What is a JSON Diff Tool?
A JSON Diff Tool is used to compare two JSON objects and identify the differences between them. It highlights changes such as added, removed, or modified fields, helping developers understand how data has evolved over time or between environments.
Why Use a JSON Diff Tool?
- Track changes in API responses: Easily spot what fields have changed between versions of an API or between environments like dev and prod.
- Debugging: Identify differences between expected and actual JSON outputs during debugging.
- Version comparison: Compare config files, database exports, or saved state files.
- Collaborative development: Resolve merge conflicts and track data structure changes in team workflows.
- Cleaner testing: Compare expected vs actual test outputs in automated testing scenarios.
How It Works
The tool parses both JSON inputs and recursively compares keys and values. It highlights:
- Added fields – new keys in the second JSON
- Removed fields – keys missing in the second JSON
- Modified values – same keys with different values
- Identical structures – highlighted or marked as unchanged
Tip: You can use this tool for comparing outputs from microservices, frontend API calls, or even browser localStorage snapshots.