Paste your .ini or config file content
JSON output appears here
Paste INI content and click Convert// parse ini sections and keys into structured json
Convert INI configuration files to structured JSON instantly. Parse sections, keys, and values into clean JSON output with support for nested sections and arrays.
JSON output appears here
Paste INI content and click ConvertPaste your .ini configuration file content into the left panel or click "Load Sample" to try an example.
Choose indentation style and whether to auto-detect numbers and booleans.
Click "Convert to JSON" or press Ctrl+Enter. Copy or download the structured JSON output.
The INI format is a simple, human-readable configuration file format used across many platforms and languages. It organizes settings into named sections with key-value pairs. This tool converts any INI file into structured JSON, making it easy to use config data in JavaScript, APIs, and modern toolchains.
An INI file is a plain-text configuration file format commonly used by Windows software, PHP, Python, and game engines. It uses sections denoted by [SectionName] and key-value pairs separated by an equals sign.
Each [section] becomes a top-level key in the JSON object. Its key-value pairs are nested as properties of that section object. Keys defined before any section are placed at the root level of the JSON.
Yes. Lines starting with ; or # are treated as comments and skipped. Inline comments after values (e.g. port = 3306 ; default port) are also stripped before conversion.
Keys using bracket notation like item[] or item[0] are converted to JSON arrays. Multiple key[] = value entries accumulate into an array under that key name.
With "Auto-detect" enabled, numeric strings become JSON numbers, and values like true, false, and null become their JSON equivalents. Disable this to keep all values as strings.
Conversion happens entirely in your browser using JavaScript. No data is sent to any server. Your configuration files remain private and secure at all times.
The INI file format has been a staple of software configuration for decades, powering everything from Windows system settings to PHP application configs and game engine parameters. While INI files are easy for humans to read and edit, modern applications increasingly rely on JSON for configuration due to its native support in JavaScript, robust tooling, and hierarchical data model. Our free, browser-based INI to JSON Converter bridges this gap instantly.
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INI files follow a simple, human-readable structure. A typical INI file contains three primary elements: sections, keys, and values. Sections are defined by placing a name inside square brackets, such as [database]. Under each section, you define configuration properties as key-value pairs separated by an equals sign, for example host = localhost. Lines beginning with a semicolon (;) or hash (#) character are treated as comments and ignored during parsing.
Despite its simplicity, the INI format has several dialect variations. Some parsers support multi-line values, others allow duplicate keys as arrays, and the handling of whitespace around the equals sign varies. This tool follows the most widely-used conventions: sections map to objects, duplicate bracket-notation keys (key[]) become arrays, and inline comments are stripped cleanly.
JSON has become the lingua franca of configuration in modern web development. Node.js applications, REST APIs, front-end tooling, and cloud infrastructure tools all speak JSON natively. Converting your INI files to JSON unlocks several practical benefits:
JSON.parse() — no external library needed.A key feature of this converter is intelligent type detection. In raw INI format, every value is technically a string. However, when working with JSON, preserving semantic types is important. With auto-detection enabled, the converter transforms port = 3306 into the JSON number 3306, debug = true into the boolean true, and value = null into JSON null. This makes the resulting JSON ready to use without additional parsing in your application code.
If you need all values preserved as strings — for example when the consuming system expects strict string types — simply disable the "Auto-detect" toggles in the options bar before converting.
Many INI parsers support array notation using bracket syntax. For example:
[server]
allowed_ips[] = 192.168.1.1
allowed_ips[] = 10.0.0.1
allowed_ips[] = 172.16.0.1This converter correctly handles this pattern, producing a JSON array under the allowed_ips key within the server object. Named indexes like key[name] are also supported and map to JSON object keys.
INI files appear across a wide range of contexts. PHP applications use php.ini to configure the PHP runtime. Python's configparser module reads INI-style files natively. Windows stores system settings in INI format throughout the registry and application directories. Game engines like Unreal Engine use INI files for project settings, graphics configuration, and input bindings. Desktop applications on Linux often store user preferences in ~/.config/ directories using INI syntax. Wherever you encounter these files, this tool can help you move their data into a JSON-compatible format.
Configuration files often contain sensitive information: database credentials, API keys, server addresses, and authentication tokens. This converter runs entirely in your browser using client-side JavaScript. No data is transmitted to any server. Your configuration content never leaves your device, making it safe to use even with sensitive production configuration files.