.properties to JSON

Java properties → nested JSON · updated 28 July 2026

Parse a Java .properties file into JSON. Both = and : separators are accepted, \uXXXX escapes are decoded, backslash line-continuations are joined, and dotted keys are rebuilt into nested objects.

Value types Keep flat dotted keys (do not nest) Indent

Input .properties

JSON

Paste input to start.

How to convert a .properties file to JSON

Paste the contents of your .properties file, or drop the file in.
Leave nesting on to turn app.port into {"app": {"port": …}}, or tick Keep flat dotted keys to preserve the literal key names.
Choose whether values are type-inferred or kept as strings.
Copy or download the JSON.

Format details handled

Comments — lines beginning with # or !.
Separators — =, :, or just whitespace, all per the java.util.Properties spec.
Escaped separators in keys — a\=b=value gives the key a=b.
Line continuations — a line ending in a single backslash continues on the next line, with leading whitespace stripped.
Unicode escapes — \u00e9 becomes é.
Indexed keys — servers[0].host rebuilds into an array of objects.

Privacy

Nothing is uploaded. The conversion runs in this tab using your own browser's JavaScript engine — no server sees your data, and the page keeps working with the network disconnected.

FAQ

Why did two keys merge into one object?

Because nesting is on and they share a prefix — a.b and a.c both become children of a. If a key genuinely contains a dot, tick Keep flat dotted keys.

What if a key is both a value and a parent?

For example a=1 together with a.b=2. The later key wins and replaces the earlier scalar, because JSON cannot hold both at one path. Use flat mode to keep both.

Does it read .properties inside a JAR?

No — paste the text. Nothing is uploaded, and the tool has no filesystem access beyond the file you drop on it.