SQL Formatter & Beautifier

Format and beautify SQL queries — instantly in your browser

Raw SQL from ORMs, query logs, or database exports is often a single long line — impossible to read, debug, or review in a pull request. This free SQL formatter adds proper indentation, capitalises reserved keywords (SELECT, FROM, WHERE, JOIN, GROUP BY, etc.), and breaks complex queries into multi-line format. All formatting runs client-side, so your database queries, table names, schema details, and any sensitive data in WHERE clauses never leave your device.

Why SQL formatting matters in code review

Unformatted SQL in migrations, stored procedures, or application code is a major code review hazard. A missing condition in a WHERE clause, an unintended Cartesian join, or a logic error in a CASE statement can be invisible in minified SQL but obvious when properly indented. Formatted SQL also reduces merge conflicts in version control — reviewers can see exactly which lines changed rather than diffing a single long string.

Supported SQL dialects

The formatter handles standard ANSI SQL and is compatible with MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server (T-SQL), SQLite, Oracle, and BigQuery. Dialect-specific functions (ISNULL vs COALESCE, DATE_FORMAT vs TO_CHAR, TOP vs LIMIT) are preserved as-is. Comments (-- single line and /* block */) are maintained in the output. Subqueries and CTEs (WITH clauses) are indented correctly to show the logical structure.

SQL minification for deployment

While formatted SQL is ideal for development, minified SQL is sometimes needed for embedded queries in application config files, stored procedures where whitespace affects string matching, performance-sensitive tight loops where query parsing overhead matters, or when working with database systems that have query length limits. Minifying removes comments and whitespace while preserving all SQL semantics.

Common SQL formatting conventions

Two styles dominate: uppercase keywords with lowercase identifiers (SELECT id FROM users WHERE active = 1) is the traditional approach and the default in this formatter. Some teams prefer all-lowercase for consistency with modern ORMs like SQLAlchemy or ActiveRecord. Pick one and enforce it with a linter (sqlfluff) to keep your codebase consistent. Whatever style you choose, formatting is far more important than keyword case for readability.

Frequently asked questions

What SQL dialects are supported?

The formatter handles standard SQL syntax including SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, CREATE, DROP, ALTER, JOIN clauses, subqueries, and CTEs. It works with MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, SQL Server, and Oracle syntax since all share a common SQL core.

What does the formatter do to keywords?

SQL keywords (SELECT, FROM, WHERE, JOIN, GROUP BY, ORDER BY, HAVING, etc.) are uppercased for consistency. This is a widely adopted convention that improves readability by visually separating keywords from identifiers.

Does this send my SQL to a server?

No. All formatting happens 100% in your browser using JavaScript. Your SQL queries never leave your device, making it safe to use with production query strings and sensitive data.

What is SQL minification used for?

SQL minification removes all unnecessary whitespace and comments, producing a single-line query. This is useful for embedding SQL in configuration files, URL parameters, or logging systems where compactness matters.

Can the formatter handle complex queries?

Yes, the formatter handles nested subqueries, multiple JOINs, CTEs (WITH clauses), CASE expressions, and window functions. Complex queries are indented based on clause nesting depth.