In this blog post, we’ll explore how to escape quotes in JSON, using easy online tools, manual techniques, and practical tips for error-free JSON formatting.
What Does “Escaping Quotes in JSON” Mean?
JSON uses double quotes (") to wrap both keys and string values. For example:
{
"name": "John",
"message": "He said, "Hello, World!""
}
In the message field, the inner quotes around Hello, World! are escaped with a backslash (). If you forget to do this, the JSON parser will throw an error because it won’t know where the string ends.
Escaping simply means adding a backslash before a quote inside a string to prevent confusion.
Why Escaping Quotes Is Important
- ???? Configuration files: Many web and backend tools use JSON in settings. Unescaped quotes can break config parsing.
- ???? APIs and payloads: When sending requests, especially in tools like Postman or curl, JSON with unescaped quotes won’t be accepted.
- ???? Embedding JSON in HTML or JavaScript: Nested quotes must be escaped to avoid syntax errors.
And if you’re not a developer, this can feel daunting. But don’t worry—there are non-technical methods to handle it.
How to Escape Quotes in JSON Without Coding
Let’s explore several user-friendly, no-code ways to fix this issue:
- Use Online JSON Escape Tools
There are many websites where you can paste your raw string and get it escaped instantly.
Top tools:
How it works:
- Paste your unescaped JSON or text.
- Click the "Escape" button.
- Copy the escaped version for safe use.
These tools automatically insert before any quotes or characters that need escaping.
✅ No technical knowledge needed
✅ Works on phones and desktops
✅ Instant results
- Google Docs or Word Find & Replace
If you're working with short JSON strings or text and don’t want to open a new tool, try this method:
Steps:
- Paste your JSON into Google Docs or Microsoft Word.
- Open Find and Replace.
- Find: " (double quote)
Replace with: " (escaped quote)
- Click “Replace All”
⚠️ Caution: This may over-escape the JSON (it will also escape the required outer quotes). Use this only when escaping text to embed within JSON strings, not the entire structure.
- Excel Formula Trick
If you’re pasting JSON into Excel for some reason (e.g., to build API payloads), you can use Excel formulas.
Example:
You want to turn:
He said, "Good Morning!"
Into:
He said, "Good Morning!"
Use this formula:
=SUBSTITUTE(A1,"""","""")
It replaces quotes with escaped quotes using no code—just a formula.
- Built-In Tools in Platforms like Postman
If you're using Postman, it has built-in JSON linting. When pasting JSON into the "Raw Body" tab:
- Postman highlights errors
- You can fix invalid quotes right in the editor
- No need to escape quotes if you switch to form-data or x-www-form-urlencoded
Postman also supports double string layers where inner quotes are automatically escaped.
- Browser Console (Optional for Slightly Technical Users)
If you’re okay opening the browser console (no coding required, just copy-paste), try this trick:
JSON.stringify("This is a "test".")
It will return:
"This is a \"test\"."
Again, you’re just pasting a sentence and getting the escaped version.
Practical Tips for Beginners
- ✅ Use double quotes consistently in JSON.
- ✅ Always escape inner quotes with a backslash.
- ✅ Use online tools for safe escaping.
- ❌ Don’t try to edit raw JSON manually if it’s complex—let tools do it.
- ❌ Avoid using single quotes (') in JSON keys/values—it’s not valid syntax.
Conclusion
You don’t need to write code or understand programming to solve one of the most common JSON formatting problems: escaping quotes in json. With the help of simple tools and tricks, anyone—from marketers and analysts to project managers—can escape quotes in JSON without coding.
The next time you need to paste a JSON string into a config file, API payload, or online tool, remember: escaping quotes is just a matter of a few clicks. Use the tools we covered and say goodbye to confusing JSON errors for good.
Read more on https://keploy.io/blog/community/json-escape-and-unescape