What is JavaScript formatting?
JavaScript formatting transforms compressed or inconsistently styled code into clean, readable output with proper indentation, consistent spacing, and logical line breaks. This tool handles ES6+ syntax, arrow functions, template literals, and destructuring. Everything runs client-side.
What a JavaScript formatter does
A JavaScript formatter parses your code and re-prints it with consistent indentation, spacing, and line breaks — one statement per line, braces aligned, and operators spaced. It turns minified or inconsistently styled code into something readable, which makes bugs easier to see and diffs easier to review.
Because it works on the parsed structure rather than plain text, it lays out functions, objects, arrays, and control flow consistently no matter how the input was written.
Formatting is cosmetic, minifying is a build step
Formatting changes only appearance; it never changes behaviour. Minifying is the opposite transformation used for production: it removes whitespace and comments and can shorten the code to reduce the amount downloaded by the browser. Write and read formatted code, then minify before you deploy.
Formatting as part of your workflow
Most teams run a formatter automatically so code style is never a manual decision — on save in the editor and again in a pre-commit hook or CI check. That keeps every file consistent and keeps code review focused on behaviour rather than spacing.
How to format JavaScript
- 1Paste your code. Paste a function, module, or snippet into the input.
- 2Click Format. The code is re-indented and spaced consistently. Use Minify to compress it for production.
- 3Copy the result. Copy the formatted or minified JavaScript back into your editor.
Examples
Format compressed code
Input
function add(a,b){return a+b}const x=add(1,2);Output
function add(a, b) {
return a + b;
}
const x = add(1, 2);Minify for production
Input
const sum = (a, b) => {
return a + b;
};Output
const sum=(a,b)=>a+b;
What formatting normalises
Style details a formatter makes consistent.
| Aspect | Effect |
|---|---|
| Indentation | Consistent 2- or 4-space nesting |
| Statements | One per line, with semicolons |
| Spacing | Spaces around operators and after commas |
| Braces | Placed and aligned consistently |
| Strings | Preserved as written |
Frequently asked questions
Does formatting change what my code does?+
No. A formatter only rearranges whitespace and punctuation style. The parsed program is identical, so behaviour is unchanged.
What is the difference between formatting and minifying?+
Formatting expands code for readability; minifying compresses it for delivery by removing whitespace and comments. They are opposite steps in the same workflow.
Does it support modern JavaScript?+
Yes — arrow functions, template literals, destructuring, classes, and other modern syntax are formatted correctly.
Will it fix syntax errors?+
No. Code must be parseable to be formatted. If there is a syntax error, fix it first, then format.
Is my code private?+
Yes. Formatting and minifying run entirely in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
Is it free?+
Yes — free with no sign-up or limits.
Does it work with JSX or TypeScript?+
It formats standard JavaScript reliably. JSX and TypeScript add extra syntax that a language-aware formatter in your build tool will handle most completely.