Format Detector
Paste any data to instantly detect if it is JSON, XML, CSV, YAML, or TOML. Shows confidence level and links to the right tool. 100% client-side.
Not sure what format you're looking at? Paste any structured data and the detector will identify whether it's JSON, XML, CSV, YAML, TOML, or INI — with a confidence rating and a direct link to the appropriate tool for further processing.
Paste any text to detect the format
Related tools
Frequently asked questions
Which formats are detected?
The detector identifies: JSON (parsed with native
JSON.parse),
XML (parsed with DOMParser),
CSV (comma-delimited consistent column count), YAML (key: value pairs with indentation),
TOML ([section] headers or key = value pairs), and INI ([section] headers).
What does the confidence level mean?
High means the input was definitively parsed by a strict parser (JSON.parse, DOMParser). Medium means the input matches strong heuristics for a format but wasn't formally parsed. Low means the input matches weak patterns and the detection may be wrong.
Can YAML and TOML be confused with each other?
In some edge cases, yes. Both use key-value syntax but YAML uses
key: value while TOML uses
key = value.
The detector prioritizes colon-based syntax for YAML and equals-based for TOML. The
presence of [section] headers strongly suggests TOML or INI.
Why might invalid JSON be detected correctly?
If input starts with {"{"}{"}"} or
[
but fails JSON.parse,
it's reported as "JSON (invalid)" — the intent is clear but the syntax has errors.
This is useful: you know to use the JSON Validator to find the specific error.
Is Markdown or plain text detected?
Not currently. The detector focuses on structured data formats used in APIs, configuration files, and data exchange. Plain text, Markdown, HTML (non-XML), and binary data will result in an "Unknown" detection with low confidence.