Here are a few selected applications and extensions that will allow you to view and debug JSON documents in a desktop application like Notepad++ and inside a web browser.
JSON Viewer for Notepad++
JSMinNpp
JSMinNpp plugin for Notepad++ is a JSON data viewer and minifier. If you open a minified document, it can nicely format and indent the content making it easy on the eyes while reading. To minify content, use the JSMin option and it will minimize the code by removing comments and unnecessary whitespace from files. To access any of those options, go to Notepad++ menu > Plugins > JSMin.
JSONViewer Notepad++ plugin
JSONViewer Notepad++ plugin displays the selected JSON string in a tree view.
To install any of the above plugins, you can download the DLL file and move it the the application’s plugins folder, or search for the plugin in Notepad++’s plugin installer.
JSON Viewer for Google Chrome
JSONView
JSONView displays JSON documents in human readable format and also validates it using a client-side javascript implementation of JSONLint. You can customize extension’s theme via the built-in style editor.
The Missing JSON Inspector allows you to inspect JSON documents the way you inspect JavaScript objects in the console. Documents appear as if you’re viewing XML documents natively in the browser.
With a click on a button (visible at top right corner of document) you can switch between the original document and the JSON inspector. It supports keyboard navigation, collapsible tree view, and sort object keys.
JSON Viewer for Mozilla Firefox
Normally, when you open a JSON document in Firefox, you’re either prompted to download or it is displayed as plain text. These add-ons will allow you to view those files inside the browser:
JSONView for Firefox
This is the extension from which the Chrome version was ported. Just install the add-on, restart the browser and you are good to go. JSON documents are formatted, highlighted, and arrays and objects can be collapsed. Even if the JSON document contains errors, JSONView will still show the raw text.
JSONovich
JSONovich pretty-prints JSON content of various types directly in a Firefox tab. It uses the browser’s native JSON parser and a custom-built formatter to produce its output.
Online JSON Viewers
JSON Syntax Highlighting & Formater
JSON Syntax Highlighting & Formatter is an online app that’s also available as a Chrome App. You just have to paste in your JSON document into the app and instantly get the result in an easy-to-read format.
The app automatically detects invalid JSON documents and tells the user where the error is.
JSON Parser Online
In Json Parser Online, you can directly paste content or upload a document from your computer. By default it display documents in a three-pane view – original document, and String Parse and JS Eval. You can hide unwanted pane, and also change layout by switching to a side-by-side or top-bottom view.
The app can minify JSON files, and it supports syntax highlighting, and show JS Types and Array Index.
Desktop JSON Viewer
JSON Viewer
This is a free standalone JSON viewer for the Windows Operating System. It can also be used to remove blank lines and special characters.
