Does formatting change how my query executes?

No. SQL formatting only adds or removes whitespace and optionally normalizes keyword casing — both of which SQL engines completely ignore during parsing. The query optimizer sees identical input regardless of indentation, line breaks, or whether keywords are uppercase or lowercase. Formatted and minified versions of the same query produce byte-identical execution plans and results.

How does it handle subqueries?

Subqueries are indented one level deeper than their containing clause. A subquery in a FROM clause (derived table) gets its own SELECT/FROM/WHERE alignment, wrapped in parentheses on its own line. A correlated subquery in a WHERE clause is indented below the WHERE keyword. Nested subqueries indent progressively — each additional level adds one more indent, keeping deep nesting readable.

Are SQL comments preserved?

Yes. Both single-line comments (`-- comment text`) and multi-line block comments (`/* comment text */`) are preserved in the formatted output. Inline comments after a clause (e.g., `WHERE id = 1 -- filter active`) stay on the same line. Multi-line comments before a statement are placed on their own lines above the statement. Comment content is never modified or removed.

Is there a query size limit?

No server-side size limit applies since all formatting runs in your browser using JavaScript — no file is uploaded. Very large queries (thousands of lines, complex CTEs with multiple levels of nesting) may take 1–2 seconds to format but will complete. The practical limit is browser memory. Queries under 1MB format instantly; break up extremely large query files into logical sections for readability.

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Free SQL Formatter — Format & Beautify SQL Queries Online

An SQL formatter takes raw or concatenated SQL and returns it with consistent indentation, uppercase keywords, and aligned clauses — making it readable for code review, documentation, and debugging. Supports standard SQL, MySQL, and PostgreSQL syntax in your browser.

Free — No SignupRuns in BrowserData Never UploadedPopular tool

How It Works

How to use SQL Formatter

Paste your SQL

Paste any raw or minified SQL query — SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, CREATE TABLE.

Choose dialect

Select MySQL, PostgreSQL, or standard SQL. Toggle keyword uppercasing and indent size.

Copy output

The formatted SQL appears instantly. Copy to clipboard for your editor or documentation.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Standard ANSI SQL, MySQL 5.7+, MySQL 8+, and PostgreSQL 14+ are all supported. All common DML statements (SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, MERGE) and DDL (CREATE TABLE, ALTER TABLE, DROP, CREATE INDEX) are formatted. Dialect-specific syntax — MySQL's backtick identifiers, PostgreSQL's `::` cast syntax, and dialect-specific functions — is preserved without modification.

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Free SQL Formatter — Format & Beautify SQL Queries Online

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