RedScrape Logo
RedScrape

JSON Formatter & Validator

Format, beautify, minify, and validate JSON data with syntax highlighting

Indent:
Formatted JSON will appear here...

Instant Validation

Real-time syntax checking with detailed error messages

Format & Minify

Beautify with custom indentation or minify for production

Syntax Highlighting

Color-coded output for better readability

About JSON Formatter

A JSON formatter is a tool that takes raw JSON data and formats it with proper indentation and line breaks for better readability. It also validates the JSON syntax to catch errors before they cause problems.

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is the most common data format for APIs and web applications. When debugging or working with JSON data, properly formatted output makes it much easier to understand the structure and find specific values.

Features

Formatting Options

Beautify with 2/4 space indent
Minify for production
Syntax highlighting

Validation

Real-time error detection
Line & column numbers
Detailed error messages

Syntax Highlighting Colors

"key"

Property Keys

"value"

String Values

123

Numbers

true

Booleans/null

Quick Start Guide

1

Paste JSON

Input raw JSON data. Validation happens instantly.

2

Format

Choose indent size or click Minify to compress.

3

Copy

Copy formatted JSON for your project.

Common JSON Errors

Missing Quotes

Keys and strings need double quotes.

key:→"key":

Trailing Commas

No comma after last element.

[1,2,]→[1,2]

Unescaped Chars

Escape special characters.

\n→\\n

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between JSON beautify and minify?
Beautify adds indentation and line breaks for human readability, perfect for debugging and code review. Minify removes all whitespace to reduce file size, ideal for production where bandwidth matters. A 1MB beautified JSON file might shrink to 600KB when minified.
Is my JSON data stored or sent to any server?
No, all processing happens entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Your data is never transmitted to any server, never stored in any database, and never logged. The tool works offline once loaded, ensuring complete privacy for sensitive data.
What JSON syntax errors can this validator detect?
The validator detects missing quotes on keys, trailing commas, unescaped special characters, mismatched brackets, invalid data types, duplicate keys, and invalid number formats. It provides exact line and column numbers to help you locate errors quickly.
Can I format very large JSON files with this tool?
Yes, the formatter handles large JSON structures efficiently. Files up to several megabytes format nearly instantly. Very large files (10MB+) may take a few seconds depending on your browser. There are no arbitrary size limits imposed by the tool.
What indentation options are available?
The formatter offers 2-space and 4-space indentation. 2-space is compact and common in JavaScript projects. 4-space provides more visual separation and is often preferred in backend development. Both produce valid, readable JSON.
Does the JSON formatter support syntax highlighting?
Yes, different JSON elements display in distinct colors: property keys in purple, string values in green, numbers in blue, and booleans/null in yellow. This color coding helps you quickly identify data types and spot patterns in complex documents.
Is this JSON formatter completely free to use?
Yes, this tool is 100% free with no usage limits, no registration required, and no advertisements. You can format and validate unlimited JSON data. We built this to help developers work efficiently with JSON without paying for software subscriptions.