JSON Escape / Unescape
Escape and unescape JSON strings - convert special characters to escape sequences
Input
Output
What is JSON Escape / Unescape?
Ever needed to escape special characters in a JSON string? Or unescape an escaped string back to normal? This tool does both. It converts special characters like quotes, newlines, and tabs into their escape sequences (like \", \n, \t) and back again. Perfect for preparing strings for JSON encoding or decoding escaped JSON strings.
According to MDN Web Docs, JSON strings need certain characters escaped. Our tool follows the RFC 8259 JSON specification, so escaped strings are valid JSON and unescaped strings are properly formatted. Great for handling user input, API responses, or any time you need to safely encode/decode strings.
Everything happens in your browser – your data never leaves your computer. Escape or unescape strings instantly with one click.
What Makes This Tool Different
Escape & Unescape
Switch between escape and unescape modes with one click. Escape converts special characters to escape sequences, unescape does the reverse.
All Special Characters
Handles quotes, newlines, tabs, backslashes, and Unicode characters. Everything that needs escaping in JSON gets handled correctly.
Real-Time Conversion
As you type, the conversion happens automatically. See the escaped or unescaped result instantly without clicking buttons.
File Upload Support
Got a big file? Just upload it. Works great for escaping or unescaping those massive text files or JSON strings.
Copy & Download
One click to copy, or download it as a file. Perfect for using escaped strings in your code or API requests.
Standards Compliant
Follows JSON escape rules exactly. Escaped strings are valid JSON, and unescaped strings are properly formatted according to the spec.
How It Works
Choose Your Mode
Click "Escape" to convert special characters to escape sequences, or "Unescape" to convert escape sequences back to normal characters. The mode toggle is right above the editors.
Paste or Upload Text
Paste your text into the left editor, or click "Upload" to load a file. You can also click "Sample" to see an example. The conversion happens automatically as you type.
Copy or Download
Review the escaped or unescaped result in the right panel. Click "Copy" to copy it to your clipboard, or "Download" to save it as a file.
When You'd Actually Use This
API Development
Escape user input before sending it in JSON API requests. Ensures special characters don't break your JSON structure. Essential for handling user-generated content safely.
Data Processing
Unescape JSON strings from API responses or database exports. Convert escaped strings back to readable text for display or further processing.
String Encoding
Prepare strings for JSON encoding. Escape special characters before using JSON.stringify() or when building JSON manually.
Debugging
Debug JSON parsing errors. Unescape strings to see what they actually contain, or escape strings to see how they'll appear in JSON.
Common Questions
Is my data stored?
Nope. Everything happens right in your browser. Your text never leaves your computer – we don't even see it.
What characters get escaped?
Quotes ("), backslashes (\), newlines (\n), tabs (\t), carriage returns (\r), and other control characters. Unicode characters can also be escaped as \uXXXX.
What's the difference between escape and unescape?
Escape converts special characters to escape sequences (like " becomes \"). Unescape converts escape sequences back to normal characters (like \" becomes ").
Does it work with JSON objects?
This tool works with strings. If you have a JSON object, you'd typically use JSON.stringify() which handles escaping automatically. This tool is for when you need to escape/unescape raw strings.
Can I escape Unicode characters?
Yes. Unicode characters are escaped as \uXXXX sequences. The tool handles all standard JSON escape sequences including Unicode.
What if I unescape invalid escape sequences?
Invalid escape sequences are left as-is. The tool tries to handle common escape sequences, but malformed ones won't break the conversion.
Other JSON Tools You Might Need
Escaping is just one JSON task. Here are other tools that work well together:
Need to learn more about JSON? Check out the official JSON.org website or the comprehensive guide on MDN.