Common JSON Formatting Tools

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a widely used data format for data interchange. Properly formatting JSON is essential for readability, maintainability, and debugging. There are several tools available that can help format, validate, and beautify JSON data. Below are some common JSON formatting tools, along with their features and sample code where applicable.

1. Online JSON Formatters

Online JSON formatters are web-based tools that allow users to paste their JSON data and receive a formatted output. These tools often provide additional features such as validation and error highlighting.

Popular Online JSON Formatters:

2. Integrated Development Environment (IDE) Plugins

Many IDEs and text editors offer plugins or built-in features for formatting JSON. These tools can automatically format JSON files as you write or save them.

Examples of IDEs with JSON Formatting Support:

  • Visual Studio Code: VS Code has built-in support for JSON formatting. You can format a JSON file by right-clicking in the editor and selecting "Format Document" or by using the shortcut Shift + Alt + F.
  • Sublime Text: Sublime Text users can install the "Pretty JSON" package to format JSON data easily.
  • Atom: Atom has packages like "atom-beautify" that can format JSON and other file types.

3. Command-Line Tools

Command-line tools are useful for formatting JSON data directly from the terminal. These tools can be integrated into scripts and automated workflows.

Popular Command-Line Tools:

  • jq: A powerful command-line JSON processor that can format, filter, and manipulate JSON data.
  • json_pp: A Perl-based command-line tool that pretty-prints JSON data.

Example of Using jq to Format JSON:


# Format JSON from a file
jq . input.json

# Format JSON from a string
echo '{"name":"John","age":30}' | jq .

4. Programming Language Libraries

Most programming languages provide libraries for parsing and formatting JSON data. These libraries can be used to format JSON programmatically within applications.

Examples of JSON Formatting in Different Languages:

JavaScript:


const jsonData = { name: "John", age: 30 };
const formattedJSON = JSON.stringify(jsonData, null, 2); // Indent with 2 spaces
console.log(formattedJSON);

Python:


import json

data = {"name": "John", "age": 30}
formatted_json = json.dumps(data, indent=2)  # Indent with 2 spaces
print(formatted_json)

Java:


import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.ObjectMapper;

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception {
        ObjectMapper objectMapper = new ObjectMapper();
        String jsonString = "{\"name\":\"John\",\"age\":30}";
        Object json = objectMapper.readValue(jsonString, Object.class);
        String formattedJson = objectMapper.writerWithDefaultPrettyPrinter().writeValueAsString(json);
        System.out.println(formattedJson);
    }
}

5. Conclusion

Properly formatting JSON is essential for readability and maintainability. Whether you choose online tools, IDE plugins, command-line utilities, or programming language libraries, there are numerous options available to help you format and validate your JSON data effectively. By utilizing these tools, you can ensure that your JSON is well-structured and easy to work with.