> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.iotools.cloud/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# HJSON Formatter & Validator

> Convert between HJSON and JSON, and validate as you go. HJSON is a human-friendly superset of JSON — no required quotes on keys, // and # comments, multiline ''' strings and trailing commas are all allowed. Format HJSON into pretty or minified JSON, or the reverse, with adjustable indentation, key sorting and quote style, plus a clear error message (with line/column) on malformed input.

[Try HJSON Formatter & Validator in your browser →](https://iotools.cloud/tool/hjson-formatter-validator/)



## OpenAPI

````yaml https://api.iotools.cloud/v1/openapi post /v1/tool/hjson-formatter-validator
openapi: 3.1.0
info:
  title: iotools.cloud API
  version: 1.0.0
  description: >-
    Run any iotools.cloud tool over HTTP.


    Authenticate with `Authorization: Bearer iot_live_…`.


    **Only `POST /v1/tool/{slug}` costs credits.** Every GET here — the catalog,
    a tool's schema, your balance — is free. A tool call is charged its own
    weight or your plan's per-call minimum, whichever is larger;
    `x-iotools-credit-cost` on each operation is quoted at the free-tier
    minimum, and `GET /v1/tools/list` returns the exact figure for your key.
    `GET /v1/me/credits` reports what you have left, and `GET /v1/me/usage`
    reports what it went on.


    Failures are RFC 9457 problem documents — branch on `code`.
servers:
  - url: https://api.iotools.cloud
    description: Production
security:
  - bearerAuth: []
tags:
  - name: Catalog
    description: Find a tool and read its contract. Free.
  - name: Converters
    description: >-
      Convert between formats, encodings, and units — Base64, CSV and JSON,
      timestamps, and more. Fast, free, and processed right in your browser.
  - name: Formatters
    description: >-
      Format, beautify, minify, and validate code and data — JSON, HTML, CSS,
      SQL, and regex. Clean up messy input in one click, with nothing to upload.
  - name: Generators
    description: >-
      Generate exactly what you need and on demand — passwords, UUIDs, QR codes,
      hashes, random numbers, and more. Secure, instant, and free.
  - name: Calculators
    description: >-
      Crunch the numbers fast — from everyday math to specialized conversions
      and unit work. Free online calculators that run entirely in your browser.
  - name: Editors
    description: >-
      Edit and transform text, code, and images with quick, focused editors that
      run entirely in your browser — nothing to install, and no sign-up needed.
  - name: Utilities
    description: >-
      Everyday developer and web utilities — DNS and IP lookups, redirect and
      certificate checkers, and other quick diagnostics. Free and
      privacy-friendly.
  - name: Account
    description: Your key's allowance, limits and usage history.
paths:
  /v1/tool/hjson-formatter-validator:
    post:
      tags:
        - Formatters
      summary: HJSON Formatter & Validator
      description: >-
        Convert between HJSON and JSON, and validate as you go. HJSON is a
        human-friendly superset of JSON — no required quotes on keys, // and #
        comments, multiline ''' strings and trailing commas are all allowed.
        Format HJSON into pretty or minified JSON, or the reverse, with
        adjustable indentation, key sorting and quote style, plus a clear error
        message (with line/column) on malformed input.


        [Try HJSON Formatter & Validator in your browser
        →](https://iotools.cloud/tool/hjson-formatter-validator/)
      operationId: run_hjson_formatter_validator
      requestBody:
        required: false
        content:
          application/json:
            schema:
              type: object
              properties:
                input:
                  type: string
                  description: HJSON or JSON Input
                mode:
                  enum:
                    - hjson-to-json
                    - json-to-hjson
                  description: Convert Direction
                indent:
                  enum:
                    - '2'
                    - '4'
                    - tab
                    - '0'
                  description: Indent
                sortKeys:
                  type: boolean
                  description: Sort object keys alphabetically
                quoteStyle:
                  enum:
                    - min
                    - keys
                    - all
                  description: Quote Style
              required: []
            examples:
              hjson_json:
                summary: HJSON → JSON
                value:
                  input: |-
                    {
                      # HJSON is a human-friendly superset of JSON.
                      name: iotools
                      version: 1.0.0
                      description: A friendly format for humans to write config.
                      // Comments, unquoted keys/strings, and trailing commas are all fine.
                      tags: [
                        json
                        config
                        "with spaces is fine too",
                      ]
                      server: {
                        host: localhost
                        port: 8080
                        debug: true
                      }
                      banner:
                        '''
                        Welcome to HJSON!
                        This is a multiline string.
                        '''
                    }
                  mode: hjson-to-json
                  indent: '2'
                  sortKeys: ''
                  quoteStyle: min
              json_hjson:
                summary: JSON → HJSON
                value:
                  input: |-
                    {
                      "name": "iotools",
                      "version": "1.0.0",
                      "tags": [
                        "json",
                        "config"
                      ],
                      "server": {
                        "host": "localhost",
                        "port": 8080,
                        "debug": true
                      }
                    }
                  mode: json-to-hjson
                  indent: '2'
                  sortKeys: ''
                  quoteStyle: min
              json_hjson_quote_all_keys_and_strings_sorted:
                summary: JSON → HJSON, quote all keys and strings, sorted
                value:
                  input: |-
                    {
                      "name": "iotools",
                      "version": "1.0.0",
                      "tags": [
                        "json",
                        "config"
                      ],
                      "server": {
                        "host": "localhost",
                        "port": 8080,
                        "debug": true
                      }
                    }
                  mode: json-to-hjson
                  indent: '2'
                  sortKeys: 'true'
                  quoteStyle: all
              invalid_input_unterminated_string:
                summary: Invalid input (unterminated string)
                value:
                  input: |-
                    {
                      name: "unterminated
                    }
                  mode: hjson-to-json
                  indent: '2'
                  sortKeys: ''
                  quoteStyle: min
      responses:
        '200':
          description: Tool output
          content:
            application/json:
              examples:
                hjson_json:
                  summary: HJSON → JSON
                  value:
                    tool: hjson-formatter-validator
                    tool_version: 1.0.1
                    outputs:
                      output: |-
                        {
                          "name": "iotools",
                          "version": "1.0.0",
                          "description": "A friendly format for humans to write config.",
                          "tags": [
                            "json",
                            "config",
                            "with spaces is fine too"
                          ],
                          "server": {
                            "host": "localhost",
                            "port": 8080,
                            "debug": true
                          },
                          "banner": "Welcome to HJSON!\nThis is a multiline string."
                        }
                      status: Valid — 6 top-level keys · 326 chars
                    credits_used: 3
                    credits_remaining: null
                json_hjson:
                  summary: JSON → HJSON
                  value:
                    tool: hjson-formatter-validator
                    tool_version: 1.0.1
                    outputs:
                      output: |-
                        {
                          name: iotools
                          version: 1.0.0
                          tags:
                          [
                            json
                            config
                          ]
                          server:
                          {
                            host: localhost
                            port: 8080
                            debug: true
                          }
                        }
                      status: Valid — 4 top-level keys · 141 chars
                    credits_used: 3
                    credits_remaining: null
                json_hjson_quote_all_keys_and_strings_sorted:
                  summary: JSON → HJSON, quote all keys and strings, sorted
                  value:
                    tool: hjson-formatter-validator
                    tool_version: 1.0.1
                    outputs:
                      output: |-
                        {
                          "name": "iotools"
                          "server":
                          {
                            "debug": true
                            "host": "localhost"
                            "port": 8080
                          }
                          "tags":
                          [
                            "json"
                            "config"
                          ]
                          "version": "1.0.0"
                        }
                      status: Valid — 4 top-level keys · 165 chars
                    credits_used: 3
                    credits_remaining: null
                invalid_input_unterminated_string:
                  summary: Invalid input (unterminated string)
                  value:
                    tool: hjson-formatter-validator
                    tool_version: 1.0.1
                    outputs:
                      output: ''
                      status: >-
                        Invalid: Bad string containing newline at line 3,0 >>>}
                        ...
                    credits_used: 3
                    credits_remaining: null
              schema:
                type: object
                required:
                  - tool
                  - tool_version
                  - outputs
                  - credits_used
                  - credits_remaining
                properties:
                  outputs:
                    type: object
                    properties:
                      output:
                        type: string
                        description: Output
                      status:
                        type: string
                        description: Validation Status
                  tool:
                    type: string
                    description: The tool's slug, echoing the {slug} in the request path.
                  tool_version:
                    type: string
                    description: Output-contract version for this tool.
                  credits_used:
                    type: integer
                    description: >-
                      Credits this call consumed, after any settlement refund. 0
                      when metering is disabled.
                  credits_remaining:
                    type:
                      - integer
                      - 'null'
                    description: >-
                      Credits left in the current monthly allowance, or null
                      when metering is disabled.
                  request_id:
                    type: string
                    description: Correlation id, also sent as x-request-id.
        '400':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/ValidationError'
        '401':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/Unauthorized'
        '402':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/InsufficientCredits'
        '403':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/ToolNotAllowed'
        '404':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/ToolNotFound'
        '413':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/PayloadTooLarge'
        '429':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/RateLimited'
        '500':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/ToolFailed'
        '503':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/ToolDisabled'
      security:
        - bearerAuth: []
components:
  responses:
    ValidationError:
      description: Invalid request.
      content:
        application/problem+json:
          schema:
            type: object
            description: >-
              RFC 9457 problem document, served as application/problem+json.
              Branch on `code`; `title` is human prose and may be reworded
              without notice. Some failures add extension members — `fields` on
              validation errors, `retry_after` on 429s,
              `credits_used`/`credits_remaining` on billing-adjacent failures —
              documented on the responses that carry them.
            required:
              - type
              - title
              - status
              - code
            properties:
              type:
                type: string
                format: uri
                description: Stable documentation URI for this failure.
                examples:
                  - https://iotools.cloud/docs/errors/validation_error
              title:
                type: string
                description: Short human-readable summary of the failure.
                examples:
                  - Invalid request
              status:
                type: integer
                description: HTTP status code, matching the response's own status.
              code:
                type: string
                description: >-
                  Stable machine-readable error code — branch on this, not
                  `title`.
                enum:
                  - validation_error
              detail:
                type: string
                description: Human explanation of this occurrence.
              request_id:
                type: string
                description: Correlation id, also sent as x-request-id.
              fields:
                type:
                  - object
                  - string
                additionalProperties:
                  type: string
                description: >-
                  What failed: a map of field name → message. Absent when the
                  body itself is malformed; a single string when the failure
                  isn't tied to one field.
          example:
            type: https://iotools.cloud/docs/errors/validation_error
            title: Invalid request
            status: 400
            code: validation_error
            detail: One or more inputs are invalid — see `fields`.
            request_id: e4042b29-8f1e-4c7a-9b52-6f0d1a3c7e11
            fields:
              inputString: Required
    Unauthorized:
      description: Missing or invalid API key.
      content:
        application/problem+json:
          schema:
            type: object
            description: >-
              RFC 9457 problem document, served as application/problem+json.
              Branch on `code`; `title` is human prose and may be reworded
              without notice. Some failures add extension members — `fields` on
              validation errors, `retry_after` on 429s,
              `credits_used`/`credits_remaining` on billing-adjacent failures —
              documented on the responses that carry them.
            required:
              - type
              - title
              - status
              - code
            properties:
              type:
                type: string
                format: uri
                description: Stable documentation URI for this failure.
                examples:
                  - https://iotools.cloud/docs/errors/invalid_api_key
              title:
                type: string
                description: Short human-readable summary of the failure.
                examples:
                  - Invalid API key
              status:
                type: integer
                description: HTTP status code, matching the response's own status.
              code:
                type: string
                description: >-
                  Stable machine-readable error code — branch on this, not
                  `title`.
                enum:
                  - invalid_api_key
              detail:
                type: string
                description: Human explanation of this occurrence.
              request_id:
                type: string
                description: Correlation id, also sent as x-request-id.
          example:
            type: https://iotools.cloud/docs/errors/invalid_api_key
            title: Invalid API key
            status: 401
            code: invalid_api_key
            detail: 'Provide ''Authorization: Bearer <key>''.'
            request_id: e4042b29-8f1e-4c7a-9b52-6f0d1a3c7e11
    InsufficientCredits:
      description: Monthly credit allowance exhausted.
      content:
        application/problem+json:
          schema:
            type: object
            description: >-
              RFC 9457 problem document, served as application/problem+json.
              Branch on `code`; `title` is human prose and may be reworded
              without notice. Some failures add extension members — `fields` on
              validation errors, `retry_after` on 429s,
              `credits_used`/`credits_remaining` on billing-adjacent failures —
              documented on the responses that carry them.
            required:
              - type
              - title
              - status
              - code
            properties:
              type:
                type: string
                format: uri
                description: Stable documentation URI for this failure.
                examples:
                  - https://iotools.cloud/docs/errors/insufficient_credits
              title:
                type: string
                description: Short human-readable summary of the failure.
                examples:
                  - Insufficient credits
              status:
                type: integer
                description: HTTP status code, matching the response's own status.
              code:
                type: string
                description: >-
                  Stable machine-readable error code — branch on this, not
                  `title`.
                enum:
                  - insufficient_credits
              detail:
                type: string
                description: Human explanation of this occurrence.
              request_id:
                type: string
                description: Correlation id, also sent as x-request-id.
              credits_used:
                type: integer
                description: Always 0 — a refused call charges nothing.
              credits_remaining:
                type: integer
                description: Credits left in the allowance — fewer than this call costs.
          example:
            type: https://iotools.cloud/docs/errors/insufficient_credits
            title: Insufficient credits
            status: 402
            code: insufficient_credits
            detail: This call costs 1 credit and 0 remain in this month's allowance.
            request_id: e4042b29-8f1e-4c7a-9b52-6f0d1a3c7e11
            credits_used: 0
            credits_remaining: 0
    ToolNotAllowed:
      description: Tool exists but has no API surface.
      content:
        application/problem+json:
          schema:
            type: object
            description: >-
              RFC 9457 problem document, served as application/problem+json.
              Branch on `code`; `title` is human prose and may be reworded
              without notice. Some failures add extension members — `fields` on
              validation errors, `retry_after` on 429s,
              `credits_used`/`credits_remaining` on billing-adjacent failures —
              documented on the responses that carry them.
            required:
              - type
              - title
              - status
              - code
            properties:
              type:
                type: string
                format: uri
                description: Stable documentation URI for this failure.
                examples:
                  - https://iotools.cloud/docs/errors/tool_not_allowed
              title:
                type: string
                description: Short human-readable summary of the failure.
                examples:
                  - Tool not available over the API
              status:
                type: integer
                description: HTTP status code, matching the response's own status.
              code:
                type: string
                description: >-
                  Stable machine-readable error code — branch on this, not
                  `title`.
                enum:
                  - tool_not_allowed
              detail:
                type: string
                description: Human explanation of this occurrence.
              request_id:
                type: string
                description: Correlation id, also sent as x-request-id.
          example:
            type: https://iotools.cloud/docs/errors/tool_not_allowed
            title: Tool not available over the API
            status: 403
            code: tool_not_allowed
            detail: >-
              "Background Remover" is available on iotools.cloud but has no API
              endpoint.
            request_id: e4042b29-8f1e-4c7a-9b52-6f0d1a3c7e11
    ToolNotFound:
      description: No such tool.
      content:
        application/problem+json:
          schema:
            type: object
            description: >-
              RFC 9457 problem document, served as application/problem+json.
              Branch on `code`; `title` is human prose and may be reworded
              without notice. Some failures add extension members — `fields` on
              validation errors, `retry_after` on 429s,
              `credits_used`/`credits_remaining` on billing-adjacent failures —
              documented on the responses that carry them.
            required:
              - type
              - title
              - status
              - code
            properties:
              type:
                type: string
                format: uri
                description: Stable documentation URI for this failure.
                examples:
                  - https://iotools.cloud/docs/errors/tool_not_found
              title:
                type: string
                description: Short human-readable summary of the failure.
                examples:
                  - Tool not found
              status:
                type: integer
                description: HTTP status code, matching the response's own status.
              code:
                type: string
                description: >-
                  Stable machine-readable error code — branch on this, not
                  `title`.
                enum:
                  - tool_not_found
              detail:
                type: string
                description: Human explanation of this occurrence.
              request_id:
                type: string
                description: Correlation id, also sent as x-request-id.
          example:
            type: https://iotools.cloud/docs/errors/tool_not_found
            title: Tool not found
            status: 404
            code: tool_not_found
            detail: No tool with that slug. See GET /v1/tools/list.
            request_id: e4042b29-8f1e-4c7a-9b52-6f0d1a3c7e11
    PayloadTooLarge:
      description: Body too large.
      content:
        application/problem+json:
          schema:
            type: object
            description: >-
              RFC 9457 problem document, served as application/problem+json.
              Branch on `code`; `title` is human prose and may be reworded
              without notice. Some failures add extension members — `fields` on
              validation errors, `retry_after` on 429s,
              `credits_used`/`credits_remaining` on billing-adjacent failures —
              documented on the responses that carry them.
            required:
              - type
              - title
              - status
              - code
            properties:
              type:
                type: string
                format: uri
                description: Stable documentation URI for this failure.
                examples:
                  - https://iotools.cloud/docs/errors/payload_too_large
              title:
                type: string
                description: Short human-readable summary of the failure.
                examples:
                  - Payload too large
              status:
                type: integer
                description: HTTP status code, matching the response's own status.
              code:
                type: string
                description: >-
                  Stable machine-readable error code — branch on this, not
                  `title`.
                enum:
                  - payload_too_large
              detail:
                type: string
                description: Human explanation of this occurrence.
              request_id:
                type: string
                description: Correlation id, also sent as x-request-id.
          example:
            type: https://iotools.cloud/docs/errors/payload_too_large
            title: Payload too large
            status: 413
            code: payload_too_large
            detail: Request body exceeds this tool's size limit.
            request_id: e4042b29-8f1e-4c7a-9b52-6f0d1a3c7e11
    RateLimited:
      description: Per-minute rate limit exceeded.
      headers:
        Retry-After:
          description: Seconds to wait before retrying (RFC 9110 delta-seconds).
          schema:
            type: integer
      content:
        application/problem+json:
          schema:
            type: object
            description: >-
              RFC 9457 problem document, served as application/problem+json.
              Branch on `code`; `title` is human prose and may be reworded
              without notice. Some failures add extension members — `fields` on
              validation errors, `retry_after` on 429s,
              `credits_used`/`credits_remaining` on billing-adjacent failures —
              documented on the responses that carry them.
            required:
              - type
              - title
              - status
              - code
            properties:
              type:
                type: string
                format: uri
                description: Stable documentation URI for this failure.
                examples:
                  - https://iotools.cloud/docs/errors/rate_limited
              title:
                type: string
                description: Short human-readable summary of the failure.
                examples:
                  - Rate limit exceeded
              status:
                type: integer
                description: HTTP status code, matching the response's own status.
              code:
                type: string
                description: >-
                  Stable machine-readable error code — branch on this, not
                  `title`.
                enum:
                  - rate_limited
              detail:
                type: string
                description: Human explanation of this occurrence.
              request_id:
                type: string
                description: Correlation id, also sent as x-request-id.
              retry_after:
                type: integer
                description: >-
                  Seconds until the window resets — the same value as the
                  `Retry-After` header.
          example:
            type: https://iotools.cloud/docs/errors/rate_limited
            title: Rate limit exceeded
            status: 429
            code: rate_limited
            detail: Too many requests. Retry in 30s.
            request_id: e4042b29-8f1e-4c7a-9b52-6f0d1a3c7e11
            retry_after: 30
    ToolFailed:
      description: Tool failed to run.
      content:
        application/problem+json:
          schema:
            type: object
            description: >-
              RFC 9457 problem document, served as application/problem+json.
              Branch on `code`; `title` is human prose and may be reworded
              without notice. Some failures add extension members — `fields` on
              validation errors, `retry_after` on 429s,
              `credits_used`/`credits_remaining` on billing-adjacent failures —
              documented on the responses that carry them.
            required:
              - type
              - title
              - status
              - code
            properties:
              type:
                type: string
                format: uri
                description: Stable documentation URI for this failure.
                examples:
                  - https://iotools.cloud/docs/errors/processing_error
                  - https://iotools.cloud/docs/errors/internal_error
              title:
                type: string
                description: Short human-readable summary of the failure.
                examples:
                  - Tool failed to run
                  - Internal error
              status:
                type: integer
                description: HTTP status code, matching the response's own status.
              code:
                type: string
                description: >-
                  Stable machine-readable error code — branch on this, not
                  `title`.
                enum:
                  - processing_error
                  - internal_error
              detail:
                type: string
                description: Human explanation of this occurrence.
              request_id:
                type: string
                description: Correlation id, also sent as x-request-id.
              credits_used:
                type: integer
                description: >-
                  Always 0 on `processing_error` — a failed run is refunded,
                  floor included.
              credits_remaining:
                type: integer
                description: >-
                  Credits left after the refund. Absent when metering is
                  disabled.
          example:
            type: https://iotools.cloud/docs/errors/processing_error
            title: Tool failed to run
            status: 500
            code: processing_error
            detail: The tool failed to run. Please try again.
            request_id: e4042b29-8f1e-4c7a-9b52-6f0d1a3c7e11
            credits_used: 0
    ToolDisabled:
      description: Tool temporarily disabled.
      content:
        application/problem+json:
          schema:
            type: object
            description: >-
              RFC 9457 problem document, served as application/problem+json.
              Branch on `code`; `title` is human prose and may be reworded
              without notice. Some failures add extension members — `fields` on
              validation errors, `retry_after` on 429s,
              `credits_used`/`credits_remaining` on billing-adjacent failures —
              documented on the responses that carry them.
            required:
              - type
              - title
              - status
              - code
            properties:
              type:
                type: string
                format: uri
                description: Stable documentation URI for this failure.
                examples:
                  - https://iotools.cloud/docs/errors/tool_disabled
                  - https://iotools.cloud/docs/errors/api_unconfigured
              title:
                type: string
                description: Short human-readable summary of the failure.
                examples:
                  - Tool temporarily disabled
                  - API not configured
              status:
                type: integer
                description: HTTP status code, matching the response's own status.
              code:
                type: string
                description: >-
                  Stable machine-readable error code — branch on this, not
                  `title`.
                enum:
                  - tool_disabled
                  - api_unconfigured
              detail:
                type: string
                description: Human explanation of this occurrence.
              request_id:
                type: string
                description: Correlation id, also sent as x-request-id.
          example:
            type: https://iotools.cloud/docs/errors/tool_disabled
            title: Tool temporarily disabled
            status: 503
            code: tool_disabled
            detail: This tool is temporarily unavailable. Try again shortly.
            request_id: e4042b29-8f1e-4c7a-9b52-6f0d1a3c7e11
  securitySchemes:
    bearerAuth:
      type: http
      scheme: bearer
      bearerFormat: iot_live_…

````