How to use the JavaScript Beautifier
- 1. Pick the languageJavaScript, CSS or HTML.
- 2. Paste the codeMinified files, copied snippets or code with mixed spacing.
- 3. BeautifyCopy or download the formatted code.
What beautifying does
Minified code is squeezed onto one line to load faster, which makes it unreadable. A beautifier adds line breaks and indentation back so you can read, debug or learn from it. Only whitespace changes, so the code behaves exactly as before.
The tool uses js-beautify 1.15.1, a widely used open-source formatter, loaded from cdnjs and run in your browser. Options:
- Indent: 2 spaces (common in JavaScript), 4 spaces or tabs.
- Braces: collapse keeps
{on the same line, expand puts it on its own line. - Keep blank lines: keeps up to two empty lines you added between blocks.
Worked example and limits
The sample is a 1-line minified snippet with a greet function and a forEach loop. Beautified with 2 spaces, it becomes 18 lines, starting:
function greet(n) {
if (!n) {
return "Hello, guest"
}
const parts = ["Hello", n];Each statement and block gets its own line, and spaces are added around operators. Limits to know:
- Minified names like
a,bandtcan't be turned back into the original names; that information is gone. Source maps, if the site provides them, are the way to see original code. - For your own projects, a formatter like Prettier in your editor keeps code tidy automatically.
Frequently asked questions
Will it fix my bugs?
No. It only changes spacing. Syntax errors stay, though they become easier to spot.
Can it minify?
No, this tool only beautifies. Build tools such as esbuild or terser minify for production.
Is my code sent anywhere?
No. js-beautify runs in your browser after it loads from cdnjs.
Is the javascript beautifier free?
Yes, it is free. Beautifying your first file asks for your name and WhatsApp number once. After that, the javascript beautifier and every other Uncodemy tool open with no form.