JSON Formatter (& Validator!)

The JSON Formatter was created to help with debugging. As data expressed as JSON is often written without line breaks to save space, it became extremely difficult to actually read it. This tool hopes to solve the problem by formatting the JSON into data that is easily readable by human beings.

Let me know how I can improve it by sending an email my way.

December 2008

Added a Select All button as requested and fixed url validation and   output bugs.

November 2008

Released a completely rewritten version of the JSON Formatter. Many improvements and new features such as multiple results, templates, more robust parser, improved error messages, validation, and resizable textareas. Thanks to everyone for their suggestions!

To learn more about JSON check out some of the links below

• JSON.Com
• json.org
• Wikipedia: JSON

Following the description of JSON set out by Douglas Crockford of json.org in RFC 4627, a validation scheme has been implemented. If you experience any problems, please alert me.

In an attempt to appease everyone's tastes in how their JSON is format, templates are available. You can also build your own custom template if you like by following the specs below.

Each template is made up of 27 strings, which are seperated by the "|" pipe character. Each of these strings can contain <br> & <span> tags for formatting.

As JSON can be nested, the correct indentation can be achieved by placing an "[INDENT]" marker in the string. It will call the indent string (1) the correct number of times to achieve proper nesting. The indent is incremented after an opening objects/arrays brace/bracket, and decremented before a closing objects/arrays brace/bracket.

Below is an explination of what each string represents.

1. Indent
2. Before a colon
3. After a colon
4. Before a comma
5. After a comma
6. Before a object key
7. After a object key
8. Before an object value
9. After an object value
10. Before a array value
11. After a array value
12. Before an array value object opening brace
13. After an array value object opening brace
14. Before an array value object closing brace
15. After an array value object closing brace
16. Before an object value object opening brace
17. After an object value object opening brace
18. Before an object value object closing brace
19. After an object value object closing brace
20. Before an array value array opening bracket
21. After an array value array opening bracket
22. Before an array value array closing bracket
23. After an array value array closing bracket
24. Before an object value array opening bracket
25. After an object value array opening bracket
26. Before an object value array closing bracket
27. After an object value array closing bracket

If you have any template that you would like added, shoot me an email.

The backend is built with PHP, the frontend was built to XHTML/CSS standards with assistance from FAMFAMFAM Silk Icons, 960 Grid System, Prototype, & TextAreaResizer.

This site has been tested on Firefox 3, Chrome 0.3, IE 6, IE 7 and Opera 9.