{"generatedAt":"2026-07-19T03:01:59.482Z","tool":{"id":"format-detective","name":"Format Detective","description":"Detect unknown data formats and convert between JSON, YAML, XML, CSV, TOML, and text with browser + API workflows","category":"converter","icon":"?!","keywords":["format detector","data format","detect json yaml csv xml toml","format converter","file type detector","data identifier"],"hasApi":true,"remoteCallable":true,"remoteMode":"dedicated_api","riskClass":"L","maxInputBytes":131072,"timeoutMs":2000,"supportsStreaming":false,"url":"/format-detective/","tags":["converter"],"faqs":[{"question":"What is Format Detective?","answer":"Format Detective is a free online tool that instantly detects data formats (JSON, YAML, XML, CSV, TOML, INI, Markdown Table) with confidence scoring and converts between them."},{"question":"How does format detection work?","answer":"The detector parses your input against each format's grammar rules and assigns a confidence score (0–100%). Multiple formats may match — for example, valid JSON is also valid YAML — so results are ranked by confidence."},{"question":"Which format conversions are supported?","answer":"You can convert between JSON, YAML, XML, CSV, TOML, and INI. Conversion uses JSON as an intermediate representation, so the source must be parseable to a JSON-compatible structure."},{"question":"Is my data sent to a server?","answer":"No. All detection and conversion runs entirely in your browser. Nothing is uploaded. You can also use the free REST API at aidevhub.io/api/format-detective/ for server-side detection and conversion."},{"question":"Can I use this programmatically?","answer":"Yes. The Format Detective REST API at aidevhub.io/api/format-detective/ offers /detect/ and /convert/ endpoints — 50 requests per day, no API key required, CORS enabled."}],"howTo":[{"title":"Paste or type your data","description":"Enter data into the input area or click a sample button (JSON, YAML, XML, CSV, TOML) to load example content. Detection runs automatically as you type."},{"title":"Review detected formats","description":"Check the detection bar for ranked format matches with confidence percentages. The highest-confidence format is highlighted. Multiple formats may match if the data is valid in more than one grammar."},{"title":"Convert to another format","description":"Select a target format from the dropdown and click Convert. The converted output appears in the right panel, ready to copy or download."},{"title":"Copy or download the result","description":"Use the copy button to copy converted output to your clipboard, or the download button to save it as a file with the correct extension."}],"agentContract":{"toolId":"format-detective","contractVersion":"2.0.0","remote_callable":true,"remote_mode":"dedicated_api","risk_class":"L","max_input_bytes":131072,"timeout_ms":2000,"supports_streaming":false,"preferred_surface":"dedicated_api","dedicated_api":{"baseUrl":"https://aidevhub.io/api/format-detective/detect/","openapiUrl":"https://aidevhub.io/api/openapi.yaml","endpoints":[{"method":"GET","path":"/api/format-detective/detect/","summary":"Detect the format of input data"},{"method":"GET","path":"/api/format-detective/convert/","summary":"Convert data between formats"}],"riskClass":"L","inputMaxBytes":131072,"timeoutMs":2000},"runtime":{"endpoint":"/api/tools/run/","methods":["GET","POST"],"queryParams":[{"name":"toolId","required":true,"description":"Tool identifier"},{"name":"a","required":true,"description":"Primary input"}],"postBodyShape":{"toolId":"string","input":"{ a, b?, c?, mode? }"},"exampleGet":"https://aidevhub.io/api/tools/run/?toolId=format-detective&a=...","policy":{"riskClass":"L","limit":60,"burst":20,"windowSec":60,"inputMaxBytes":131072,"timeoutMs":2000,"cacheTtlSec":0,"networkEnabled":false,"supportsStreaming":false}},"semantic_fields":{"input":"Field from Format Detective API"}},"relatedTools":[{"id":"tailwind-converter","name":"CSS to Tailwind Converter","url":"/tailwind-converter/","category":"converter"},{"id":"html-to-jsx","name":"HTML to JSX Converter","url":"/html-to-jsx/","category":"converter"},{"id":"color-converter","name":"Color Converter","url":"/color-converter/","category":"converter"},{"id":"json-to-go","name":"JSON to Go Struct","url":"/json-to-go/","category":"converter"},{"id":"json-to-python","name":"JSON to Python Dataclass","url":"/json-to-python/","category":"converter"},{"id":"json-to-typescript","name":"JSON to TypeScript Converter","url":"/json-to-typescript/","category":"converter"}]}}