Pretty print a JSON file in Python

This post will discuss how to pretty-print a JSON file in Python.

1. Using `pprint.pprint()` function

The most common approach to pretty-print a JSON file in Python is using the built-in module pprint, which provides the capability to print the formatted representation of JSON data.

import json

import pprint

with open('data.json', 'r') as f:

data = f.read()

json_data = json.loads(data)

pprint.pprint(json_data)

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2. Using `json.dump()` function

Another good option to pretty-print a JSON file is using the json.dumps() function, which by default returns the most compact representation of json. For pretty-printing the JSON, you can specify the desired indentation using the indent parameter.

1. A positive indent level indents that many spaces per level.

import json

with open('data.json', 'r') as f:

data = f.read()

json_data = json.loads(data)

print(json.dumps(json_data, indent=4))

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2. If the indent is a string (such as '\t'), that string will indent each level.

import json

with open('data.json', 'r') as f:

data = f.read()

json_data = json.loads(data)

print(json.dumps(json_data, indent='\t'))

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3. A zero or negative indent level will only insert newlines.

import json

with open('data.json', 'r') as f:

data = f.read()

json_data = json.loads(data)

print(json.dumps(json_data, indent=0))

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3. Using `simplejson.dump()` function

You can also use the simplejson module that works similarly to the json module.

import simplejson

with open('data.json', 'r') as f:

data = f.read()

json_data = simplejson.loads(data)

print(simplejson.dumps(json_data, indent=4))

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That’s all about pretty printing a JSON file in Python.

Pretty print a JSON file in Python

1. Using pprint.pprint() function

2. Using json.dump() function

3. Using simplejson.dump() function

Share this:

1. Using `pprint.pprint()` function

2. Using `json.dump()` function

3. Using `simplejson.dump()` function