How does JSON diff work?

JSON diff compares two JSON documents by traversing their structure recursively. It identifies keys that are added, removed, or modified, showing the exact path and values that differ.

What does "ignore array order" mean?

When enabled, arrays are compared without considering the order of elements. For example, [1,2,3] and [3,1,2] would be considered identical. This is useful when order does not matter in your data.

Can I compare nested JSON objects?

Yes, the tool performs deep comparison and can handle any level of nesting. The path to each difference is shown using dot notation (e.g., "user.address.city").

What do the symbols mean in the diff output?

+ (plus) indicates added items, - (minus) indicates removed items, and ~ (tilde) indicates modified items where the value has changed.

Free Tool

JSON Diff Tool

Free online tool to compare two JSON documents. Find additions, deletions, and modifications with detailed diff output.

Compare two JSON documents side by side
Highlight additions, deletions, and modifications
Deep comparison of nested objects
Option to ignore array order
Detailed diff report
Upload files or paste JSON
Summary of all changes
Free and unlimited comparisons

Ignore array order

Original JSON

Drop a file or click to upload

Modified JSON

Drop a file or click to upload

How It Works

Two JSON Documents

Original and modified JSON documents to compare. Supports any valid JSON including deeply nested objects and arrays.

OUT

Diff Report

Color-coded list of all differences: green for additions (+), red for removals (-), and yellow for modifications (~). Shows exact paths using dot notation.

Enter Original JSON

Paste or upload your original (before) JSON document in the left panel.

Enter Modified JSON

Paste or upload your modified (after) JSON document in the right panel.

Configure & Compare

Optionally enable "Ignore array order" for order-independent comparison, then click "Compare JSON".

Review Differences

See a summary of added, removed, and modified items with exact paths and values for each change.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does JSON diff work?: JSON diff compares two JSON documents by traversing their structure recursively. It identifies keys that are added, removed, or modified, showing the exact path and values that differ.
What does "ignore array order" mean?: When enabled, arrays are compared without considering the order of elements. For example, [1,2,3] and [3,1,2] would be considered identical. This is useful when order does not matter in your data.
Can I compare nested JSON objects?: Yes, the tool performs deep comparison and can handle any level of nesting. The path to each difference is shown using dot notation (e.g., "user.address.city").
What do the symbols mean in the diff output?: + (plus) indicates added items, - (minus) indicates removed items, and ~ (tilde) indicates modified items where the value has changed.