As a developer, I often deal with large and nested JSON data—whether it's debugging APIs, understanding complex structures, or building data-driven apps. And while there are plenty of traditional JSON viewers out there, I kept running into the same problem: it’s hard to see the data.
The Problem with 2D JSON Viewing
Most JSON viewers follow a simple tree structure. It works—for small or moderately nested data. But when the JSON gets deeply nested or interconnected, it becomes overwhelming. You have to collapse/expand endlessly, and cross-referencing linked keys or relationships becomes painful.
At one point, I thought, “Why can't we just visualize this like a living, breathing structure?”
That’s when the idea hit me: Why not 3D?
A New Perspective: 3D JSON Visualization
I started experimenting with 3D rendering of JSON structures—nodes floating in space, connected by meaningful edges. Instead of endlessly scrolling and clicking, imagine this:
You zoom into specific branches of data.
You rotate the structure to explore relationships from every angle.
You feel the depth of the data, not just read it.
Why Bother With 3D?
Great question. Here's why:
🧠 Cognitive Clarity: Visual spatial relationships help our brains better grasp complex structures.
🔍 Insight Discovery: Connections and patterns become more obvious in 3D.
🔗 Schema Mapping: For MongoDB-like documents or deeply related API responses, this is a game-changer.
🎓 Learning Tool: It’s an excellent way for beginners to see JSON and learn how data is structured.
Tech Behind the Scenes
I’m using React Three Fiber (a React renderer for Three.js) for rendering, along with tools that support real-time interactivity. I'm also making it super lightweight—no bloat, just clean exploration.
Plus, it's part of my broader toolset at jsonviewer.tools, where I’m building utilities to make working with JSON more intuitive—be it via tree view, graph, compact diagrams, or now: 3D.
What’s Next?
✅ Add hover and click interactions for node details.
✅ Theme customization (light/dark/VR-ready).
🧪 Explore AR/VR possibilities in the browser.
🔄 Allow users to upload or paste JSON and instantly view the 3D graph.
Join Me on This Journey
I believe we’ve only scratched the surface of developer UX for data tools. If you're a dev, data geek, or visual thinker—I’d love your feedback, ideas, or collaboration.
You can try the current tool or see other visualizations at jsonviewer.tools. Drop a star, share your thoughts, or even suggest a crazy feature.
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