JSON Pretty Print

Pretty print or minify JSON data.

Pretty Print

Format JSON data with proper indentation

Indent size:

Length: 0 charactersSize: 0 bytesInvalid JSON

What is JSON?

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight text-based format for data exchange. It's easy for humans to read and write, and easy for machines to parse and generate, primarily used for data transmission between a server and web applications.

JSON is based on two structures: collections of name/value pairs (objects, records, structs, dictionaries, etc.) and ordered lists of values (arrays, vectors, lists, sequences, etc.).

Common Uses of JSON

API: API Communication: Used as a data format in web services such as REST APIs.
Config: Configuration Files: Many programs use JSON format for configuration files.
Storage: Data Storage: NoSQL databases (like MongoDB) store data in a format similar to JSON.
Serialization: Data Serialization: Converting objects to JSON for transmission over a network or storage.
Web Apps: Web Applications: Used for data exchange between client and server.

JSON Syntax

JSON Data Types

Number: Integer or floating-point (e.g., 42, 3.14)
String: Text wrapped in double quotes (e.g., "Hello, World!")
Boolean: true or false
Array: An ordered list of values in square brackets (e.g., [1, 2, 3])
Object: A collection of name/value pairs in curly braces (e.g., {"name": "John", "age": 30})
null: Represents no value

JSON Example

{
  "name": "John",
  "age": 30,
  "isStudent": false,
  "hobbies": [
    "reading",
    "travel",
    "programming"
  ],
  "address": {
    "city": "New York",
    "zipCode": "10001"
  }
}

Same JSON, Minified Version

{"name":"John","age":30,"isStudent":false,"hobbies":["reading","travel","programming"],"address":{"city":"New York","zipCode":"10001"}}

JSON vs Other Data Formats

JSON vs XML

JSON is more concise and lightweight than XML.
JSON natively supports arrays, while XML does not.
XML provides more complex features like schema validation.
JSON is directly compatible with JavaScript and more widely used on the web.

JSON vs YAML

YAML uses indentation to represent structure, making it more readable.
YAML supports comments, while JSON does not.
JSON is faster and simpler to parse.
YAML supports more complex data types and references.

JSON Usage Tips and Best Practices

Validation: Always validate your JSON. Even small syntax errors can cause parsing to fail completely.
Pretty Print: Use indented JSON during development for readability, and minified versions for deployment.
String Escaping: Special characters in strings (", \, newlines, etc.) must be properly escaped.
Date Handling: JSON doesn't natively support date types, so storing them as ISO 8601 formatted strings is common practice.
Object Keys: Always use strings for keys and choose concise, clear names.

JSON Schema

For validating complex JSON data, consider using JSON Schema, which defines the structure, data types, required fields, etc. of JSON data.

JSON Schema Official Site

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