Inspect an API response
Paste JSON from a development workflow and format it to make nested objects and arrays easier to scan. The formatted result helps you inspect structure, but it does not check whether the data matches an API schema.
JSON formatter
Validate, format, and minify JSON data.
- ✓ Validate JSON syntax
- ✓ Format with indentation
- ✓ Minify or download output
Processed on your device
Turn dense JSON into data you can inspect
Make structured data easier to inspect, or remove unnecessary whitespace before using it elsewhere. Invalid JSON produces an explanation instead of an output file.
Prepare compact JSON
Minify a valid document when you need to remove presentation whitespace. Review the result before saving it into a configuration file, particularly if property order, exact numeric representation, or duplicate keys might matter to your workflow.
Get the best result
JSON requires double-quoted property names and does not allow comments or trailing commas. JavaScript numeric precision applies; large integer identifiers should be strings.
A practical example
Starting point
{"name":"Ada","active":true}Expected result
The same parsed object displayed with two-space indentation, or compactly on one line when minified.
Formatting parses the document and serializes it again. It preserves the interpreted data, not every original byte or formatting choice.
Troubleshooting and useful checks
JSON is reported as invalid
Check for unquoted keys, single quotes, trailing commas, or comments. Those can appear in JavaScript objects or other configuration formats but are not valid JSON syntax.
A large integer changes
JavaScript numbers have finite precision. Use strings for long numeric identifiers or integers that must retain their exact digits, and do not use this formatter as a lossless editor for arbitrary-precision numeric JSON.
Frequently asked questions
A little clarity before you get started.
Will it execute code in the JSON?
No. Input is parsed as data with JSON.parse.
Does valid JSON mean my data is correct?
No. Syntax validation only confirms the text can be parsed as JSON. It does not verify required fields, business rules, types expected by an API, or the truth of the values.
Are duplicate property names preserved?
No. Parsing an object with repeated keys keeps the value interpreted by JSON.parse, typically the last occurrence. Avoid duplicate keys when the distinction matters.
Will formatting run code in the input?
No. Input is parsed as JSON data rather than evaluated as JavaScript. Strings that happen to contain code remain string values.
What is the difference between Format and Minify?
Format adds indentation for readability. Minify removes unnecessary presentation whitespace. Both operations parse and serialize the input, so they are not byte-for-byte transformations.
Do I need an account to use this tool?
No. This tool is free to use without signing in. An account lets you keep a list of favorite tools.
Can I use this on a phone?
Yes, with a current browser. File support, download behavior, and available memory vary by device. For large documents and images, a computer is often more comfortable.