| name | json-differ |
| description | Compare two JSON blobs and view structural and value differences. Use when you need to compare API responses, config files, database records, or any two JSON objects. Triggers include "compare JSON", "JSON diff", "what changed", "JSON differences", "diff two objects", or any task involving comparing JSON data. |
json-differ
Browser-based JSON comparison tool. No backend. Instant diff.
When to use
- Comparing API response before and after a change
- Diffing config files across environments
- Checking what changed between two database record exports
- Auditing changes to JSON-based feature flags or settings
Quick Start
Open json-differ in browser. Paste JSON into both panels. Diff appears instantly.
URL Sharing
Any comparison can be shared as a URL. The full state (both JSON blobs, ignore rules, filter) encodes into the URL hash. Share the URL and the recipient sees the same comparison.
Features
Diff kinds
| Marker | Kind | Meaning |
|---|
| + | added | Key exists in right but not left |
| - | removed | Key exists in left but not right |
| ~ | changed | Key exists in both, value differs |
| (space) | unchanged | Same in both |
Ignore rules
Exclude volatile fields (timestamps, IDs) from the diff:
key_name:timestamp - ignore all keys named "timestamp" anywhere in the treeexact_path:user.id - ignore the specific path user.idglob_path:**.updatedAt - ignore any key matching the glob pattern
Export formats
- JSON Patch (RFC 6902): machine-applicable patch operations
- Markdown report: human-readable diff summary
- Raw diff JSON: internal diff node structure
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|
| Ctrl+Enter | Run comparison |
| Ctrl+S | Open share modal |
| Escape | Close modal |
Limitations
- Arrays compared by index, not by content (no LCS algorithm)
- URL hash max ~50KB of encoded JSON
- No syntax highlighting in the editor textarea (plain text input)
- No server-side storage: history is browser LocalStorage only
