Troubleshooting

Common problems and solutions when working with JSON6.

Quick Fix: Most JSON6 errors are parse errors from invalid syntax. Check for unclosed strings, missing commas, or unquoted keys that contain a hyphen or a space.

Common Issues

Browse by problem type to find solutions.

Parse Errors

Fix syntax errors and invalid JSON6

Most Common

Quick Fixes

Try these common solutions first.

"Unexpected token" Error

Usually caused by a missing comma, unclosed string, or invalid character.

// Wrong - missing comma { a: 1 b: 2 } // Correct { a: 1, b: 2 }

"Invalid identifier" Error

Unquoted keys must be valid JavaScript identifiers. Quote keys with special characters.

// Wrong - contains hyphen { my-key: 'value' } // Correct - quoted { 'my-key': 'value' }

Reserved Words Are Not an Error

Reserved JavaScript words are valid unquoted keys in JSON6. If a parser rejects one, it is not a JSON6 parser.

// Valid - reserved words are allowed unquoted { class: 'container' } // Also valid - quoting is a style choice { 'class': 'container' }

Comments Not Working

Make sure you're using a JSON6 parser, not a regular JSON parser.

// Wrong - using JSON.parse() JSON.parse(text) // Comments will cause errors // Correct - using JSON6.parse() JSON6.parse(text) // Comments are supported

JSON6 Validation Checklist

Run through this checklist to find common problems.

All strings are properly quoted (single or double) All string quotes are properly closed Commas between all key-value pairs and array elements All brackets/braces are balanced: {} [] Multi-line comments are closed: /* */ Unquoted keys are valid identifiers (no hyphens or spaces, and no leading digit) File is saved with UTF-8 encoding Using JSON6 parser (not JSON.parse)

Online Validation

Use online tools to quickly validate your JSON6.

JSON6 Validator

Paste your JSON6 and check for errors with detailed messages.

JSON6 to JSON

Convert JSON6 to standard JSON to verify the output.

Getting Help

If you're still stuck, here are ways to get help.

GitHub Issues

Report bugs or ask questions on the json6 GitHub repository.

Stack Overflow

Search or ask questions with the json6 tag on Stack Overflow.

Contact Us

Have a question about this documentation? Contact us.

Still Having Issues?

Check our detailed parse errors guide or explore the complete error reference.

Parse Errors Guide Error Reference