dev-tool-x

Blog

Practical guides for working with JSON, XML, YAML, JWT tokens, encodings, and more.

  1. How to Format and Validate JSON: A Practical Guide

    Learn how JSON formatting and validation work, what common errors look like, and how to fix them quickly in any project.

    5 min read
    JSONformattingvalidation
  2. JSON vs XML: When to Use Each Format

    A practical comparison of JSON and XML — their syntax, use cases, strengths, and the tools that help you convert between them.

    5 min read
    JSONXMLcomparison
  3. Understanding JWT Tokens: How to Decode and Inspect Them

    What a JSON Web Token actually contains, how the three parts work, and how to decode and verify one without writing any code.

    6 min read
    JWTauthenticationsecurity
  4. YAML vs JSON: Key Differences and How to Convert Between Them

    When YAML is the right choice for config files and when JSON wins, plus a walkthrough of the conversion pitfalls to watch out for.

    5 min read
    YAMLJSONcomparison
  5. URL Encoding Explained: Why Special Characters Need Escaping

    Why URLs can't contain certain characters, how percent-encoding works, and when you actually need to encode or decode a URL.

    4 min read
    URLencodingweb
  6. Base64 Encoding: What It Is and When to Use It

    What Base64 actually does to your data, why it exists, where it's used in the real world, and how to encode or decode it instantly.

    4 min read
    Base64encoding
  7. How to Compare JSON Objects and Spot Differences

    Techniques for diffing JSON documents — from manual inspection to tooling — and how to read a structured diff output correctly.

    5 min read
    JSONdiffcomparison
  8. How Pretty-Printed JSON Helps API Debugging

    A practical workflow for formatting API responses, comparing payloads, spotting missing values, and keeping sensitive data local.

    5 min read
    JSONAPIdebugging
  9. JSON Schema Validation: A Practical Guide

    How JSON Schema helps validate required fields, types, constraints, API boundaries, and readable errors beyond basic JSON syntax.

    5 min read
    JSONschemavalidation
  10. XML Formatting: Common Errors and How to Find Them

    Learn how to spot XML mistakes involving closing tags, attributes, escaping, namespaces, whitespace, and schema validation.

    5 min read
    XMLformattingvalidation
  11. YAML Configuration Best Practices for Developers

    Practical advice for writing safer YAML config files with consistent indentation, quoted values, secrets handling, and validation.

    5 min read
    YAMLconfigurationvalidation
  12. JWT Security Mistakes Developers Should Avoid

    A clear guide to decoding, verifying, storing, and validating JWT tokens without confusing visibility for security.

    5 min read
    JWTauthenticationsecurity
  13. URL Query Parameters: Encoding, Decoding, and Best Practices

    How query strings work, when to encode parameter values, how repeated keys behave, and what data should never go in a URL.

    5 min read
    URLencodingweb
  14. CSV to JSON Conversion: Practical Rules and Pitfalls

    What to check when converting between flat CSV tables and structured JSON, including headers, types, missing values, and nesting.

    5 min read
    CSVJSONconversion
  15. Markdown Preview: How to Catch Formatting Mistakes Early

    A developer-focused guide to headings, code blocks, tables, links, renderer differences, and live Markdown preview workflows.

    5 min read
    Markdowndocumentationpreview