With Python 2.6+ or 3 you can use the json.tool module:
echo '{"foo": "lorem", "bar": "ipsum"}' | python -m json.tool
or, if the JSON is in a file, you can do:
python -m json.tool my_json.json
if the JSON is from an internet source such as an API, you can use
curl http://my_url/ | python -m json.tool
For convenience in all of these cases you can make an alias:
alias prettyjson='python -m json.tool'
For even more convenience with a bit more typing to get it ready:
prettyjson_s() {
echo "$1" | python -m json.tool
}
prettyjson_f() {
python -m json.tool "$1"
}
prettyjson_w() {
curl "$1" | python -m json.tool
}
for all the above cases. You can put this in .bashrc and it will be available every time in shell. Invoke it like prettyjson_s '{"foo": "lorem", "bar": "ipsum"}'.
Note that as @pnd pointed out in the comments below, in Python 3.5+ the JSON object is no longer sorted by default. To sort, add the --sort-keys flag to the end. I.e. ... | python -m json.tool --sort-keys.
Another useful option might be --no-ensure-ascii which disables escaping of non-ASCII characters (new in version 3.9).
With Python 2.6+ or 3 you can use the json.tool module:
echo '{"foo": "lorem", "bar": "ipsum"}' | python -m json.tool
or, if the JSON is in a file, you can do:
python -m json.tool my_json.json
if the JSON is from an internet source such as an API, you can use
curl http://my_url/ | python -m json.tool
For convenience in all of these cases you can make an alias:
alias prettyjson='python -m json.tool'
For even more convenience with a bit more typing to get it ready:
prettyjson_s() {
echo "$1" | python -m json.tool
}
prettyjson_f() {
python -m json.tool "$1"
}
prettyjson_w() {
curl "$1" | python -m json.tool
}
for all the above cases. You can put this in .bashrc and it will be available every time in shell. Invoke it like prettyjson_s '{"foo": "lorem", "bar": "ipsum"}'.
Note that as @pnd pointed out in the comments below, in Python 3.5+ the JSON object is no longer sorted by default. To sort, add the --sort-keys flag to the end. I.e. ... | python -m json.tool --sort-keys.
Another useful option might be --no-ensure-ascii which disables escaping of non-ASCII characters (new in version 3.9).
You can use: jq
It's very simple to use and it works great! It can handle very large JSON structures, including streams. You can find their tutorials here.
Usage examples:
$ jq --color-output . file1.json file1.json | less -R
$ command_with_json_output | jq .
$ jq # stdin/"interactive" mode, just enter some JSON
$ jq <<< '{ "foo": "lorem", "bar": "ipsum" }'
{
"bar": "ipsum",
"foo": "lorem"
}
Or use jq with identity filter:
$ jq '.foo' <<< '{ "foo": "lorem", "bar": "ipsum" }'
"lorem"
Can anybody recommend a CLI tool that can format a Json file.
You could use this add-on for Firefox : JSONView
Normally when encountering a JSON document (content type "application/json"), Firefox simply prompts you to download the file. With the JSONView extension, JSON documents are shown in the browser similar to how XML documents are shown. The document is formatted, highlighted, and arrays and objects can be collapsed. Even if the JSON document contains errors, JSONView will still show the raw text.
jsonpretty for pretty-printing JSON at the command line.
sudo gem install jsonpretty
Use jq a very good JSON processor and from personal preference, its the best available in the market
for just pretty print, use
jq . file_name
If you don't want to install an additional package and have python available you can do:
python -m json.tool myfile.json
It also supports reading from STDIN