# JSON formatter & validator

Canonical page: https://datalens.flazetech.in/json

Publisher: DataLens by Flazetech (https://datalens.flazetech.in/about).

A free online JSON formatter, validator, and beautifier. Format or minify JSON, search values, and explore a tree view directly in your browser.

## How to format and validate JSON

1. Paste JSON into the input editor, upload a .json file, or try the sample.
2. Choose 2 spaces, 4 spaces, or tabs. Select Format JSON, or press Ctrl / ⌘ + Enter.
3. Use the code view to search or the tree view to explore nested objects. Copy or download the result.

## Formatting actions

| Task | Action | What to expect |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Make JSON readable | Format JSON | Choose 2 spaces, 4 spaces or tabs. Auto-format updates the result as you edit. |
| Check JSON syntax | Read the validation result | Invalid input shows a parser error. Correct the source; the tool does not guess repairs or validate a JSON Schema. |
| Explore nested data | Switch to Tree | Expand objects and arrays, inspect value types and copy paths. Tree branches display up to 100 children. |
| Find a field or value | Search code output | Search the formatted document without changing its values. Use JSONPath for extracting matching values. |
| Prepare compact output | Minify, copy or download | Remove formatting whitespace and save the result as a .json file. Keep exact long IDs and decimal values as strings. |

## Worked example

### Example input

```text
{"name":"DataLens","tools":["json","csv"]}
```

### Example output

```text
{
  "name": "DataLens",
  "tools": [
    "json",
    "csv"
  ]
}
```

## Common questions

### What is a JSON formatter?

A JSON formatter parses JavaScript Object Notation and adds consistent indentation and line breaks. DataLens also validates the input, so missing quotes, extra commas, and unclosed brackets produce an error instead of a misleading result.

### How do I beautify JSON code?

Paste valid JSON into the input or upload a .json file, choose indentation, and select Format JSON. Beautify, pretty-print and format describe adding line breaks and indentation. Use Minify for compact output instead.

### How do I choose the best JSON formatter for my task?

Check syntax feedback, indentation, search, tree navigation, data handling and file-size limits. DataLens offers these reading and formatting controls for input under about 2 MB. Use a dedicated schema validator for schema rules, or a tool designed for larger files when necessary.

### How is formatting different from minifying JSON?

Formatting adds whitespace for readability. Minifying removes unnecessary whitespace for a compact payload. Both parse the same JSON values. JavaScript numbers have limited precision, so keep long identifiers and exact decimal values in strings.

### Can I format arrays, null, and other JSON values?

Yes. A JSON document can contain an object, an array, a string, a number, true, false, or null. All of these work in the formatter and tree view.

### Is my JSON uploaded to a server?

Formatting and validation run in your browser. Creating a share link includes the data in the link or stores it with the configured sharing service. Anyone with that link can read it; do not share credentials or private data.

## Related guides

- [How to format JSON and fix invalid JSON](https://datalens.flazetech.in/guides/format-validate-json)
- [Compare JSON objects without key-order noise](https://datalens.flazetech.in/guides/compare-json-objects)
- [Convert an Excel column to a comma-separated list](https://datalens.flazetech.in/guides/excel-column-to-comma-list)
- [Convert CSV to JSON without losing field values](https://datalens.flazetech.in/guides/csv-to-json-preserve-values)

## Data handling

[Processing and privacy](https://datalens.flazetech.in/privacy). Formatting and conversion run in the browser. Optional sharing and API requests can transmit supplied data. The interactive tools require JavaScript; this reference does not.