Validate, prettify, and minify JSON with JSON5 support, collapsible tree view, and JSONPath queries. Precise syntax error detection with line and column pointers.
Input JSON / JSON5
Output
How to Use JSON Formatter in 3 Steps
Configure. Paste or drop JSON into the input area. The tool auto-detects JSON5 (comments, trailing commas) and standard JSON.
Process. Select pretty-print (2 or 4 space), minify, or tree-view output. Errors are highlighted with exact line and column.
Export. Copy the formatted output or download as a .json file. Use JSONPath queries to extract specific values.
Why JSON Formatter on Pixlane
JSON formatting is needed for reviewing API responses, debugging configuration files, preparing payloads, or sharing structured data in documentation. Pixlane parses JSON using native JSON.parse() for validation and adds JSON5 support (comments, trailing commas, unquoted keys) for config-file workflows.
Native Performance — Uses built-in JSON.parse() — faster and more accurate than any bundled library. Handles multi-megabyte JSON effortlessly.
JSON5 Compatible — Parses JSON with comments (// and /* */), trailing commas, unquoted keys, and single-quoted strings for modern config files.
Precise Error Detection — Invalid JSON shows exact line, column, and character position of the syntax error — faster debugging than any competitor.
JSONPath Queries — Extract nested values with standard JSONPath syntax ($.users[0].email) for complex data inspection without leaving the tool.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is JSON5?
JSON5 is a superset of JSON that supports comments, trailing commas, unquoted keys, single quotes, and multi-line strings. It's designed for human-edited config files and is supported by many modern tools (tsconfig, Babel, etc.).
Does it handle very large JSON?
Yes. The native JSON.parse() implementation handles multi-megabyte JSON in milliseconds. For inputs over 50MB, browsers may show memory warnings depending on device RAM — split large documents if needed.
Are my files sent to a server?
No. All parsing, formatting, and validation happens locally in your browser using native JavaScript. Your JSON — including API keys, tokens, or proprietary data — never leaves your device.
What does the tree view show?
The collapsible tree view lets you inspect nested structure, collapse arrays/objects to reduce visual noise, and see type annotations (string, number, boolean, null, array, object) next to each value.