JSON Formatter & Validator

Beautify, validate, visualize, and download JSON securely in your browser.

Drag & drop a .json file or paste raw JSON

                                        

                                    

                                

                            

                        


                        

                            Tips: Press Ctrl+Enter (or ⌘+Enter) to format instantly. Your data never leaves the browser.
                        

                    

                

            

        


        

            

                

                    
Beautiful JSON Formatting, Instant Validation, and Smart Visualization

                    

                        The JSON Formatter & Validator from Ref4 cleans, indents, and highlights your JSON so you can understand complex payloads instantly. With one click you can toggle between a color-coded pretty view and an interactive tree view — perfect for developers, analysts, QA teams, and anyone working with APIs.
                    


                    
Key Capabilities

                    
    
                        
  • JSON beautifier: Apply consistent indentation (2, 4, or tab) with syntax highlighting.
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  • Minifier: Remove whitespace to create compact JSON for production environments.
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  • Validator: Detect JSON syntax errors in real time with line & column references.
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  • Tree explorer: Expand and collapse nested structures with counts for objects and arrays.
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  • Secure clipboard & download: Copy formatted JSON or download it as a .json file instantly.
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  • File & drag-and-drop support: Import JSON from files or drop payloads directly into the editor.
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How to Use the Online JSON Formatter

                    
    
                        
  1. Paste JSON into the input editor or drag a .json file onto the drop zone.
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  2. Choose the indentation style you prefer (2 spaces, 4 spaces, or tabs).
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  3. Click Format or press Ctrl+Enter to beautify the JSON instantly.
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  4. Switch between Pretty View and Tree View to explore the data and copy or download the result.
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  5. Need compact JSON? Press Minify to compress it for transport or production use.
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Why Developers Trust Ref4 JSON Tools

                    

                        Ref4 tools run entirely in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or stored, making them safe for sensitive payloads. The formatter handles large JSON datasets effortlessly, making it ideal for API testing, log inspection, and converting JSON for configuration files or documentation.
                    


                    
FAQ

                    
Is my JSON data secure?

                    
Yes. All operations happen on the client side using JSON.parse and JSON.stringify. No data is transmitted to servers.


                    
Can I customize indentation?

                    
Absolutely. Use the indentation selector to switch between 2 spaces, 4 spaces, or tab characters before formatting.


                    
How do I export formatted JSON?

                    
Click the download button to save a .json file or copy the formatted output to your clipboard.


                    
Enhance your workflow with the Ref4 JSON Formatter & Validator and explore more developer tools at Ref4.com.