JSON Formatter vs JSON Validator
Both tools parse JSON with the same engine (the browser's native JSON.parse, with a lenient
fallback for single-quoted input). The difference is what they do with a successful or failed parse.
| JSON Formatter | JSON Validator | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary job | Re-serialize valid JSON as pretty-printed or minified text | Report whether input is valid JSON, and where it breaks |
| On valid input | Outputs reformatted JSON (2/3/4-space indent, or minified, with optional deep key sorting) | Outputs "Valid JSON.", does not reformat your input |
| On invalid input | Shows an error; does not attempt repair (use JSON Repair for that) | Reports the exact line, column, and character offset of the first syntax error, when the parser provides one |
| Single-quoted JSON | Accepted (converted internally before formatting) | Accepted (converted internally before validating) |
| Use it when | You have valid-ish JSON and want it readable, minified, or key-sorted | You just need a yes/no answer plus a precise error location, without changing the text |
Which one do I want?
If you're pasting JSON to read it (collapsed API responses, minified config files) use the Formatter. If you're debugging why a JSON file fails to parse in your own code and want the exact line/column without altering the text, use the Validator. If the JSON is broken in ways neither tool will reformat (trailing commas, unquoted keys, Python literals), use JSON Repair first.
Related
JSON Formatter JSON Validator JSON Repair JSON Schema Validator ← All comparisons 