JSON Formatter
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Output
Formatted JSON will appear here

What is this JSON Formatter?

This is a free, real-time JSON formatter and validator that runs 100% in your browser. No data is sent to any server. It supports formatting (beautifying), minifying, sorting keys alphabetically, and real-time validation with line-accurate error messages.

How does JSON formatting work?

JSON.parse() converts your text into an in-memory JavaScript object, then JSON.stringify() renders it back with proper indentation. This also validates the JSON as a side effect " any syntax errors are caught and displayed with the exact character position.

Is my data safe?

All processing is done entirely in your browser's memory using JavaScript. No data is sent to any server. When you close this tab, the data is gone. This makes it safe to use with API keys, tokens, or private configuration files.

What does "Sort Keys" do?

It recursively sorts all object keys alphabetically throughout the entire JSON structure. Useful for comparing two JSON objects for differences or enforcing consistent key ordering in config files.

What is JSON minifying?

Minifying removes all whitespace, newlines, and indentation from valid JSON. The result is functionally identical but smaller " useful for reducing payload size in HTTP API responses or configuration files.

Copied! "

How to Use This Tool

Format raw API responses from REST APIs, GraphQL endpoints, and webhook payloads into readable, structured JSON.

  1. Copy the raw JSON response from curl, Postman, browser DevTools (Network tab), or your API testing tool.
  2. Paste the response into the input pane.
  3. Click "Format" — the tool validates the response and displays it with proper indentation and syntax highlighting.
  4. Use "Sort Keys" to alphabetize the response structure for easier navigation of large API responses.
  5. Click "Copy" to grab the formatted version for documentation, bug reports, or debugging notes.

What Is API Response JSON Formatter?

API responses are almost always minified — delivered as a single line of compact JSON to minimize bandwidth. This makes them impossible to read without a formatter. This tool takes raw API responses and displays them with clean indentation and color-coded syntax.

Whether you are working with REST APIs (GET/POST responses), GraphQL query results, webhook payloads (Stripe, GitHub, Slack), or server-sent events, this tool parses and formats any valid JSON response.

The tool also validates the response. If an API returns malformed JSON (which happens more often than you might expect), you will see the exact error location — helping you determine if the bug is in the API or in your parsing code.

Why You Need This

Why formatting API responses matters:

Pro Tips for Best Results

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are API responses minified?

Servers minify JSON responses to reduce bandwidth. Removing whitespace from a 50 KB response might save 15-20 KB per request. At thousands of requests per second, this saves significant bandwidth and reduces latency.

Can I format a GraphQL response?

Yes. GraphQL responses are standard JSON with a {"data": {...}, "errors": [...]} structure. Paste the response and format it like any other JSON.

What if my API returns XML or HTML instead of JSON?

This tool only formats valid JSON. If your API returns XML or HTML, you need a different formatter. If it returns a 5xx error page as HTML, that indicates a server error — the issue is with the API, not the formatting.

How do I format API responses with binary data?

JSON cannot contain raw binary data. APIs that include binary (like images) typically Base64-encode it as a JSON string. The formatter handles these strings normally — they just appear as long text values.