SQL Formatter

What this tool does

The SQL Formatter is a code formatting tool that beautifies SQL queries by adding proper indentation, line breaks, and consistent formatting. It transforms messy, hard-to-read SQL into well-formatted, readable code that follows standard formatting conventions.

The tool supports multiple SQL dialects including standard SQL, MySQL, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, and SQLite. It automatically formats SELECT statements, JOINs, WHERE clauses, subqueries, and other SQL constructs, making code easier to read, maintain, and review.

Properly formatted SQL improves code readability, makes debugging easier, and helps teams maintain consistent coding standards. This tool is essential for developers, database administrators, and anyone working with SQL queries.

When to use it

Code Review: Format SQL queries before code reviews to make them easier to understand and review.

Documentation: Format SQL examples in documentation to ensure they're readable and professional.

Learning: Format SQL queries when learning to understand structure and improve readability.

Debugging: Format complex SQL queries to identify issues and understand query logic more easily.

Team Standards: Ensure SQL queries follow team formatting standards and conventions.

Presentation: Format SQL for presentations, tutorials, or teaching materials.

Migration: Format SQL when migrating between database systems to ensure consistency.

How to use it

1. Select Dialect: Choose the SQL dialect (SQL, MySQL, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, SQLite) that matches your database.

2. Input SQL: Paste your SQL query into the input area. It can be minified, poorly formatted, or already formatted.

3. Automatic Formatting: The tool automatically formats the SQL when you finish editing.

4. View Formatted SQL: The formatted SQL appears in the output area with proper indentation and structure.

5. Error Handling: If the SQL has syntax errors, the tool may still format it, but invalid SQL may produce unexpected results.

6. Copy: Use the copy button to copy the formatted SQL to your clipboard.

7. Reset: Use the reset button to clear input and output.

8. Load Example: Click the example button to see a sample SQL formatting.

Example

Input (unformatted):

SELECT u.id,u.name,u.email FROM users u WHERE u.active=1 AND u.created_at>'2024-01-01' ORDER BY u.name

Output (formatted):

SELECT
  u.id,
  u.name,
  u.email
FROM
  users u
WHERE
  u.active = 1
  AND u.created_at > '2024-01-01'
ORDER BY
  u.name

Common mistakes

Wrong Dialect: Using the wrong SQL dialect may produce incorrect formatting or fail to format certain syntax.

Invalid SQL: Invalid SQL syntax may format incorrectly or produce unexpected results. Validate SQL before formatting.

Complex Queries: Very complex queries with many nested subqueries may format in ways that are hard to read.

Comments: SQL comments may not format as expected. Some formatters handle comments differently.

String Literals: String literals with special characters may affect formatting. Ensure strings are properly quoted.

Case Sensitivity: SQL keywords are typically formatted in uppercase, but this can be customized in some formatters.

Tips for better results

Choose Correct Dialect: Select the SQL dialect that matches your database to ensure proper formatting of dialect-specific syntax.

Validate First: Validate your SQL syntax before formatting to ensure it's correct and will format properly.

Review Output: Always review formatted SQL to ensure it's readable and matches your expectations.

Use Consistently: Format all SQL queries consistently to maintain code quality and readability.

Team Standards: Establish team formatting standards and use this tool to enforce them consistently.

Complex Queries: For very complex queries, formatting may need manual adjustment for optimal readability.

Version Control: Formatted SQL is easier to review in version control systems, making diffs clearer.

Documentation: Use formatted SQL in documentation to ensure examples are readable and professional.

FAQ

Which SQL dialects are supported? The tool supports SQL, MySQL, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, and SQLite dialects. Choose the one matching your database.

Can I format invalid SQL? The formatter will attempt to format the SQL, but invalid syntax may produce unexpected results. Validate SQL first.

Does formatting change SQL functionality? No, formatting only changes whitespace and structure. The SQL functionality remains exactly the same.

Can I customize formatting style? The tool uses standard formatting conventions. For custom styles, you may need specialized SQL formatters or manual formatting.

Is there a size limit? While there's no strict limit, very large SQL queries may take longer to format. For extremely large queries, consider breaking them into smaller parts.

Can I use this offline? Yes, once the page is loaded, SQL formatting happens entirely in your browser and works offline.

Does the tool handle all SQL features? The tool handles standard SQL features. Some advanced or database-specific features may format differently.

Can I format stored procedures? The tool formats SQL queries. Stored procedures with complex logic may need manual formatting adjustments.

What indentation does the tool use? The tool uses standard indentation (typically 2 spaces per level) for consistent, readable formatting.

Does formatting affect performance? No, formatting only affects readability. Database performance is unaffected by SQL formatting.