Is the ini to json converter free?

Yes, completely free. No sign-up, no daily limit, no watermark on the output.

Are INI sections preserved?

Yes. Each [section] becomes a JSON object, and the keys inside that section become properties of the object.

Are data types preserved?

Yes. Numbers and booleans are auto-detected and written as numbers and booleans in JSON, instead of being left as strings.

How are nested sections handled?

Dotted section names like [server.dev] are converted into nested JSON objects, so the structure is preserved.

Are INI comments preserved?

No. JSON doesn't support comments, so any ; or # lines in your INI are dropped during conversion.

Will my INI data be uploaded anywhere?

No. The conversion runs entirely in your browser, so your INI data never leaves your device.

INI to JSON Converter Online

What is INI to JSON Conversion?

INI to JSON conversion is the process of taking a classic INI config file (with [section] headers and key=value pairs) and turning it into JSON, the format almost every modern API and app expects. INI is the format php.ini, my.cnf, .gitconfig, and Python's configparser all use. JSON is what scripts and services consume. A ini to json converter walks through each section and writes it as a JSON object with the section name as the key. You'll usually run a ini to json conversion when you need to read legacy config in a modern script or expose it through an API.

Why Convert INI to JSON?

JSON is the universal format for APIs, browsers, and most modern programming languages. INI, on the other hand, is what older PHP setups, MySQL configs, Git settings, and many desktop apps still use. Converting ini to json online lets you bridge those two worlds. Use a ini to json tool when you need to read php.ini or my.cnf settings in a JavaScript build script, expose legacy config to a tool that only takes JSON, generate JSON test fixtures from INI samples, or modernize older config into a structured format your app can consume directly.

How Our INI to JSON Converter Works

When you click Convert, the tool parses your INI file, takes each [section] header, and turns it into a JSON object. The key=value pairs inside each section become properties of that object. Numbers and booleans are auto-detected so they end up as numbers and booleans in JSON, not strings. Dotted section names like [server.dev] become nested JSON objects. Comments (lines starting with ; or #) are dropped because JSON doesn't support them. Everything happens in your browser. Your INI data never leaves your device.

Features You Get

One-click conversion: hit Convert and the JSON appears in the output panel.
Section mapping: each [section] becomes a JSON object with the section name as the key.
Type detection: numbers and booleans are auto-converted to their proper JSON types.
Nested sections: dotted names like [server.dev] become nested JSON objects.
Upload support: load a .ini or .cfg file from your device or drag-and-drop it into the input.
One-click copy: grab the JSON output with the Copy button and paste it anywhere.

How to Use the Tool

Paste your INI content into the input editor, or use the Upload File button to load a .ini or .cfg file.
Click the Convert button to generate the JSON output on the right.
Click the Copy button to copy the JSON to your clipboard.
Use the Clear button to reset both editors when you want to start over.

Common Use Cases

Build scripts: reading php.ini or my.cnf settings in JavaScript or Python tooling.
API exposure: turning legacy INI config into JSON for a settings endpoint.
Config modernization: moving from INI to a JSON-driven config used by your app.
Test fixtures: producing JSON samples from existing INI files for tests.

Example Conversion

Input (INI)

[server]
host=localhost
port=3000

Output (JSON)

{
  "server": {
    "host": "localhost",
    "port": 3000
  }
}

Frequently Asked Questions

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