Pretty-print JSON with indentation or compress it to a single line, with errors shown in plain words.
Try an example
Load a ready-made sample into this tool and run it. Every result you see is calculated live by the tool itself — nothing here is a pre-written answer.
Sample: input: {"name":"Manage My Tools","tools":179,"free":tr...
How to Use
- Paste JSON into the box.
- Click Run for indented JSON or Minify for one line.
- Copy the result.
What this JSON formatter does
This JSON formatter pretty-prints JSON with clear indentation, or minifies it back to a single line. Data returned by APIs often arrives as one unreadable block; formatted with line breaks and nesting, the structure becomes visible at a glance. Paste your JSON, choose the indented output or the one-line version, and copy the result for use or inspection. The same data comes out either way; only the layout differs.
How the formatting works
The formatter first reads your input as JSON, which means it has to be valid before anything is formatted. When it is not, you get a plain-word explanation pointing at the first problem found, instead of a code or a silent failure. That makes the tool as useful for locating a syntax slip as for the formatting itself.
Good to know
Only valid JSON can be formatted. A single missing comma or unclosed bracket stops the process, and the message tells you where the reader gave up. Formatting also normalises spacing inside the data, but it never changes values, keys or their order in the output.
Frequently asked questions
Why won't my JSON format?
Because it is not valid JSON yet. Look for the usual culprits: a missing comma between items, a trailing comma at the end of a list, single quotes instead of double, or an unclosed bracket. The error message points at the first one.
What is the difference between formatting and minifying?
Formatting adds line breaks and indentation so people can read the structure. Minifying removes all unnecessary whitespace so the same data takes one line and fewer bytes. The data itself is identical in both; only the layout changes.
Does formatting change my data?
No. Keys, values and their arrangement are carried through; only whitespace between them is rewritten. A number stays the same number and a string keeps its exact characters, so you can format production data purely to inspect it.
How to use JSON Formatter
- Paste JSON into the box.
- Click Run for indented JSON or Minify for one line.
- Copy the result.
Limitations
Only valid JSON can be formatted; the error message points at the first problem found.