Generators Category Tool

JSON Formatter and Validator for Developers

Paste JSON, choose 1–8 spaces, optionally sort keys, and review the formatted result.

Includes
  • Strict JSON syntax validation
  • Adjustable 1–8 space indentation
  • Optional recursive key sorting
  • Character, line, key, and depth statistics
  • Quick result copy
Live JSON

Validate, organize, and standardize JSON for professional work

Paste raw JSON, set indentation, choose whether to sort keys, and review the formatted output immediately.

Paste raw or minified JSON to validate and format it.

Paste or type JSON to format.

Choose between 1 and 8 spaces.
Formatted resultText preview
The formatted JSON will appear here when the input is valid.
Summary

Correct the fields to format the JSON.

Characters0
Lines0
Keys0
Depth1
How it works

From validation to pretty-print in a few steps

  1. 1. Paste raw or minified JSON into the main field.
  2. 2. Adjust indentation and enable key sorting if you need it.
  3. 3. The tool validates JSON with immediate feedback.
  4. 4. Copy the final result for APIs, documentation, diffs, or debugging.
Good practices

Standardize structure and make maintenance easier

  • Use the same indentation across a team to reduce review noise.
  • Sort keys when predictable comparisons between versions are useful.
  • Validate JSON before sending it to APIs, queues, logs, or storage.
  • Avoid editing large payloads without formatting while debugging incidents.
Who it helps

Make difficult JSON easier to review

This formatter helps developers, QA, support teams, and students inspect payloads, fixtures, and configuration while staying aware of the syntax the parser actually accepts.

  • Read API responses and configuration files with consistent indentation.
  • Compare versions when key sorting reduces diff noise.
  • Use the statistics to notice document size, lines, keys, and depth.
Instructions

How to format and check JSON

  1. 1. Paste raw or minified JSON into the input field.
  2. 2. Choose 1–8 spaces and, when useful, enable Sort keys.
  3. 3. Read the validation message, result, and displayed statistics.
  4. 4. Copy the formatted JSON only after checking that its structure matches the receiving system.
What happens

Parsing, formatting, and sorting have different jobs

The tool uses JSON.parse to accept or reject syntax and JSON.stringify to produce output with the selected indentation.

Syntax validation

Quotes, brackets, braces, values, and separators must form JSON accepted by the parser.

An error says the input could not be interpreted; it does not create missing data.

Formatting

The output is serialized again with 1–8 spaces per level.

Formatting changes presentation and whitespace; it does not change the document's intent.

Sort keys

When enabled, object properties are recursively reordered alphabetically.

Array item order is preserved; this option does not apply an API schema or contract.

Verifiable example

From compact input to 2-space output

Paste the input below, leave Sort keys disabled, and choose 2 for indentation.

Input
{"user":{"name":"Ana","roles":["reader"]},"active":true}
Expected output
{\n  "user": {\n    "name": "Ana",\n    "roles": [\n      "reader"\n    ]\n  },\n  "active": true\n}

The result is verifiable because the input uses only objects, an array, a string, and a boolean accepted by JSON.parse.

Limits

Valid syntax is not a valid contract

Formatting or validation does not automatically fix the intent or structure expected by another system.

  • The tool does not validate JSON Schema, required fields, business types, or API compatibility.
  • JSON.parse rejects comments, single quotes, and trailing commas; the tool does not turn them into valid JSON.
  • Sorting keys can help with diffs, but should not be used when order has meaning for a specific integration.
Before sending

Check the receiving contract

Well-formatted JSON can still be rejected by an API or express the wrong decision. Compare names, types, required fields, and values with the target system's documentation.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Does valid JSON already meet my API contract?

No. The tool checks syntax accepted by JSON.parse, but it does not know the API's JSON Schema, required fields, or business rules.

Does sorting keys change array items?

No. Sorting applies to object properties and preserves the order of array elements.

Why do comments and trailing commas cause an error?

Comments, single quotes, and trailing commas are not part of the JSON syntax accepted by the parser used here.

Does indentation change JSON values?

Indentation changes how the text is presented. The parser and serializer preserve represented values, but the tool does not correct an incorrect intent or value.

Does this interface create minified JSON?

The interface provides 1–8 space indentation and optional key sorting. It does not expose a separate minify action; use a deliberate compaction step and review the target contract when you need that format.