# JSON Diff Tool

> Compare two JSON objects side-by-side with structural diff highlighting

**Category:** Dev
**Keywords:** json, diff, compare, json diff, json compare, json difference, api debugging, config diff
**URL:** https://complete.tools/json-diff-tool

## How the diff works

The tool performs a deep structural comparison of two JSON objects:

- **Added**: Keys present in JSON B but not in JSON A
- **Removed**: Keys present in JSON A but not in JSON B
- **Changed**: Keys present in both, but with different values
- **Unchanged**: Keys present in both with identical values

Nested objects are compared recursively. Each key is shown with its full dot-notation path (e.g., `user.address.city`) so you can immediately locate any change in a deeply nested structure.

## Common use cases

- **API debugging**: Compare request and response payloads to catch unexpected changes
- **Config management**: See what changed between two versions of a configuration file
- **Database records**: Compare two versions of a JSON document stored in a database
- **Feature flags**: Diff flag configurations before and after a deployment
- **Test fixtures**: Verify test data matches expected output by comparing JSON snapshots

## How to use

1. Paste your original JSON into the **JSON A** panel
2. Paste the modified JSON into the **JSON B** panel
3. Click **Compare JSON**
4. Review the summary (added, removed, changed, unchanged counts)
5. Scroll through the diff to see each change
6. Toggle **Show unchanged** to include or hide identical keys
7. Click **Copy Diff** to copy the diff summary to your clipboard

## FAQs

**Q:** Does this tool support arrays?


**A:** Yes. Arrays are compared by value. If the serialized content differs, the entry is marked as "changed." Deep array diffing (index-by-index) is not supported; the full array value is shown.


**Q:** How deep does the recursive comparison go?


**A:** All the way. There is no nesting depth limit. Every key at every level is compared.


**Q:** Is my JSON data sent to a server?


**A:** No. All comparison happens entirely in your browser. Your JSON never leaves your device.


**Q:** What if my JSON is invalid?


**A:** The tool will show an error message identifying which side failed to parse.


**Q:** Can I compare JSON arrays at the top level?


**A:** Yes. Top-level arrays are compared by serialized value and shown as a single "root" entry.

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*Generated from [complete.tools/json-diff-tool](https://complete.tools/json-diff-tool)*