Official User Guide

Mastering the JSON Formatter

A complete guide to formatting, verifying, fixing, and converting your data efficiently.

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Getting Started Formatting & Minifying Fixing Errors (Magic Fix) Converters (TS, YAML, CSV) Using Tree View

1. Getting Started

There are three ways to get your data into the formatter:

  1. Paste Directly: Simply paste your code into the left-hand input panel.
  2. File Upload: Click the Upload button to select a .json or .txt file from your computer.
  3. Drag & Drop: Drag a file from your desktop directly onto the editor area.
Input methods showing paste and upload options
Figure 1: The input interface supports pasting, uploading, and drag-and-drop.

2. Formatting & Minifying

Once your data is loaded, you can transform it using the toolbar buttons:

  • Beautify (2 or 4 Spaces)

    Expands the code into a readable structure with proper indentation. 2 spaces is standard for JavaScript/JSON; 4 spaces provides more visual separation.

  • Minify

    Removes all whitespace and newlines to compress the data. Ideal for production environments to save bandwidth.

Comparison of minified vs beautified JSON
Figure 2: Transforming raw data into readable format instantly.

3. Repairing Invalid JSON

It's common to copy object data from JavaScript files that isn't technically valid JSON. Our Magic Fix feature solves this automatically.

What it Fixes:

  • Trailing Commas: {"a": 1,} → {"a": 1}
  • Single Quotes: {'a': 'b'} → {"a": "b"}
  • Unquoted Keys: {id: 1} → {"id": 1}

Simply click the Fix button in the toolbar if you see a red error banner.

The Magic Fix feature repairing invalid JSON

4. Converting to Other Formats

Developers often need to translate JSON into other formats for config files or data analysis. Use the Convert To... dropdown to switch modes:

TypeScript

Generates TypeScript interfaces/types automatically. Great for API response typing.

YAML

Converts to YAML. Essential for DevOps, Kubernetes, and configuration files.

CSV

Flattens nested JSON into rows and columns. Perfect for Excel or Google Sheets analysis.

Converting JSON to TypeScript interfaces

5. Exploring with Tree View

For large, deeply nested files, the standard text view can be overwhelming. Switch to the Tree tab to browse your data interactively.

  • Expand/Collapse: Click arrows to open or close objects.
  • Deep Search: Use the filter input to find specific keys or values. The tree will automatically expand to show matches.
  • Visual Types: Strings, numbers, and booleans are color-coded for easier scanning.
Using the Tree View to search and filter data

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my data secure?

Yes. This tool processes all data locally in your browser. Your JSON is never sent to any server, ensuring complete privacy for sensitive information.

Does it work offline?

Since the processing is client-side, the tool continues to work even if you lose internet connection after the page loads.

Can I format huge files?

Yes, but performance depends on your computer's memory. We handle files up to several MBs easily. Extremely large files (100MB+) might slow down the browser.

Why does CSV conversion fail?

CSV conversion works best with arrays of objects. If your root JSON is a single object, the converter will try to flatten it, but complex nested arrays may not map perfectly to columns.