What is JSON? Viewer, Beautifier & Online Formatter Guide

What is JSON?

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data format used for storing and exchanging information between applications. It is widely used in APIs, databases, and web development because it is easy to read and write.

Data format: text-based, language independent
File extension: .json
MIME type: application/json

How to Open JSON Files

Many users search for how to open JSON file or how to open .json files.
You can open JSON with:

Any text editor (Notepad, VS Code, Sublime)
Browser-based tools like JSON Viewer or JSON Editor Online
Programming languages such as JavaScript (JSON.parse) or Python (json.load)

JSON Structure and Examples

A JSON object is made of key–value pairs.
Example JSON file:

{
  "name": "Alice",
  "age": 25,
  "skills": ["JavaScript", "Python", "SQL"]
}

Objects are wrapped in
Arrays are wrapped in [ ]
Keys are always strings

Why Use a JSON Viewer or Beautifier?

When JSON data is compressed into a single line, it becomes hard to read. A JSON Beautifier or Pretty Print JSON tool reformats it with indentation, making it easier to understand.

With a JSON Viewer Online, you can:

Format & beautify JSON data
Collapse/expand objects and arrays
Validate JSON syntax and fix errors
Compare JSON objects side by side
Convert JSON to CSV or table

Validate and Verify JSON

Invalid JSON can break applications. Use an online JSON validator to:

Check if the JSON structure is correct
Highlight missing commas, brackets, or quotes
Ensure data is API-ready

Common JSON Use Cases

Web APIs: REST and GraphQL return JSON responses
Databases: NoSQL databases (like MongoDB) store data in JSON-like format
Configuration files: Many apps use .json for settings

Summary

JSON is the universal data format for modern applications. With tools like JSON Viewer, Beautifier, and Online Validator, you can easily open, edit, validate, and compare JSON files.

Try our free JSON Online Formatter above to quickly handle any JSON data.

JSON Formatter