JSON Escape / Unescape
Escape JSON into a JSON-safe string literal, or unescape one back into readable JSON.
What is JSON Escaping?
JSON strings can only contain a limited set of characters literally — a double quote or a backslash inside a string has to be preceded by a backslash so the parser doesn't mistake it for the end of the string or the start of a new escape sequence. Escaping is the process of converting raw text into that safe, quoted form so it can be embedded as the value of a JSON string field, including when the value is itself a full JSON document.
Unescaping is the reverse: taking a JSON string literal — quotes, \n, \", and all — and decoding it back into the original, readable text.
This page lets you escape or unescape JSON entirely in your browser. Paste raw JSON to get a single-line, JSON-safe string, or paste an escaped string to decode it back — no signup, nothing sent to a server.
Why Escape or Unescape JSON?
Embedding JSON in JSON
When a JSON payload needs to be nested inside another JSON field as a string (e.g. a webhook body, a log entry), every quote and backslash must be escaped or the outer document breaks.
Config Files & Env Vars
Environment variables and some config formats only accept single-line string values. Escaping lets you pack a full JSON object into one of those without a parser choking on it.
Debugging Escaped Payloads
API logs and webhook debuggers often show JSON as an escaped string. Unescaping it instantly turns that wall of backslashes back into something you can actually read.
Source Code Literals
Pasting JSON into a source file as a string constant means escaping it first — this avoids doing it by hand and getting an escape sequence wrong.
Example
Raw JSON on the left, the same JSON escaped into a single JSON string literal on the right.
{"name":"John Doe","bio":"Loves \"JSON\" and\nnew lines","active":true}"{\"name\":\"John Doe\",\"bio\":\"Loves \\\"JSON\\\" and\\nnew lines\",\"active\":true}"Features
Escape JSON
Turn raw JSON or text into a single JSON-safe string literal, ready to embed in another JSON document.
Unescape JSON
Decode an escaped JSON string back into its original, readable form.
Upload a File
Drag and drop or upload a .json or .txt file instead of pasting.
Copy
Copy the escaped or unescaped output to your clipboard with a single click.
Download
Save the result as a standalone file for use in your project.