Introducing jsonValidate: A Modern JSON Formatter and Validator

Today I'm excited to share a project I've been working on: jsonValidate, a clean and user-friendly tool for validating and formatting JSON data.

Why I Built This

As developers, we deal with JSON constantly - in APIs, configuration files, and data storage. While there are many JSON validators out there, I wanted something that was:

1. Sleek and minimal - just the features you need, nothing more
2. Developer-friendly with proper syntax highlighting
3. Clear about errors - not just telling you something's wrong, but helping you fix it
4. Easy to use without requiring any sign-up or installation

Key Features

🔍 Smart Error Detection

The validator doesn't just tell you there's an error - it highlights the exact line where the problem occurs and even suggests where the issue might be coming from (like a missing comma on the previous line). The error pointer shows you exactly where things went wrong.

📝 Line Numbers

Line numbers are displayed alongside your code for easier reference, especially useful when debugging longer JSON documents.

🔄 Multiple Formatting Options

• Format and Validate - prettifies your JSON with proper indentation while checking for errors
• Compress - removes all whitespace for a minified version (perfect for production use)
• Copy to Clipboard - quickly grab your formatted JSON to paste elsewhere

🌙 Dark Mode Interface

The dark Dracula-inspired theme is easy on the eyes during those late-night coding sessions.

Technical Implementation

The project is built entirely with vanilla JavaScript, HTML, and CSS - no frameworks or dependencies required. Some technical highlights:

• Error detection that intelligently identifies common JSON formatting issues
• Smart line highlighting that adjusts to the editor's scroll position
• Responsive textarea that automatically adjusts to content size

Try It Yourself

You can check out jsonValidate on GitHub or use it directly in your browser at t.sys.re/json.

If you have suggestions or run into any issues, feel free to open an issue on GitHub or submit a pull request.

Happy JSON formatting!