What is JSON key sorting?

JSON key sorting is the process of organizing object properties in alphabetical order within a JSON structure. While the JSON specification doesn't require keys to be in any particular order, sorting them alphabetically makes JSON data more readable, easier to compare, and helps maintain consistency across files. This is especially useful when working with configuration files, API responses, or version-controlled JSON data where you want to minimize unnecessary differences between versions.

Tool Description

JSON Key Sorter is a free online tool that automatically sorts all keys in your JSON objects alphabetically. You can choose between ascending (A-Z) or descending (Z-A) order. The tool processes your entire JSON structure recursively, sorting keys at every nesting level while preserving the original data, arrays, and values exactly as they are.

Features

  • Sort JSON keys in ascending (A-Z) or descending (Z-A) alphabetical order
  • Recursive sorting - processes all nested objects automatically
  • Preserves data types, arrays, and values
  • Maintains JSON structure and formatting
  • Real-time sorting with syntax highlighting
  • Error detection for invalid JSON input
  • Pretty-printed output for easy readability

Use Cases

  • Standardize JSON configuration files across a project
  • Make JSON diffs more meaningful in version control systems
  • Improve readability of complex JSON structures
  • Prepare JSON data for documentation or presentation
  • Compare two JSON files more easily by normalizing key order
  • Clean up JSON exports from databases or APIs
  • Maintain consistent JSON formatting in team environments