Top 5 Recommended JSON Formatting Tools for Mac Users
This article recommends five top JSON formatting tools for Mac users, including JSON Editor Online, Postman, JSONFormatter+, jq, and Paw, each with unique features and benefits for developers and testers.
JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data exchange format that is widely used in front-end and back-end data interactions due to its readability and ease of parsing. For Mac users, selecting an appropriate JSON formatting tool can significantly enhance development efficiency. Below are 5 recommended JSON formatting tools suitable for Mac users, catering to both developers and testers.
Tool Name | Supported Systems | Is Free | Is Open Source | Tool Address |
JSON Editor Online | macOS, Windows, Linux | Yes | No | http://jsoneditoronline.org/ |
Postman | macOS, Windows, Linux | Yes (some features require payment) | No | https://www.postman.com/ |
JSONFormatter+ | macOS | Yes | No | https://jsonformatter.org/ |
jq | macOS, Windows, Linux | Yes | Yes | https://stedolan.github.io/jq/ |
Paw | macOS | No | No | https://paw.cloud/ |
JSON Editor Online
Tool Name | JSON Editor Online |
Supported Systems | macOS, Windows, Linux |
Is Free | Yes |
Is Open Source | No |
Tool Address | http://jsoneditoronline.org/ |
JSON Editor Online is an online JSON editor that offers powerful JSON data visualization editing capabilities. Users can construct complex JSON structures through drag-and-drop, as well as paste JSON text directly for formatting and editing. This tool is particularly suitable for beginners as it aids in quickly understanding and learning the JSON format while correcting syntax errors with error prompts. Moreover, JSON Editor Online supports various output modes, including compact and pretty-print formats, allowing users to choose the display method based on their needs. As a web-based application, it requires no software installation, making it ideal for temporary JSON data processing.
Postman
Tool Name | Postman |
Supported Systems | macOS, Windows, Linux |
Is Free | Yes (some features require payment) |
Is Open Source | No |
Tool Address | https://www.postman.com/ |
Postman is a very popular API development tool that not only supports sending various types of HTTP requests but also integrates JSON formatting and validation functions. Postman has a user-friendly interface and simple operations, supporting multiple authentication methods such as Basic Auth, Digest Auth, OAuth, etc., which makes API testing simpler and more efficient. In addition to basic request sending and response viewing, Postman provides an environment variable manager, enabling users to easily switch between different testing environments. More notably, Postman offers team collaboration features, allowing multiple members to work on the same project, which is especially useful for large-scale projects. Although the core functions of Postman are provided free of charge, advanced features require a paid subscription plan.
JSONFormatter+
Tool Name | JSONFormatter+ |
Supported Systems | macOS |
Is Free | Yes |
Is Open Source | No |
Tool Address | https://jsonformatter.org/ |
JSONFormatter+ is a JSON formatting tool specifically designed for Mac users. It is known for its clean interface and high performance, capable of quickly converting messy JSON strings into readable formats. Besides the basic formatting function, JSONFormatter+ also provides the ability to validate JSON validity, offering clear error messages when there are syntax errors in the input JSON, helping users quickly locate issues. The application supports multiple theme styles, allowing users to adjust the interface color according to personal preferences. A distinctive feature of JSONFormatter+ is its support for file dragging and dropping, meaning you can directly drag JSON files into the application window for processing, greatly improving work efficiency. For developers who frequently handle local JSON files, this is a very practical choice.
jq
Tool Name | jq |
Supported Systems | macOS, Windows, Linux |
Is Free | Yes |
Is Open Source | Yes |
Tool Address | https://stedolan.github.io/jq/ |
jq is a lightweight and flexible command-line JSON processor suitable for scenarios requiring batch processing of JSON data. Unlike graphical tools, jq achieves powerful JSON data processing capabilities through a series of simple command-line options. It can be used for extracting, filtering, mapping, and transforming JSON data, making it ideal for automation scripts or integration into continuous integration environments. Due to its open-source nature, jq has an active community, from which users can obtain a wealth of resources and support from official documentation and community forums. The learning curve of jq is relatively steep, but for developers familiar with command-line operations, mastering it is not difficult. Once proficient, jq will become a powerful tool for handling JSON data, whether in daily development or data processing tasks.
Paw
Tool Name | Paw |
Supported Systems | macOS |
Is Free | No |
Is Open Source | No |
Tool Address | https://paw.cloud/ |
Paw is an API client specifically designed for Mac, offering rich features and an intuitive user experience. Similar to Postman, Paw not only sends various types of HTTP requests but also includes a powerful JSON formatting tool, making it easy for developers to view and debug data returned by APIs. One of Paw's highlights is its support for OAuth and other complex authentication mechanisms, simplifying the handling of secure APIs. Additionally, Paw provides a dynamic value engine, allowing users to use variables in requests, thus creating highly customizable request templates and significantly simplifying repetitive workflows. Although Paw is a commercial software, it offers a free trial period for small projects and individual users, allowing them to fully evaluate whether the software meets their needs. For professionals seeking high-quality API testing solutions, Paw is a worthy consideration.
Above are 5 recommended JSON formatting tools suitable for Mac users. Each tool has its unique advantages and applicable scenarios, and we hope these introductions help you find the one that best suits your needs.
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