Is my JSON data stored?

No. The formatter runs in the browser and does not send JSON input to a server for formatting.

Can I create compact JSON?

Yes. Choose the Compact option in the Tabs selector to remove unnecessary whitespace from valid JSON.

Which indentation options are supported?

The formatter supports 1 space, 2 spaces, 3 spaces, one tab and compact output.

Can this page validate JSON?

The formatter checks whether the input can be parsed as valid JSON. Invalid JSON displays an error instead of formatted output.

JSON Formatter - Beautify and Format JSON Online

Raw JSON Input

Tabs

JSON Formatter Guide

Format, beautify and inspect JSON online

This JSON Formatter is built for developers who need to turn compressed API responses, logs, configuration files or copied JSON strings into readable data. Paste raw JSON into the left editor, choose your indentation style, then format it into clean output with line numbers and syntax highlighting.

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Readable indentation

Pretty print JSON using 1, 2 or 3 spaces, a real tab character, or compact output when you need a smaller payload.

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Debug API data

Use the line-numbered editors to inspect nested objects, arrays, booleans, null values, numbers and strings without losing your place.

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Browser-based formatting

Formatting happens in your browser. Your JSON is not submitted to devbruh.dev just to beautify or compact it.

What is JSON?

JSON, short for JavaScript Object Notation, is a lightweight data format used to exchange structured information between clients, servers, scripts and applications. A JSON document is made from objects, arrays, strings, numbers, booleans and null values, which makes it easy for both people and programs to read.

Although JSON grew out of JavaScript, it is language independent. JavaScript, Python, PHP, Ruby, Java, Go and many other languages can generate and parse JSON. That is why it is common in REST APIs, GraphQL responses, webhooks, package files, settings files and logs.

Minified JSON saves bandwidth, but it is hard to debug. A JSON beautifier expands the data with line breaks and indentation so you can understand structure, compare fields and spot syntax problems faster.

Common JSON formatting use cases

API response formatting: Pretty print compact responses from REST APIs, webhooks and backend services so objects and arrays are easier to inspect.

JSON linting: Check whether pasted JSON can be parsed. If parsing fails, the tool shows an invalid JSON message instead of returning misleading output.

Configuration cleanup: Reformat package files, app settings, test fixtures and mock data before sharing them with teammates.

Compact payloads: Choose compact mode when you need valid JSON without extra whitespace for storage, transmission or embedding.

JSON example

Try a small insurance-company style object like this, or use the larger built-in sample button above.

{
  "insuranceCompanies": {
    "topCompanies": [
      {
        "rank": 1,
        "name": "Berkshire Hathaway",
        "marketCapitalization": "$308 billion"
      }
    ],
    "source": "example.com",
    "updated": "2026-05-29"
  }
}

Related JSON tools

After formatting JSON, you may also want to validate, minify, inspect or convert it.

JSON Validator JSON Minifier JSON Tree Viewer JSON XML JSON CSV

JSON Formatter FAQ

What does this JSON Formatter do?

It parses JSON text and converts it into readable output with selectable indentation, line numbers and syntax highlighting. It is useful for debugging minified JSON, API responses, logs and configuration files.

Is my JSON data saved?

No. This formatter runs in your browser and does not send JSON input to a server for formatting. Avoid pasting secrets into any online tool unless you are comfortable with the environment you are using.

Which JSON specification should I care about?

For most modern projects, valid JSON should follow the current JSON data interchange format described by RFC 8259 and ECMA-404. In practical terms, use quoted property names, double-quoted strings, valid numbers, arrays, objects, booleans and null.

Can I compact JSON here?

Yes. Use the Tabs selector and choose Compact. The formatter will remove unnecessary spaces and line breaks while keeping the JSON valid.

Does this replace a full JSON validator?

It checks whether JSON can be parsed before formatting. For a dedicated validation workflow, use the JSON Validator.

Learn more about JSON

If you are learning JSON or checking compatibility, these references are useful starting points.

json.org RFC 8259 ECMA-404 MDN JSON guide