What is Prettify?
Prettify is the process of formatting code or data to make it more readable by adding proper indentation, line breaks, and consistent spacing, essentially the opposite of minification.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Code Prettification / Pretty Print |
|---|---|
| Created | 2000s (with rise of web development tools) |
| Specification | Official Specification |
How It Works
Prettifying (also called pretty printing or beautifying) transforms compact or minified code into a well-formatted, human-readable version. This process adds whitespace, indentation, and line breaks according to coding conventions without changing the code's functionality. Prettifying is essential during development for code review, debugging, and maintenance. For data formats like JSON and XML, pretty printing makes nested structures visible and easier to understand. Popular tools include Prettier for JavaScript/TypeScript, Black for Python, and built-in formatters in IDEs. While prettified code is easier to read and maintain, production deployments typically use minified code for performance. The terms 'prettify', 'beautify', and 'format' are often used interchangeably, though 'format' can also include code style enforcement beyond just whitespace.
Key Characteristics
- Adds indentation to show code structure
- Inserts line breaks for readability
- Applies consistent spacing around operators
- Opposite of minification (increases file size)
- Does not change code functionality
- Often enforces consistent coding style
Common Use Cases
- Making minified code readable for debugging
- Formatting JSON API responses for inspection
- Code review and collaboration
- Maintaining consistent code style in teams
- Converting compact XML to readable format
Example
Loading code...Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between prettify, beautify, and format?
These terms are largely interchangeable. 'Prettify' and 'beautify' typically refer to making minified or compact code readable by adding whitespace and indentation. 'Format' can include these plus enforcing coding style rules like quote style, semicolon usage, and line length limits. Most modern tools like Prettier combine both functions.
Does prettifying code affect its functionality?
No, prettifying only adds or adjusts whitespace, indentation, and line breaks. The code's logic and functionality remain unchanged. This is why you can safely prettify production code for debugging without worrying about introducing bugs. The minified and prettified versions are functionally equivalent.
Should I prettify code before committing to version control?
Yes, consistently formatted code should be committed. Most teams use pre-commit hooks or CI checks to automatically format code before commits. This ensures consistent style across the codebase, makes code reviews easier, and prevents merge conflicts caused by formatting differences.
What are the most popular code formatting tools?
Prettier is the most popular for JavaScript, TypeScript, HTML, CSS, and JSON. Black is the standard for Python. Go has built-in gofmt, and Rust has rustfmt. For SQL, tools like sql-formatter are common. Most IDEs also include built-in formatters for various languages.
How do I prettify minified JSON from an API response?
Most browsers' developer tools automatically prettify JSON responses. You can also use online JSON formatters, command-line tools like 'jq', or built-in language functions like JSON.stringify(obj, null, 2) in JavaScript or json.dumps(obj, indent=2) in Python to add readable formatting.