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How to Format SQL - Step by Step Guide

Step 1

Input Your SQL Query

Let's get your SQL query into the formatter! Whether you're working with MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, Oracle, or SQLite databases, need to format JSON, or convert data from CSV to JSON, you have several convenient options:

•
Paste directly: Copy your SQL query from your database client or IDE and paste it into the input editor
•
Upload a file: Click "Upload" to select a .sql or .txt file from your computer
•
Try the sample: Click "Sample" to load an example query and see how the formatter works

Example: Unformatted SQL Input

Here's what messy, unformatted SQL looks like:

SELECT u.user_id,u.username,u.email,COUNT(o.order_id) AS total_orders FROM users u LEFT JOIN orders o ON u.user_id=o.user_id WHERE u.status='active' GROUP BY u.user_id ORDER BY total_orders DESC;
Step 2

Automatic Formatting & Validation

The magic happens instantly! As soon as you input SQL, the formatter automatically:

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Validates syntax: Checks for errors and highlights issues with helpful suggestions
•
Adds proper indentation: Makes complex queries with joins and subqueries easy to read
•
Syntax highlighting: Color-codes keywords, functions, and strings for better readability
•
Uppercase keywords: Converts SQL keywords to uppercase following best practices

Example: Beautifully Formatted Output

The same SQL query, now properly formatted and readable:

SELECT
  u.user_id,
  u.username,
  u.email,
  COUNT(o.order_id) AS total_orders
FROM
  users u
  LEFT JOIN orders o ON u.user_id = o.user_id
WHERE
  u.status = 'active'
GROUP BY
  u.user_id
ORDER BY
  total_orders DESC;
Step 3

Choose Format Options

Customize your output based on your needs! The formatter gives you control over how your SQL appears:

•
Pretty format: Default beautified SQL with proper indentation (2 spaces) and uppercase keywords
•
Minify option: Click "Minify" to compress SQL into compact format by removing extra whitespace
•
Syntax highlighting: Color-coded keywords make it easy to identify different SQL elements
Step 4

Export Your Formatted SQL

Get your perfectly formatted SQL ready for use! Multiple export options make it easy to integrate into your workflow:

•
Copy to clipboard: One-click copying for quick pasting into your database client or application
•
Download as file: Save as a .sql file for later use or sharing with your team
•
Real-time validation: Green checkmark confirms your SQL is valid and ready to execute

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I format messy SQL queries?

Simply paste your unformatted SQL query into the formatter. The tool automatically adds proper indentation, line breaks, and spacing to make your SQL readable. It also validates syntax and highlights any errors with helpful suggestions.

Does it work with all SQL databases?

Yes! The formatter supports standard SQL syntax and works with MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, Oracle, SQLite, and other SQL databases. It handles common SQL statements including SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, JOIN, and more.

Can I both format and minify SQL in the same tool?

Yes! Switch between "Pretty" mode for readable formatting with proper indentation and "Minify" mode for compressed SQL. Perfect for development (pretty) and production or logging (minified) use cases.

Can I format large SQL files with multiple queries?

Absolutely! The formatter handles large SQL files efficiently, including scripts with multiple queries. Each query is formatted independently while maintaining separation between statements. Upload .sql files directly for easy formatting. You can also use our JSON to Table tool to visualize query results.

Will formatted SQL work in my database client?

Yes! The formatted SQL maintains perfect syntax compatibility with all database clients and tools. Use pretty format for better readability during development and code reviews, or minified format to reduce file size for storage and transmission.

Is the SQL formatter completely free?

Yes, totally free with no limitations on file size, usage frequency, or features. No registration required, and you can format unlimited SQL queries with full syntax highlighting and validation. Also check out our JSON Formatter for data formatting needs.

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