Why format JSON?
Minified JSON is efficient for transmission but difficult for humans to inspect. Formatting adds indentation and line breaks so nested objects and arrays are easier to understand.
Common JSON errors
- Missing double quotes around property names.
- Trailing commas after the final property or array item.
- Unclosed braces or brackets.
- Using single quotes instead of JSON double quotes.
- Putting comments inside standard JSON.
Use a formatter
Open JSON Formatter, paste the response and format it. Treat online data carefully and remove secrets such as API keys or access tokens before using third-party tools.
Debugging workflow
Validate the JSON first, then inspect the hierarchy. If an API returns unexpected data, compare the formatted response with the API documentation and verify the data types expected by your application.