JSON Column Formatter
Write, validate, and preview SharePoint JSON column formatting with built-in templates. 100% client-side — nothing leaves your browser.
Template
Show colored icons based on status text (Done, In Progress, Blocked)
JSON Editor
Live Preview
What is SharePoint JSON Column Formatting?
JSON column formatting lets you customize how columns in SharePoint lists and libraries are displayed. Instead of building custom SPFx solutions, you can apply a JSON object to change colors, icons, layouts, and conditional styling — all without writing any code. Want to master list formatting? Check out our Complete Guide to SharePoint List Formatting (2026) for 15+ ready-to-use templates covering columns, rows, and forms.
How to Apply Column Formatting
- Open your SharePoint list and click the column header you want to format
- Select Column settings → Format this column
- Click Advanced mode to switch to the JSON editor
- Paste the JSON from this tool and click Save
Key Properties
elmType— the HTML element type (div,span,a,img,button)txtContent— text to display, supports expressions like@currentFieldstyle— CSS properties applied to the elementchildren— nested elements for complex layoutsattributes— HTML attributes likehref,class,target
Supported Expressions
@currentField— the value of the current column@now— the current date/time (as a Unix timestamp)@me— the current user's emailif(condition, trueValue, falseValue)— conditional logic with nesting support
Frequently Asked Questions
JSON Column Formatting is a declarative, no-code way to customize how fields in SharePoint lists and libraries are displayed. You write a JSON schema that defines how data should be rendered — adding colors, icons, progress bars, and conditional styling — without changing the underlying data.
In your SharePoint list, click the column header → Column settings → Format this column. Switch to Advanced mode and paste your JSON. Click "Preview" to verify, then "Save". The formatting persists for all users who view the list.
Yes! The v2 JSON schema supports Excel-style expressions like =if(@currentField > 10, "Green", "Red"). You can reference other columns using [$ColumnInternalName], the current user with @me, and the current date with @now.
Column formatting customizes a single column's appearance. View formatting lets you control the entire row layout — useful for creating card-based views, conditional row highlighting, or completely custom list visuals using the rowFormatter property.
Yes. You can create action buttons using the customRowAction property with actions like executeFlow (trigger a Power Automate flow), share, delete, or editProps. This is powerful for building lightweight approval workflows directly in lists.
Column formatting cannot: modify data, call external APIs, use custom JavaScript, or exceed 100KB per column schema. For advanced scenarios requiring external data or complex logic, use SPFx Field Customizers instead.
Yes. Microsoft Lists (both the standalone app and SharePoint-backed lists) fully support JSON column and view formatting. The same JSON schema works identically in both environments.