Text and tree, side by side
The JSON on the left and the tree on the right, kept in step as you type. Or show just the tree, or just the text.
JSON,
laid out so you can read it.
JsonDesk is a native JSON viewer and editor for macOS. Drop a file on it or paste some JSON, and it's shown as a clean, colour-coded tree next to the text, ready to read, edit and save.
Coming soon to the Mac App Store
See what it does
Features
Paste it in, see what's there
API responses, config files and logs open as a tree you can read at a glance. It looks and works like its companion apps, MysqlDesk, GitDesk and MdDesk.
Colour-coded by type
Names, strings, numbers, booleans and nulls each have their own colour, with one line per property or item.
Drop to open
Drop files on the window or the Dock icon and each opens in its own tab. Any text file works, not just .json.
Paste to open
Copy some JSON anywhere and press ⌘V. It opens in a new tab, and one-line JSON is tidied up on the way in.
Edit and save
Type in the editor, or double-click a value or name in the tree. Right-click to add, delete or change a type. ⌘S saves.
Clear errors
Invalid JSON is reported with its line, column and a plain reason, such as Trailing comma before }, and marked in the editor.
Beautify and Minify
Lay the JSON out neatly or squeeze it onto one line. Choose two spaces, four spaces or tabs.
Your data, untouched
Formatting never changes the data. Property order, repeated names, numbers like 1.10 and escapes are kept exactly.
Filter the tree
Type part of a name or value and only the matching lines stay, highlighted, with the path that leads to them.
Copy a value or its path
Right-click any line to copy its value, its name or its path, such as $.items[0].title.
One undo history
⌘Z steps back through typing, formatting and edits made in the tree alike.
Big files, live reload
Large files are read in the background. If another program changes a file, it reloads, and unsaved edits are never overwritten.
The tree
See the shape before the detail
Collapse everything and the structure is plain: what's in there, and how much of it. Open only the parts you want.
- Collapsed arrays show their count, such as
[3], and objects how many properties they hold. - Show Types labels every value, and Show Indexes numbers the items in arrays.
- Expand or collapse everything in one click.
Errors
Told where, and told why
When the JSON isn't valid, JsonDesk gives the line, the column and the reason in plain words, and marks the spot in the editor.
- Plain reasons: a trailing comma, a missing quote, a bracket that is never closed.
- One click on the message takes you to the mistake.
- The tree stays put, showing the last valid version while you fix it.
Filter
Find the one value you're after
Type a few letters above the tree. Everything that doesn't match drops away, and what's left keeps its place in the structure.
- Names and values are both searched, whatever the capitals.
- Matches are highlighted, with the objects and arrays that lead to them.
- Edit in place: double-click a result to change it.
Keyboard shortcuts
Built for the keyboard
Everything in the toolbar has a shortcut.
Open file / new tab⌘O ⌘N
New tab from the clipboard⌘V ⇧⌘V
Save / Save As⌘S ⇧⌘S
Close tab⌘W
Beautify / Minify⇧⌘K ⇧⌘M
Split / Tree / Text⌥⌘1 ⌥⌘2 ⌥⌘3
Find in the editor⌘F
Find next / previous⌘G ⇧⌘G
Filter the tree⌥⌘F
Expand all / collapse all⌥⌘] ⌥⌘[
Show Types / Show Indexes⌥⌘T ⌥⌘I
Go to the error⇧⌘E
Undo / redo⌘Z ⇧⌘Z
Go to tab⌘1–9
Previous / next tab⇧⌘[ ⇧⌘]
Get it
Reading JSON in a minute
Get JsonDesk
JsonDesk is coming soon to the Mac App Store for £0.99. It's a one-off purchase, with no subscription.
Open or paste
Drop a file on the window or the Dock icon, press ⌘O, or copy some JSON and press ⌘V.
Read, edit, save
Collapse what you don't need, double-click a value to change it, and press ⌘S.
Editing in the tree: a change made in the tree lays the text out again with the indent chosen in Settings, so a file that was
all on one line becomes a neatly indented one. Minify puts it back on one line.
macOS 14 Sonoma or later
Apple Silicon or Intel
.json and any text file
Nothing else to install
Support
Help with JsonDesk
Most questions are answered here. For anything else, send an email and you'll get a reply from the developer.
It says "Invalid JSON"
Click the red message to jump to the mistake. The tree shows the last valid version until the text is fixed.
Turning a string into a number
A string stays a string whatever you type. Right-click the value and choose Change Type.
Changing the indent or text size
Open JsonDesk → Settings (⌘,) and choose the font size, and two spaces, four spaces or tabs.
The file changed elsewhere
JsonDesk reloads it for you. If you have unsaved edits, it asks whether to reload from disk or keep your version.