Why Use a JSON Formatter?
A JSON formatter is an essential tool for developers:
- Debugging APIs - make API responses readable for easier debugging
- Config files - format JSON configuration files for better readability
- Data validation - quickly check if JSON is valid before using it
- Minification - reduce JSON size for production use
JSON Syntax Basics
Valid JSON Rules
- Keys must be strings in double quotes
- String values must use double quotes (not single quotes)
- No trailing commas allowed
- No comments allowed
- Numbers cannot have leading zeros
Common JSON Errors
Trailing Comma
{"a": 1,} is invalid{"a": 1} is correct
Single Quotes
{'a': 'b'} is invalid{"a": "b"} is correct
Unquoted Keys
{a: 1} is invalid{"a": 1} is correct
Comments
{"a": 1 // comment} is invalid
JSON does not support comments