🆓 Free · No sign-up · Runs in your browser

JSON Validator Free Online

Validate, format and minify JSON instantly. Paste or upload your JSON, get precise error locations, prettify with indentation, and minify for production — all in your browser.

No server uploads Live validation Format & minify Completely free
🔵 Validate JSON Free

Opens the free browser-based tool — no sign-up needed

FormFit Tools › JSON Validator Free Online

How to Validate JSON

  1. Click Validate JSON Free above to open the tool
  2. Paste your JSON into the text area — validation happens live as you type
  3. Click Validate for a full report with error line and column numbers
  4. Click Format / Prettify to add indentation and make it readable
  5. Click Minify to remove all whitespace for production use
  6. Click Copy to copy the output to clipboard

Common JSON Errors & How to Fix Them

ErrorWrongCorrect
Trailing comma{"a":1, "b":2,}{"a":1, "b":2}
Single quotes{'key': 'value'}{"key": "value"}
Unquoted key{key: "value"}{"key": "value"}
Missing comma{"a":1 "b":2}{"a":1, "b":2}
Undefined value{"a": undefined}{"a": null}
Comments{"a":1 // comment}{"a":1}

Format vs Minify — When to Use Each

Format / Prettify — adds indentation and line breaks so JSON is easy to read. Use when debugging an API response, reviewing a config file, or sharing JSON with a colleague.

{ "name": "FormFit", "free": true, "tools": ["JSON Validator", "XML Validator"] }

Minify — removes all whitespace to produce the smallest possible string. Use when sending JSON in an API request, embedding in production code, or reducing payload size.

{"name":"FormFit","free":true,"tools":["JSON Validator","XML Validator"]}

What the Validator Checks

When an error is found, the validator shows the exact line number and column so you can jump straight to the problem.

Is My JSON Data Safe?

Yes — completely. All validation uses JavaScript's built-in JSON.parse() running in your browser. Your JSON is never sent to any server. This makes it safe to paste API keys, database configs, authentication tokens and any other sensitive data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is JSON?
JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data format used to exchange data between systems. It is the standard format for REST APIs, config files, databases and web applications. JSON uses key-value pairs in objects ({}) and ordered lists in arrays ([]).
What makes JSON invalid?
The most common causes: trailing commas after the last item, single quotes instead of double quotes, unquoted keys, missing commas between items, comments (not supported in JSON), and using undefined instead of null.
Can I validate large JSON files?
Yes. You can upload a .json file directly using the Upload File button. There is no size limit since everything runs in your browser — the only constraint is your device's available RAM.
What is the difference between JSON and JSON5?
JSON5 is a superset of JSON that allows comments, trailing commas and single quotes. This validator checks standard JSON (RFC 8259) which is what APIs and most systems expect. JSON5 files will show errors in this validator — that is expected behaviour.
Does it work with API responses?
Yes. Copy the response body from your browser's DevTools, Postman or any API client, paste it here and validate instantly. The formatter makes nested API responses easy to read and navigate.
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