JSON Formatter
Beautify and pretty-print JSON online. Paste minified or messy JSON, get clean, indented output. Everything runs in your browser — no uploads.
// Examples
// How it works
Paste any JSON — minified, broken indentation, mixed tabs and spaces — and the formatter applies JSON.parse() then re-serializes with consistent indentation. Optionally sorts keys alphabetically. All processing happens in JavaScript inside your browser tab.
// What is a JSON formatter?
A JSON formatter (also called a JSON beautifier or pretty printer) turns compact or messy JSON into indented, human-readable text. APIs and log pipelines usually emit JSON minified — every object, array, and key crammed onto one line to save bytes. That's ideal for machines and hopeless for humans trying to spot a missing field or a wrong value. Formatting restores the visual structure: one key per line, children indented under parents, so the shape of the data is obvious at a glance.
Because this formatter parses your input with the browser's native JSON.parse(), the output is guaranteed to be byte-for-byte equivalent JSON — only whitespace changes, never your data.
// How to format JSON online
- Paste your JSON into the input panel on the left — large pastes format automatically.
- Pick your options: 2 or 4-space indentation, and optionally sort keys alphabetically.
- Copy or download the pretty-printed result from the output panel. Press
Ctrl+Enterto re-run after edits.
Unlike most online JSON formatters, nothing you paste is uploaded — the entire transform runs client-side, so it's safe for API responses containing tokens, emails, or customer data.
// Format, validate, minify, or repair?
Formatting is the right tool when the JSON is valid but unreadable. If you need the exact line and column of a syntax error, use the JSON validator. To shrink formatted JSON back down for transport, use the JSON minifier. And if your input isn't quite JSON — trailing commas, single quotes, JavaScript-style comments — the JSON repair tool fixes those automatically before formatting.
// FAQ
Is my JSON sent to any server?
No. The formatter is JavaScript running in your browser. Your data never leaves the page.
How do I format JSON without uploading it anywhere?
Use a client-side formatter like this one. The formatting runs as JavaScript in your own browser tab — there is no upload, no server-side processing, and no logging of what you paste.
What is the difference between a JSON formatter and a JSON beautifier?
Nothing — formatter, beautifier, and pretty printer are three names for the same tool. All of them take compact or messy JSON and re-indent it into a readable structure.
Can I choose 2-space or 4-space indentation?
Yes. Use the Indent toggle below the editor to switch between 2 and 4 spaces. You can also sort object keys alphabetically before formatting.
Does the formatter also validate my JSON?
Yes, implicitly — formatting starts with a full JSON.parse(), so any syntax error is caught and shown with its position. For detailed line-and-column diagnostics, use the JSON Validator tool.
What if my JSON has errors?
You'll see the error position. For automatic repair of common mistakes like trailing commas or single quotes, use the JSON Repair tool.
Maximum file size?
Limited only by your browser's memory. Tested with 50MB files. Larger inputs render in chunks.
Is this JSON formatter free?
Yes — free, no account, no usage limits, no ads on your data. The site is open source.