JSON Formatter to beautify, minify, and validate JSON instantly. Includes collapsible tree view, syntax highlighting, JSONPath query, configurable indentation, error detection with line numbers, and key sorting. Free, private, no signup.
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$.repository.url) — useful for referencing fields in code.
$.key, $.items[0], $.users[*].email, $..id (recursive descent).
Tip: press ⌘/Ctrl + Enter inside any textarea to run the active panel's action.
JSON Formatter: Beautify, Minify & Validate JSON Online
JSON Formatter is a developer tool that takes raw, minified, or malformed JSON and turns it into readable, properly indented output — or compresses it back down for transport. It parses input with the browser's native JSON.parse, reports syntax errors with line and column information, shows the structure as an expandable tree, and lets you query into nested data with JSONPath.
Everything runs in your browser. No JSON payload is uploaded, no file is stored, and there is no sign-up. Whether you are debugging a REST API response, checking a config file before deploying, or preparing a payload for a test suite, the formatter gives you clean output in one click.
Why Use a JSON Formatter?
JSON is designed to be machine-readable, not human-readable. A typical API response is a single long line with no whitespace, which makes it nearly impossible to spot a missing bracket or an unexpected null. A formatter solves this in three ways: it makes the structure visible through indentation, it validates the syntax so errors surface immediately, and it lets you compress the output back down when you need to paste it into a config file or a request body.
Four Ways to Inspect JSON
Beautify. Parses the JSON and re-serializes it with 2-space, 4-space, or tab indentation. The output is syntax-highlighted — keys in one colour, strings in another, numbers, booleans, and null each with their own styling — so the structure is immediately clear.
Minify. Strips every unnecessary space, newline, and tab. A typical minified payload is 30% to 60% smaller than a pretty-printed version. This is what you want when pasting JSON into a request body, embedding it in a script, or storing it in a database column.
Tree view. Shows the parsed structure as an expandable tree. Objects and arrays can be collapsed, and each node shows its type and count. Click any key to copy its JSONPath — useful for referencing the exact path in your code.
JSONPath query. Run expressions like $.users[0].name, $.maintainers[*].email, or $..id (recursive descent) to extract specific values from deeply nested data without manually traversing the tree.
Error Reporting with Line and Column
When JSON is invalid, the browser's native error message includes a character position. The validator converts that position into a line number and column number, and displays a snippet of the surrounding lines so you can see exactly where the problem is. Common causes of parse failures — a trailing comma, a missing quote, a stray character — become obvious once the context is visible.
JSONPath Syntax Supported
The JSONPath engine supports the most common query patterns:
$.key — object key access. $.items[0] — array index (negative indices supported: [-1] for last). $.users[*].email — wildcard over an array or object. $..id — recursive descent: find every id at any depth. $['key with spaces'] — bracket notation for keys containing special characters.
Key Sorting
JSON objects do not have a defined key order, but in practice the order is preserved through most parsers. The formatter can optionally sort keys alphabetically at every level of the structure. This is useful for comparing two payloads, generating deterministic output for version control, or tidying up a config file with inconsistent key ordering.
Recent Items and Shareable Links
Every JSON input you format is saved to a recent items list — up to 10 entries, clickable to reload. And a "Share" button encodes the current JSON in the URL, so you can bookmark or send a specific payload to a teammate. Very large payloads are capped to avoid unsupported URLs.
Private, Fast, and Free
All processing runs locally in your browser using the native JSON.parse and JSON.stringify APIs. No JSON payload, config file, or API response leaves your device. There is no server-side processing, no logging, and no data retention.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I format or minify JSON online?
How does the JSON validator report errors?
What JSONPath syntax does the query tool support?
$.key for object access, $.items[0] for array indexing (negative indices work too), $.users[*].email for wildcards, $..id for recursive descent, and $['key with spaces'] for bracket notation. Enter a path in the JSONPath tab and click Run query.Kya yeh JSON formatter free hai?
Kya mera data kahin upload hota hai?
JSON.parse aur JSON.stringify ke zariye hoti hai. JSON payloads, config files, aur API responses kabhi kisi server par nahi bheje jate. Aap ki recent history aur preferences sirf aap ke device par localStorage mein save hote hain.Recent items aur share link kaise use karein?
#jf-<encoded> format) — jise bookmark ya share kar sakte hain. Bahut large payloads (2 KB se zyada) URL mein encode nahi hote.