JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is the standard data format for APIs, config files, and modern web apps. But raw JSON often arrives as a single, unreadable line. This guide shows you how to make it readable in seconds.
1. What is JSON?
JSON is a text format for structured data. It looks like {"name":"Alice","age":30}. It's the lingua franca of web APIs and is used everywhere from REST endpoints to package.json files.
2. Pretty-printing JSON
Paste your JSON into the JSON Formatter and the tool will add line breaks, indentation, and color-coding. This makes it easy to scan and understand the structure.
3. Validating JSON
JSON has strict syntax: double quotes only, no trailing commas, no comments. A single missing comma breaks the whole document. The JSON Formatter highlights the line and column of any error so you can fix it instantly.
4. Minifying JSON
Minifying strips all unnecessary whitespace to produce the smallest valid JSON. Useful for embedding JSON in URLs, shrinking API payloads, or storing in tight database fields.
5. Common JSON errors
- Trailing commas after the last item in an array or object
- Single quotes instead of double quotes
- Comments — JSON does not support
//or/* */ - Unquoted keys — keys must be in double quotes
- Smart quotes — copy-paste from Word often introduces curly quotes that break JSON