What this tool does
JSON Formatter
Your input is sent to the server for this request and is not saved as a tool content record. Infrastructure logs may still record request metadata, so do not submit secrets.
JSON Formatter parses submitted JSON and serializes it with the selected two- or four-space indentation. Optional key sorting orders object keys alphabetically.
Invalid JSON returns a line and column so you can inspect quotes, commas, brackets, and braces. Formatting checks syntax but does not apply a JSON Schema or application-specific rules.
How to use this tool
How to format JSON
Paste JSON or upload a JSON or text file up to 1 MB.
Choose two- or four-space indentation and decide whether to sort object keys.
Select Format JSON and read any line-and-column syntax feedback.
Copy or download the formatted result after checking that it matches the source data.
Before and after example
JSON formatting example
Input
{"company":"ScriptZip","tools":["json","api"],"active":true}Output
{
"company": "ScriptZip",
"tools": [
"json",
"api"
],
"active": true
}Options, errors, and limitations
JSON indentation and syntax errors
Parent category
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Formatters and beautifiers for JSON, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and text cleanup.
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Practical guides
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FAQ
JSON Formatter FAQ
Does a JSON formatter require valid JSON?
Usually yes. A formatter parses the input first, so missing commas, invalid quotes, unmatched braces, comments, or other syntax errors must be fixed before the document can be formatted reliably.
Does formatting JSON change the data?
A formatter should change only whitespace and presentation, not string values, numbers, booleans, arrays, or object structure. If the tool parses and serializes the document, insignificant formatting is regenerated in a consistent style.
Can a JSON formatter change the order of object keys?
A basic formatter should normally preserve the parsed order, but JSON objects are conceptually collections of name and value pairs and consumers should not rely on key order for application logic. If ordering matters for a workflow, verify the formatter behavior first.
Why are comments rejected in JSON?
Standard JSON defined by RFC 8259 does not include comment syntax. Some configuration formats accept JSON like extensions, but strict JSON parsers and validators will reject comments.
Are trailing commas allowed in JSON?
No. A comma cannot appear after the final member of an object or the final item of an array in standard JSON. Remove the trailing comma before formatting or validating.
Can I format a very large JSON document in the browser?
Large JSON files can consume substantial memory because the browser may need to hold the input, parsed structure, and formatted output at the same time. For very large datasets, a streaming or command line workflow may be more reliable.
Why do some JSON formatters escape Unicode characters?
JSON can represent Unicode directly, but serializers may choose to escape some characters using Unicode escape sequences. Both representations can describe the same string value when decoded correctly.
Can a JSON formatter handle top level arrays?
Yes. Standard JSON allows a top level array, object, string, number, boolean, or null value. Many real world APIs use either a top level object or array.
What is the difference between a JSON formatter and a JSON validator?
A validator answers whether the JSON syntax is valid, while a formatter focuses on making valid JSON easier to read. A formatter often performs syntax validation implicitly because it must parse the input before formatting it.
Is it safe to paste sensitive JSON into an online formatter?
Only if you trust the tool's privacy model and processing architecture. Avoid pasting access tokens, passwords, private customer data, secrets, or production credentials unless you know the content is processed locally and not stored or transmitted.