How to Format, Validate and Explore JSON

Before you start

• Use standard JSON rather than JavaScript object literals: quote property names and strings with double quotes.
• If exact large identifiers matter, represent them as strings before processing. JavaScript numbers can lose integer precision outside the safe range.

Step-by-step instructions

1. Open the JSON Formatter and paste JSON into Input JSON, or use Upload to open a supported local JSON or text file.
2. Click Validate to check syntax. Read the error location if validation fails, correct the input and validate again.
3. Choose two spaces, four spaces or tabs, then click Format to make the structure readable.
4. Use Tree view to inspect nested objects and arrays. Choose Sort keys if you need a consistent object-key order.
5. Click Minify for compact output, then copy or download the result. Keep the original if its exact formatting or numeric spelling matters.

A small formatting example

Paste the compact input below and choose Format with two spaces. Whitespace changes make the object easier to read; the property values stay the same for this example. Minify removes the indentation again.

Input:
{"name":"AnyUtils","enabled":true,"tools":["JSON","Base64"]}

Formatted:
{
  "name": "AnyUtils",
  "enabled": true,
  "tools": [
    "JSON",
    "Base64"
  ]
}

Syntax validation versus application rules

A syntactically valid JSON value can still contain the wrong fields or types for an API. This formatter does not validate JSON Schema, repair malformed input or accept JSON5 comments and trailing commas.

Formatting parses and serializes values. Integers outside -9007199254740991 through 9007199254740991 may round. Duplicate property names can also lose information during parsing; do not use this workflow to preserve conflicting duplicate fields or byte-for-byte signed content.

Troubleshooting

Privacy and cleanup

Input files are read locally despite the Upload button label. JSON and results are not uploaded to AnyUtils. Copy and download happen only when you choose them.

Read the Privacy Policy for site preferences, optional analytics and hosting information.

Related tools and guides

Use JSON Formatter with the steps above, or continue with a related task.

• How to Encode and Decode Base64 Text or Files · Open Base64 Encoder / Decoder
• How to Decode JWT Claims and Check Expiration Dates · Open JWT Decoder

Technical references

These references explain the underlying formats or browser behavior. The steps above describe the current AnyUtils tool.

• RFC 8259: JSON format