How to Format JSON Online - Complete Guide

What is JSON?

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data interchange format that's easy for humans to read and write, and easy for machines to parse and generate. It's the most popular format for API responses and configuration files.

Why Format JSON?

Minified JSON is difficult to read. Formatting (or "pretty-printing") JSON adds proper indentation and line breaks, making the structure clear and easy to understand.

Before Formatting:

{"name":"John","age":30,"city":"New York","hobbies":["reading","coding"],"address":{"street":"123 Main St","zip":"10001"}}

After Formatting:

{
  "name": "John",
  "age": 30,
  "city": "New York",
  "hobbies": [
    "reading",
    "coding"
  ],
  "address": {
    "street": "123 Main St",
    "zip": "10001"
  }
}

How to Use Our JSON Formatter

1. Paste your JSON into the input field
2. Click "Format" to beautify with 2 or 4 spaces
3. Click "Minify" to compress JSON into a single line
4. Copy the result with one click

Common JSON Errors

• Missing quotes around keys or string values
• Trailing commas after the last item in an array or object
• Single quotes instead of double quotes
• Undefined or NaN values (not valid in JSON)

Tips for Working with JSON

• Always validate JSON before using it in production
• Use 2-space indentation for compact formatting
• Use 4-space indentation for maximum readability
• Consider using JSON Schema for data validation

Try our free JSON formatter to format your JSON data instantly!