JSON Formatter
Pretty-print and beautify JSON with proper indentation instantly in your browser. Fast, private, and free.
Private ● Runs entirely in your browser Your text never leaves your device.No account required.No data uploaded.Nothing stored unless you choose to save it.What does a JSON formatter do?
It takes valid JSON and rewrites it with consistent indentation and line breaks. The data is unchanged: same keys, same values, same structure. Only the whitespace changes, from a compact single line to a multi-line layout that humans can read and scan.
Does formatting change what the JSON means?
No. Whitespace between tokens is not significant in JSON. `{"a":1}` and `{ "a": 1 }` and the four-space indented multi-line version all parse to identical data. Any JSON parser reads all three as the same object.
What's the difference between formatting and minifying?
Opposite operations, same data. Formatting adds whitespace for readability. Minifying removes it for size. Both produce valid JSON. You can format a minified response to inspect it, then minify again before sending it: the data survives both trips intact.
What is pretty-printing?
Pretty-printing is the same thing as formatting, adding indentation and newlines to make structured text human-readable. The term comes from older programming contexts where "printing" meant outputting text. Pretty-print, format, and beautify all mean the same operation for JSON.
I formatted my JSON but I'm still getting parse errors, why?
A formatter only processes valid JSON. If the input has syntax errors (a trailing comma, unquoted keys, single-quoted strings) the formatter can't parse it and will show an error. Use a JSON validator to find and fix the specific syntax problem first, then format.
What indentation level should I use?
2 spaces is the most common choice in JavaScript and web projects. 4 spaces is common in Python and other ecosystems. Tabs are used in some style guides. The choice is cosmetic: JSON parsers treat all whitespace the same. Follow your project's existing style, or your team's preference.
Can a JSON formatter fix my JSON?
No. A formatter is not a repair tool. It can only add whitespace around valid tokens: it doesn't know how to add missing commas, quote unquoted keys, or remove illegal values. For syntax errors, you need to read the error message and edit the JSON manually.
Why does my API response look like a mess?
Most APIs return minified JSON (no spaces, no line breaks) to reduce response size. That's the right call for production traffic, but hard to read in a terminal or browser. Paste the response into a formatter to turn it into a readable structure for debugging.
Does JSON allow numbers with leading zeros?
No. `01`, `007`, `0123` are all invalid JSON numbers. The only valid zero is `0` itself. Numbers in JSON follow strict decimal notation: an optional minus sign, digits (no leading zeros unless the number is just `0`), an optional decimal point with more digits, and an optional exponent (`e` or `E`).