What does 'sort keys deep' do?

Recursively sorts every object's keys alphabetically. {"b": 1, "a": {"d": 4, "c": 3}} becomes {"a": {"c": 3, "d": 4}, "b": 1}. Arrays keep their original order (array order is data, not just layout) — sorting array items requires the separate Sort arrays option.

Why isn't sort-arrays on by default?

Array order in JSON is meaningful — [1, 2, 3] is not the same value as [3, 1, 2] for many use cases (event logs, ordered preferences, render order). Sort arrays only when you know order is incidental to the value, not part of it.

How are arrays of objects sorted?

Specify a key path in the 'Object array sort key' field — e.g. id, name, createdAt. The tool sorts the array by that field's value. If the field is missing on some items they sort as empty strings; mixed types compare via stringified JSON. For more elaborate sort logic, post-process with a script.

What about case-insensitive sorting?

When enabled, keys and string values compare via toLowerCase first. So {"Banana": 1, "apple": 2} sorts to {"apple": 2, "Banana": 1} alphabetically without case bias.

Why would I want descending order?

For chronologically reversed event lists (newest first), top-N reports, or any list where the largest/latest items should be visible first. Hits the same recursion paths as ascending; just flips the comparator.

Is sorted JSON useful for diffs and hashes?

Yes — that's a primary use case. Two semantically identical JSON documents can have different key orders and produce different SHA-256 hashes or noisy line-by-line diffs. Sort both first to get a canonical form: identical hashes for identical values, clean structural diffs.

Does this preserve null values, empty objects, and empty arrays?

Yes. Sorting doesn't drop or transform values — only key order (and array element order, when enabled) changes. {} and [] survive intact; null leaves stay as null entries at their key path.

Is my JSON sent to a server?

No. Sorting runs entirely in your browser — safe for production payloads, internal exports, anything containing PII or secrets.

JSON Sort — Sort Keys & Arrays Free

JSON sort online — alphabetize keys deeply or sort arrays of primitives/objects in one click. Case-insensitive, asc/desc, browser-based, no signup.

Sort any JSON document deterministically — recursive key sort, optional array-element sort (primitives or by object key path), case-insensitive, asc / desc. Useful for canonicalizing JSON before diffs, hashes, or commits, and for cleaning up exported configs.

Need to compare two JSON values? JSON Diff. Format only? JSON Formatter (also has a sort-keys mode).

Sort keys (deep)Sort arraysCase-insensitiveDirectionIndentObject array sort key

JSON

Sorted JSON

How to Sort JSON Keys and Arrays

Paste your JSON
Could be a config, a fixture, an export — any JSON document where you want predictable ordering.
Pick what to sort
Sort keys (deep, recursive), sort arrays of primitives, or sort arrays of objects by a key path. Optional case-insensitive and asc/desc.
Click Sort JSON
PDFFlare returns a deterministically-ordered version of the JSON. Use it as a stable canonical form for diffs, hashes, or commits.

When Do You Need to Sort JSON?

Reproducible hashes: Caching by JSON-content-hash requires a canonical form. Sort first, then hash — identical values produce identical keys.

Cleaner diffs: Two JSON files with the same data but different key orders show up as full-file changes in git diff. Sort both first; only the real changes show up.

Snapshot tests: Jest, Vitest, and Insta-style snapshot tests get noisy when JSON serialization order is non-deterministic. Sort before snapshotting for stable tests.

Reviewing config files: Sorted keys are easier to scan in a 100-key config. Especially for new contributors: alphabetical order means they don't have to know the project's convention.

Why Use PDFFlare for JSON Sort?

Deep + Configurable

Recursive key sort, optional array sort, asc/desc, case-insensitive — turn on what you need without rewriting a snippet.

Object-Array Sort

Sort an array of objects by any key path — id, createdAt, name — without writing a comparator.

100% Browser-Based

Your JSON stays on your device — safe for production payloads.

No Signup Required

No account, no rate limits.

Frequently Asked Questions About JSON Sort

JSON Formatter

Format, validate, repair JSON

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Convert JSON ↔ CSV both ways

JSON to YAML

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JSON Diff

Compare two JSONs structurally

JSON Generator

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