CodeBeautifyJSON Formatter & Beautifier
Format, beautify, validate, or minify JSON online. Indent nested objects, sort keys, and convert minified JSON into a readable format. Invalid JSON is reported with its line and column location.
Tip: Tab inserts 2 spaces in the input field. Use "Download" for large JSON files.
What is JSON?
JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight, text-based data format used to exchange structured data between a server and a client, between services, or between configuration files and programs. It's built on two structures found in almost every programming language: an object (an unordered set of key/value pairs) and an array (an ordered list of values). Because it's simple, human-readable, and directly maps to native data structures in most languages, JSON has become the de facto standard for REST APIs, configuration files, and data storage.
Why format or minify JSON?
- Beautify — API responses and log output are often returned as a single dense line; indenting makes structure and nesting easy to read and debug.
- Sort keys — makes two versions of similar JSON easy to diff, since differences in key order won't show up as noise.
- Minify — removes all non-essential whitespace before sending JSON over the network or storing it, reducing payload size.
Examples
| Minified | Beautified (2 spaces) |
|---|---|
{"id":1,"tags":["a","b"]} | { |
{"b":2,"a":1} | With "Sort keys" on: {"a":1,"b":2} |
Frequently asked questions
How do I format JSON online?
Paste your JSON into the input box above and click Beautify. The formatter indents nested objects and arrays instantly in your browser, so the structure is easy to read.
How do I beautify JSON?
Beautifying JSON adds indentation and line breaks to a compact or minified string. Click Beautify, choose 2 spaces, 4 spaces, or a tab, and the beautifier reformats your JSON immediately.
Why does my JSON fail to parse?
The most common causes are trailing commas after the last item in an object or array, single quotes instead of double quotes, unquoted keys, or comments — none of which are valid in standard JSON. This tool reports the exact line and column of the first problem it finds.
What's the difference between beautify and minify?
Beautify adds indentation and line breaks to make JSON easy to read. Minify strips all unnecessary whitespace to produce the smallest possible payload, which is what you'd typically send over an API or store in a database.