JSON formatter, tree viewer, or CSV: which one do you need?

Decide whether to format and validate JSON, explore it as a tree, or flatten it into spreadsheet rows.

Three tools open the same JSON and answer different questions: whether it is valid, how its branches nest, and what it looks like as rows. Start from the question you are asking rather than the file name, and the right tool becomes obvious before you paste anything.

Format and validate when the JSON must be correct

Pick the formatter when the job is syntax: it pretty-prints, minifies and reports the first error with a line reference. Use it before committing a config or pasting a payload into an issue, because a successful format proves the document parses rather than merely looking plausible.

Explore a tree when the shape is the question

Pick the tree viewer when you need to understand nesting, not fix commas. It collapses branches, searches keys and values, and copies the path to the node you are looking at — useful when a response is technically valid but you cannot find the field you need.

Convert to CSV only when rows are the destination

Pick JSON to CSV when the data is an array of objects that belongs in a spreadsheet. Keys become columns and values containing commas are quoted; nested objects and mixed shapes may not survive as neat columns, so inspect the first rows before importing.

Tools covered in this guide

JSON Formatter & Validator
Pretty-print, minify, and validate JSON with line-precise errors.
JSON Tree Viewer
Browse JSON as a collapsible tree with search and path copy.
JSON to CSV
Flatten a JSON array of objects into spreadsheet-ready CSV.

Frequently asked questions about JSON tasks

How do I know my JSON is invalid?

The formatter refuses to pretty-print and points at the first offending line and character. A tree viewer may still render partial data, so trust the formatter for validity.

Which tool shows nested objects best?

The tree viewer, because collapsing branches keeps a deep response readable. The formatter shows the same nesting as indented text, which is better for copying than for exploring.

Can I turn JSON into a spreadsheet?

Yes, with JSON to CSV, but only clean arrays of objects convert predictably. Check the header row and the first records before relying on the export.