Purpose
Option A
Readability
Option B
Correctness
FAQ Guide
JSON Format vs Validate
Formatting improves readability; validation checks whether the JSON syntax is acceptable. You often need both.
Quick comparison
Finds
Option A
Structure visually
Option B
Syntax errors
Best for
Option A
Review and diff
Option B
Debugging failures
Questions and answers
Can formatted JSON still be wrong?
Yes. It can be syntactically valid while still containing incorrect business data.
Why format before validation?
Formatting makes it easier to inspect nested fields after syntax issues are fixed.
Should API examples be pretty printed?
Usually yes, especially in documentation and support tickets.