JSON.Formatter, Beautify. JSON Format - Toolibex

Introduction

The JSON formatter works when there is a need to beautify JSON code. It may be used by both developers and non-developers who want to examine a JSON string, structure, or array. Some say that JSON formatting is the reverse process of JSON minification.

About JSON formatter

Toolibex JSON formatter online is a JSON pretty printer/beautifier tool that helps to format JSON, make it readable, and easier-to-use. JSON data tends to be compacted whenever it is generated: configuration files and script outputs are two examples. That is convenient for usage but not for reading.

A JSON formatter can make JSON structure more readable by adding line breaks and indentation. This process is also called JSON pretty print or JSON beautify. For instance, take a JSON object describing a simple user with name, age, and login status. It may look compacted as:

{"name":"Alex","age":28,"active":true}

After the JSON formatting, it will take more space but will look clear and easy to grasp:

{

"name": "Alex",

"age": 28,

"active": true

}

This example demonstrates that JSON code may be compacted (the initial state) or formatted with line breaks and indentation (the formatted state). A JSON formatter online can be used in the cases when the JSON structure is large and/or complex.

A JSON-formatter.com is a validating and syntax-checking utility, whereas a JSON formatter is a code beautifying and indentation utility. These two tools are different and should be taken into consideration. In any case, you should clarify what features the tool you are going to use offers.

How does a JSON formatter work?

The JSON-formatter online works with JSON texts/data. To begin with, it is helpful to understand what this code represents and how it may be organized. JSON is used in configuration files and API responses, so in many ways, it is similar to JavaScript code.

A JSON text always has key-value pairs that represent different kinds of data: strings, numbers, boolean, object, and array. The whole structure is placed in curly braces { }, and each key (or property) should be given as a string enclosed by double quotes ". The property value may be of any type including arrays, objects, and other structures. Any JSON utility, including a JSON formatter, should recognize the syntax and structure of JSON text/data.

Now, going back to the JSON formatter. There are a few things that this utility typically does:

1. The JSON formatter: Read data

Any JSON text is read by the JSON formatter and then parsed (converted from a string to JSON objects with properties). After that, all changes that will be done to the initial values will represent an altered version of the originally inputted JSON text.

When a text is inputted incorrectly (has incorrect JSON syntax), a parser throws an error, and the JSON formatter cannot proceed with any further actions. The error should be fixed in the JSON text to receive properly-formatted JSON data. Now, let’s see how JSON code can be formatted.

2. The JSON formatter: Formatting procedure

A proper JSON formatting example is given below.

Initial JSON text:

{"product":"Phone","price":1500,"in stock":true}

Formatted JSON text:

{

"product": "Phone",

"price": 1500,

"in stock": true

}

In the initial text, data looks compacted: all the key-value pairs are on the same line. The formatted text, in its turn, shows that all the pairs are on separate lines and there is indentation (spaces or tabs) for each line. So, it becomes much easier to see the structure of the JSON text/array.

Each formatter works with the JSON syntax highlighting feature that uses colors and italics to distinguish between the types of data. Additionally, there is usually an option to have a JSON validity checker as well. To proceed with JSON formatting, we should make a distinction between formatting and validating procedures.

Formatting the JSON text changes the way this text looks: it uses indentation, line breaks, and spacing to look more attractive but, at the same time, does not change any data. The validity of the JSON text should be reviewed separately either with a JSON validity checking tool or a JSON syntax highlighter. Now, let’s see some examples of a JSON-formatter output.

3. JSON formatter: The output of formatted JSON

Outputting formatted JSON data can look different, depending on how the tool is chosen. Below are some examples of JSON formatting:

The JSON object with three key-value pairs looks like:

{

Name: 'Alex',

Age: 28,

Address: 'Tel-Aviv'

}

Here, Name, Age, and Address are the keys or properties of this JSON object. On the other side, Alex, 28, and Tel-Aviv are the values of these properties. Values can represent any data: string (word or number), boolean (true/false), and other JSON objects or JSON arrays.

An array is a collection of values (strings, numbers, objects, and so on) enclosed in square brackets and separated by commas. Nested arrays and JSON objects can complicate the structure of JSON data. Proper JSON formatting helps to see all the values and distinguish between objects.

Another example of JSON formatting is shown below:

{

Name: 'Alex',

Age: 28,

Contact: {

Email: 'alex@example.com

},

Roles: ['editor', 'reviewer']

}

This JSON has several objects: the main object that holds Name, Age, Contact, and Roles, the Contact object that holds Email, and a Roles array.

JSON Formatter Example

When you have to work with JSON texts, you should know how to format JSON array so that it becomes more readable.

Actually, it is not enough just to make it look attractive with the help of a JSON formatter: one also wants to see whether the structure and data are correct. A syntax validation is necessary here as well.

To sum up, JSON formatting is a useful procedure when working with JSON texts. It can help a beginner to better understand how JSON structure works. At the same time, an experienced web developer will appreciate JSON pretty print feature when it is needed to beautify a JSON configuration file or an API response.

However, in case when JSON text is minified and you need to make it pretty, it should be noted that any JSON formatter will change only whitespaces, tabs, and line breaks, not actual data content. As a consequence, the validity check of the JSON text should necessarily follow the process of JSON text formatting in order to make sure that no error was made.