JSON unescape

Paste a JSON string such as "{\"user\":\"leo\"}", as found in logs, API payloads and database columns, and see the JSON inside, formatted. Escaped text copied without its quotes works too.

Unescape

The text inside the string shows below it as you type, detected and formatted: JSON, XML, or plain text with real line breaks. Use as text (or Decode) puts it in the editor; Ctrl+Z goes back.

Where you meet it

Stringified JSON turns up in log lines from structured loggers, in message queues whose body field holds JSON, in database columns stored as text, and in environment variables. Paste it whole, quotes included, or just the escaped text.

Errors explained

A quote that is not escaped, an escape JSON does not know, or a raw line break is pointed out with its position.

Private: nothing is uploaded

Formatting, checking and comparing all happen in your browser. Your documents are saved in the browser's own storage on this computer, not on a server, so they never leave your device.

With your permission, we count anonymous visits (which pages and tools are used), never what you type. See Privacy.

Questions

How do I unescape a JSON string?

Paste it in: the text inside appears below, already formatted if it is JSON. Press Decode to make it the editor's text.

Why not just remove the backslashes?

Escapes mean different things: \n is a line break, \t a tab and \\ a single backslash. Unescaping reads each one the way JSON defines it.

What if it was escaped twice?

Decode once, and the result is recognised as a JSON string again: decode it a second time.

Is my data uploaded anywhere?

Your documents aren't: everything runs in your browser, and they are saved on your computer, in the browser's storage for this site. With your permission we count anonymous visits, never their content.