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JSON Formatter online

Format · Minify · Validate · Convert to YAML & XML - all in your browser

JSON Formatter
by
CHUNKY
MUNSTER
// Paste your JSON
// Output 
Output will appear here…

JSON Formatter, Minifier & Converter

This tool covers four common JSON workflows in one place - pick the mode that matches your task and the output updates as you type:

How to Use

  1. Paste your JSON into the input area - output updates live as you type.
  2. Click a mode tab (Format, Minify, YAML, or XML).
  3. For Format mode, choose your indentation style and optionally sort keys.
  4. Click Download to save the output as .json, .yaml, or .xml.

JSON vs YAML vs XML

All three formats represent the same structured data. JSON is compact and the default for web APIs. YAML is more human-readable and supports comments - common in config files (Docker Compose, GitHub Actions, Kubernetes). XML has the widest compatibility with legacy enterprise tools and supports schemas, namespaces, and attributes that JSON and YAML cannot express natively.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn't JSON support comments?

Douglas Crockford deliberately excluded comments from JSON. He later explained he removed them because people were using comments to include parsing directives - defeating the goal of a simple, universal data format. JSONC (JSON with Comments) is a non-standard extension used by VS Code and TypeScript configs.

What is the difference between JSON and YAML?

JSON is strict and machine-friendly. YAML uses indentation instead of braces, supports comments, and is easier for humans to read. All valid JSON is valid YAML 1.2.

What are the valid JSON data types?

String (double-quoted), Number (integer or float, no hex/octal), Boolean (true/false), null, Array ([...]), and Object ({...}). Dates, undefined, functions, and regular expressions are not JSON types.

How do I handle very large JSON files?

The browser handles JSON up to available memory - typically tens to hundreds of MB. For files over 100 MB, use jq or Python's json module at the command line.

Optimize your development workflow by bookmarking this JSON Formatter for all your data formatting, validation, and conversion tasks.

Reference: RFC 8259 - The JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) Data Interchange Format

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