentation

• 2 spaces — compact; common in JavaScript, Node, and npm projects.
• 4 spaces — more visual separation; common in many enterprise and Python-adjacent styles.
• Tab — inserts one tab character per level, so each viewer's editor controls the displayed width.

Worked example

Input (minified):

{"name":"Ada","langs":["json","yaml"],"active":true,"projects":null}

Output (2-space format):

{
  "name": "Ada",
  "langs": [
    "json",
    "yaml"
  ],
  "active": true,
  "projects": null
}

Common JSON errors

FormatMyJSON parses your input with the browser's built-in JSON engine. If parsing fails, it shows the parser's error so you can find the problem. The most common reasons JSON is rejected:

• A trailing comma after the last item in an object or array.
• Single quotes instead of double quotes — JSON requires "double quotes".
• Unquoted keys — every key must be a quoted string.
• A missing comma, bracket, or brace.
• Comments — standard JSON does not allow // or /* */.

Is my JSON private?

Yes. All formatting, validation, and minifying happen locally in your browser using its native JSON engine. Your input is never uploaded, stored, or logged on our servers — it exists only on your device and is discarded when you close or refresh the page. See our Privacy Policy for details, including the Google AdSense advertising disclosure.

A note on sensitive data

Because FormatMyJSON processes everything locally, your JSON never leaves your device. Even so, as a good general habit, avoid pasting live secrets — passwords, API keys, access tokens, private keys, or real customer records — into any online tool. If you need to inspect JSON that contains credentials, replace the sensitive values with placeholders first.

Common use cases

• Debugging API responses from REST or GraphQL endpoints.
• Reading and editing configuration files (.json).
• Inspecting database exports, logs, and data feeds.
• Checking that JSON is valid before committing or deploying it.
• Making a compact JSON payload readable, or a readable one compact.

Frequently asked questions

Good to know

• Supports standard JSON only — no comments, trailing commas, or JSON5 extensions.
• It reports the first syntax error it encounters, not every error at once.
• It validates structure; it does not check your JSON against a schema.
• Very large inputs are limited by your device's memory and speed, since all work is local.