Format and Beautify Minified JSON on Android

JSON files come in different shapes. Sometimes they're neatly formatted with proper indentation. Other times, they're compressed into a single, unreadable line. If you've ever tried to inspect a file and been met with a wall of text, you know the frustration.

This guide explains the different JSON formats you might encounter, why they matter, and how to convert them into something readable on your Android device.

Understanding JSON Formats

Pretty-Printed JSON

Pretty-printed (or "beautified") JSON uses indentation and line breaks to make the structure visible at a glance:

{
  "name": "John Doe",
  "email": "john@example.com",
  "orders": [
    { "id": 1001, "total": 59.99 },
    { "id": 1002, "total": 124.50 }
  ]
}

This format is designed for human readability. You can immediately see the hierarchy, spot nested objects, and understand the data structure.

Minified JSON

Minified JSON removes all unnecessary whitespace to reduce file size:

{"name":"John Doe","email":"john@example.com","orders":[{"id":1001,"total":59.99},{"id":1002,"total":124.50}]}

The same data, but compressed into a single line. This format is common in:

• API responses: Servers send minified JSON to reduce bandwidth
• Database exports: Compact storage saves space
• Production builds: Web applications often minify JSON configurations

While efficient for machines, minified JSON is nearly impossible for humans to read or debug.

NDJSON (Newline-Delimited JSON)

NDJSON (also called JSON Lines or JSONL) is a format where each line contains a separate, complete JSON object:

{"event":"login","user":"alice","timestamp":"2026-01-10T14:30:00Z"}
{"event":"purchase","user":"alice","amount":49.99}
{"event":"logout","user":"alice","timestamp":"2026-01-10T15:45:00Z"}

Note that this is not a JSON array. Each line stands alone. This format is popular for:

• Log files: Easy to append new entries without rewriting the file
• Streaming data: Process records one at a time without loading everything
• Large datasets: BigQuery, machine learning pipelines, and analytics tools often use NDJSON

The trade-off is that NDJSON files aren't valid JSON as a whole, so standard JSON viewers may not handle them well.

Why Beautify JSON?

Converting minified JSON to pretty-printed format makes it:

• Readable: See the structure at a glance
• Debuggable: Find specific values or spot errors quickly
• Shareable: Send formatted snippets to colleagues
• Analyzable: Understand unfamiliar data structures

For NDJSON, converting to a proper JSON array with pretty-printing makes the entire dataset browsable and easier to work with.

Finding the Right Tool

Several Android apps can format JSON, each with different strengths. When choosing a tool, consider:

• File size limits: Can it handle your file without crashing?
• Format support: Does it recognize NDJSON, or only standard JSON?
• Privacy: Does it process locally or upload to external servers?
• Output options: Can you save the result to a file?

A quick search on the Play Store will show various options. Look for apps that explicitly mention support for large files and offline processing if you work with sensitive data.

How Giant JSON Viewer Handles Formatting

Giant JSON Viewer takes two approaches to JSON beautification:

Automatic Formatting While Viewing

When you open any JSON file in Giant JSON Viewer, it's displayed in a readable, pretty-printed format. The original file remains untouched. Whether your source file is minified or NDJSON, the viewer presents it with proper indentation and structure.

This means you don't need to think about formatting just to inspect a file.

Dedicated Prettify Tool

For cases where you need a formatted output file, the app includes a standalone tool:

1. Open the Tools menu
2. Select Just Make Pretty
3. Choose your input file (minified JSON or NDJSON)
4. Select the output location
5. Tap Prettify

The tool:

• Auto-detects the format: Handles both minified JSON and NDJSON automatically
• Streams the data: Uses constant memory regardless of file size
• Creates a new file: Your original remains unchanged
• Converts NDJSON to array: Wraps individual objects into a proper JSON array structure

Summary

Format	Description	Human Readable?
Pretty JSON	Indented with line breaks	Yes
Minified JSON	All whitespace removed	No
NDJSON	One JSON object per line	Partially

If you're working with minified or NDJSON files, converting them to pretty-printed format is often the first step to understanding the data. Whether you need to just view the content or save a formatted copy, having the right tool makes the difference.