SQL Formatter & Beautifier

Formatting SQL vs executing SQL

These two actions are easy to confuse because both start with a query string. They are not the same:

• Formatting changes whitespace and keyword casing so humans can read the statement. It does not touch your data.
• Executing sends the statement to a database, warehouse, or SQL API, which can read or change rows. This tool never does that.

There is no connection string, no query runner, and no result grid. Incomplete SQL is still treated as text. If you need to run a query, use your own client or console after you have reviewed the formatted output.

What this SQL formatter does

• Format and beautify messy or minified SQL in your browser
• Supported dialects include Standard SQL, PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite, SQL Server (T-SQL), Oracle PL/SQL, BigQuery, Snowflake, Redshift, DuckDB, Trino/Presto, Spark, Hive, ClickHouse, IBM DB2, TiDB, SingleStore, and Couchbase N1QL
• Indent with 2 spaces, 4 spaces, or tabs
• Keyword casing: uppercase, lowercase, or preserve
• Optional wrapping of long parenthesized expressions
• Compact/minify that keeps string literals and comments intact
• Copy, paste, download, or load a local .sql file — nothing is uploaded
• Formats text only — SQL is never executed and never sent to a database

Supported SQL dialects

Dialect support comes from the sql-formatter library used in the browser. Standard SQL is a common-subset mode for when you do not know the engine. It is not automatic dialect detection — pick PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, or another listed dialect when you can.

• Standard SQL
• PostgreSQL
• MySQL
• MariaDB
• SQLite
• SQL Server (T-SQL)
• Oracle PL/SQL
• Google BigQuery
• Snowflake
• Amazon Redshift
• DuckDB
• Trino / Presto
• Spark SQL
• Apache Hive
• ClickHouse
• IBM DB2
• IBM DB2i (experimental in the formatter library)
• TiDB
• SingleStore
• Couchbase N1QL

How to format SQL online

1. Paste SQL, use Paste, or drop a local .sql file onto the Input panel.
2. Choose a dialect. Use Standard SQL only when the engine is unknown.
3. Set indent (2 spaces, 4 spaces, or tabs) and keyword casing (uppercase, lowercase, or preserve). Toggle line wrap if you want long parenthesized lists broken.
4. Click Format to beautify, or Minify for a compact version.
5. Copy the output or download a .sql file. Click Clear to reset both panels. Your query is not stored.

When to use this tool

• Clean up copied queries

  Paste a one-line query from logs, a BI tool, or an ORM and turn it into readable SQL before you debug it.

• Review migrations and reports

  Beautify CREATE, ALTER, and SELECT statements so joins, filters, and grouping are easy to scan in a code review.

• Share snippets with a team

  Format SQL before dropping it into a ticket, pull request, or chat so others can follow the query without horizontal scrolling.

• Prepare compact SQL when size matters

  Minify after a successful format pass to collapse whitespace while keeping strings and comments from being joined into the next statement.

• Work with more than one dialect

  Choose PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, BigQuery, Snowflake, or another supported dialect so identifiers and dialect-specific syntax format more accurately.

• Keep queries on your device

  Formatting runs locally. After the page loads, the SQL you paste is not uploaded to a server and is not executed.

Limitations

• This is not a SQL client. It cannot connect to Postgres, MySQL, SQL Server, BigQuery, or any other engine.
• Dialect support follows the formatter library. Unusual vendor syntax may format less accurately if you pick the wrong dialect.
• Files larger than 2 MB are rejected so the tab stays responsive.
• Minify is a whitespace compacting pass, not a query optimizer or obfuscator.

Frequently asked questions

What is a SQL formatter?

A SQL formatter (also called a SQL beautifier) rewrites a query so indentation, line breaks, and keyword casing follow consistent rules. It does not run the query, connect to a database, or change what the SQL means. This page formats SQL in your browser.

What is the difference between formatting SQL and executing SQL?

Formatting only changes whitespace and keyword casing so people can read the statement. Executing SQL sends the statement to a database engine, which can read or change data. This tool never executes SQL, never opens a database connection, and never sends your query to an API. It only formats text.

Is this a SQL beautifier and a SQL formatter online?

Yes. SQL formatter, SQL beautifier, and pretty-print SQL describe the same job: make a query readable. Use Format for indented output. Use Minify when you want a compact version of the same statement.

How do I format SQL online?

Paste SQL into the Input panel or drop a .sql file, choose a dialect, set indent and keyword casing, then click Format. Copy or download the result from the Output panel. The query stays in your browser.

Which SQL dialects are supported?

The formatter supports Standard SQL plus PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite, SQL Server (T-SQL), Oracle PL/SQL, Google BigQuery, Snowflake, Amazon Redshift, DuckDB, Trino/Presto, Spark SQL, Apache Hive, ClickHouse, IBM DB2, IBM DB2i, TiDB, SingleStore, and Couchbase N1QL. Pick the closest dialect when you know the engine. Standard SQL is a common-subset mode, not auto-detection.

Does my SQL leave the browser?

No. Formatting, minifying, copy, paste, and download run locally. If you upload a file, the browser reads it on your device. Dialect, indent, keyword case, and line-wrap preferences can stay in localStorage. Your SQL is not stored and is not uploaded to Toolshelf servers.

Can this tool run my query against a database?

No. There is no database connection, no query execution, and no SQL sandbox. Incomplete or invalid SQL is treated as text to format. Use your own database client, warehouse console, or application to run queries.

What happens with incomplete SQL?

The formatter tries to pretty-print what you pasted, even if a clause is unfinished. It does not execute the statement or try to fix business logic. If a string or comment is unclosed, you get a readable error instead of a crash.

Is minify the same as compressing SQL?

Minify collapses extra whitespace after a format pass. String literals stay intact. Line comments are converted to block comments so the next statement is not accidentally commented out. It is not a SQL compressor, obfuscator, or optimizer.

Do I need an account to use this online SQL formatter?

No. Toolshelf SQL Formatter & Beautifier requires no account and has no usage cap. Processing stays on your device.

Can I format large SQL files?

Yes for typical scripts and query dumps. The limit is 2 MB so a huge paste does not freeze the tab. Extremely large files may still be limited by device memory because processing is local.

Does formatting change query behavior?

Formatting is meant to change whitespace and keyword casing only. It does not optimize joins, add indexes, or rewrite predicates. Always review the output before you commit or run it in your own environment.

Related tools

Continue with related browser-based tools on Toolshelf.

• Code Formatter & Beautifier — Online code formatter and beautifier.
• JSON Formatter & Minifier — JSON formatter online: beautify, minify, and validate JSON in your browser.
• Text Compare — Online text compare and diff checker.
• Regex Tester — Online Regex Tester and Debugger.