Indent:
// input
// output
Formatted output will appear here...
Ready — paste JSON and click Format

About this tool

This JSON Formatter lets you instantly beautify and validate any JSON data. It runs entirely in your browser — no data is ever sent to a server, making it safe for sensitive configs, API responses, and tokens.


Features:

Keyboard Shortcuts

Format JSONCtrl + Enter
Copy outputCtrl + Shift + C
Clear allCtrl + Shift + X
Load sampleCtrl + Shift + S

// what is json formatting?

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) formatting — also called "pretty printing" — adds indentation and line breaks to make compact JSON human-readable. For example, {"a":1,"b":2} becomes a structured, indented block.

JSON minification does the reverse — stripping all whitespace to reduce file size for production use or API payloads. Read more in our guide to formatting JSON and JSON validation guide.

// common json errors

Trailing commas — JSON does not allow a comma after the last item in an array or object. This is the most common error.

Single quotes — JSON requires double quotes for strings and keys. Single quotes are not valid.

Unescaped characters — special characters like backslash or newline must be escaped. See our guide to fixing invalid JSON.

// frequently asked questions
How do I format JSON in JavaScript?
Use JSON.stringify(obj, null, 2) — the third argument sets the indent size. To parse and reformat a JSON string: JSON.stringify(JSON.parse(jsonString), null, 2). Read the full guide: validate and format JSON in JavaScript.
What is the difference between JSON formatter and JSON viewer?
A JSON formatter beautifies raw JSON text with indentation and syntax highlighting. A JSON viewer typically adds tree navigation to explore nested structures. Read our JSON formatter vs viewer comparison.
Is it safe to paste sensitive JSON here?
Yes — this tool is 100% client-side. Your JSON is processed entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Nothing is sent to any server. It even works offline once the page has loaded.
How do I validate JSON online?
Paste your JSON into the input above and click Format. If the JSON is invalid, the error message will show you exactly which character or line is causing the problem. See our complete JSON validation guide for common errors and fixes.
What is the best free JSON formatter online?
TinyBench's JSON formatter is free, has no ads, requires no sign-up, and runs 100% client-side. Read our comparison of the best JSON formatters online.