JSON Formatter and Validator

WHAT IT DOES

JSON Formatter and Validator helps you work with JSON data by formatting it for readability, validating its structure, and providing syntax highlighting for easy scanning. Paste any JSON into the tool, or automatically detect JSON from the current page. The formatted output includes line numbers and colored syntax highlighting for keys, strings, numbers, booleans, and null values. The tool detects errors with line numbers, making it easy to fix malformed JSON. You can minify JSON to save space, copy formatted output to your clipboard, or download it as a .json file. The tool supports configurable indent size and maximum depth for large JSON structures.

WHERE IT RUNS

The extension runs entirely within your browser's local environment using the BotGentz framework. All JSON parsing, formatting, and validation occur on your machine without any network requests. No JSON data, formatting settings, or user activity is ever transmitted, uploaded, or stored externally. The tool works on any website and respects the browser's security boundaries, operating within the isolated extension sandbox. JSON processing uses the browser's native JSON.parse and JSON.stringify methods.

HOW TO USE

Click the extension toolbar icon to open the JSON Formatter and Validator panel. Enter or paste JSON into the input text area. Click "Format & Validate" to format the JSON and display it with syntax highlighting. Click "Detect from Page" to automatically find JSON in the current page's content (in pre/code tags or matching JSON patterns). Click "Minify" to compress the JSON into a single line. Click "Copy Output" to copy the formatted JSON to your clipboard. Click "Download" to save the JSON as a .json file. Toggle "Auto detect on page load" to automatically find JSON when the panel opens. Toggle "Show line numbers" to display line numbers in the formatted output. Select the "Indent Size" (2, 4, or 8 spaces) to control formatting spacing. Adjust the "Max Depth" to limit how deeply nested JSON is displayed (1-20). The panel shows a preview of the formatted JSON with syntax highlighting.

THE JSON FORMATTING ENGINE — WHY IT WORKS

Most JSON formatters rely on simple string replacements that break on complex nested structures. This tool uses a recursive tree traversal engine that parses the JSON into a JavaScript object, then walks through the object tree to generate formatted HTML output. The engine detects the type of each value (null, boolean, number, string, array, or object) and applies appropriate CSS classes for syntax highlighting. For arrays and objects, the engine recursively formats child elements with proper indentation and line breaks, respecting the configured indent size. A maximum depth limit prevents excessive nesting from slowing down rendering. The error detection uses try-catch around JSON.parse to capture syntax errors with line numbers. The minify function uses JSON.stringify with no spacing to produce compact output. This recursive approach ensures accurate, readable formatting for JSON of any size and complexity.

THE PANEL

The JSON Formatter and Validator panel is fully draggable by its title bar and remembers its position on screen per website. It snaps to the edges of your browser window for clean alignment. Collapse the panel to a compact icon strip using the minimize button, restoring it with a single click. Resize the panel by dragging any edge or corner; the input area and formatted output adjust proportionally. Press the Escape key to close the panel instantly. The panel maintains independent state for each browser tab, allowing you to work with JSON in multiple tabs simultaneously.

PLEASE NOTE

This extension requires the free BotGentz extension framework to be installed and enabled. The tool processes JSON using the browser's native JSON parser; large JSON objects may take a moment to render. The auto-detect feature looks for JSON patterns in page content; it may not detect all JSON data, especially if it's embedded in scripts or loaded dynamically. All JSON data is processed locally and is never transmitted, logged, or shared. The extension requests no network permissions and functions entirely offline. The source code is fully auditable and available for review.