JSON Forge
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JSON Path Finder

Find the exact path to any value in a JSON document. Explore the tree, search for the value you need and copy its path with one click.

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Paste or type JSON on the left to explore it as a tree.
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How to find the path of a value

  1. Paste your JSON into the editor.
  2. Search for the key or value in the Tree tab, or expand the branches until you see it.
  3. Hover the row and press the link icon to copy its path, for example $.users[0].address.city.

Why you need the path

Reading a nested API response in code means addressing a value by its path: which keys to follow and which array indexes to use. Counting brackets by eye is error-prone, so selecting the value in a tree and copying its path avoids off-by-one mistakes.

From a path to a query

The copied path points at one specific value. To select many values at once, for example the name of every user, switch to the Query tab and replace the index with a wildcard: $.users[*].name.

What is JSON?

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight, text-based data format that is easy for people to read and for machines to parse. It is the de facto standard for web APIs, configuration files and data exchange between services. A JSON document is built from just six value types: objects, arrays, strings, numbers, booleans and null.

{
  "name": "Ada",
  "age": 36,
  "admin": true,
  "skills": ["math", "code"],
  "address": { "city": "London" },
  "manager": null
}

JSON is stricter than JavaScript object literals: keys and strings must use double quotes, trailing commas are not allowed and comments are not part of the specification (RFC 8259).

Why format JSON?

APIs usually return minified JSON on a single line, which is efficient for machines but unreadable for people. Formatting (also called pretty printing or beautifying) adds consistent indentation and line breaks so that you can scan the structure, spot mistakes and review changes. Minifying does the opposite and strips whitespace to reduce size.

Frequently asked questions

Which path format is copied?

A JavaScript-style accessor starting with $, such as $.users[0].name. Keys that are not valid identifiers use bracket notation, for example $["first name"].

Is my JSON uploaded to a server?

No. Parsing, validation, formatting, diffing and code generation all run inside your browser, using a Web Worker. Your data is never sent to any server, which makes the tool safe for API responses, configuration files and other sensitive payloads.

Does it work offline?

Yes, after the first visit. The editor and tools are stored in your browser, so you can use them without a connection. Only the TypeScript, CSS and HTML language workers used for extra highlighting in the Code tab are downloaded the first time you use them.

How large a JSON file can I open?

Files of 20 MB and more work. Parsing happens off the main thread and the tree view is virtualized, so only the rows you can see are rendered. The editor switches to a lighter mode for very large documents.

What is the difference between formatting and minifying JSON?

Formatting (pretty printing) adds line breaks and indentation so people can read the data. Minifying removes all optional whitespace to make the payload as small as possible for network transfer or storage. Both produce identical data.

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