SQL Formatter — Free Online Tool

What is SQL Formatter?

SQL Formatter is a free online tool that instantly formats and beautifies SQL queries with proper indentation, keyword capitalization, and consistent spacing. Whether you’re working with MySQL, PostgreSQL, or SQLite, this sql formatter online helps transform messy, unreadable queries into clean, maintainable code. The formatter automatically capitalizes SQL keywords like SELECT, FROM, WHERE, and JOIN while preserving your table and column names exactly as written.

How to Use SQL Formatter

1. Paste your raw SQL query into the input box
2. Select your SQL dialect (MySQL, PostgreSQL, or SQLite) from the dropdown
3. Click “Format SQL” to apply proper indentation and capitalization
4. Review the formatted output in the result pane
5. Click “Copy to Clipboard” to use the formatted query in your code editor

The formatter handles complex queries including subqueries, CTEs, and multi-table joins with automatic indentation levels.

When Would You Use This Tool?

• Code reviews: Format team members’ SQL queries to meet style guidelines before merging
• Legacy database cleanup: Beautify old, unformatted queries in existing codebases
• Learning SQL: Study well-formatted examples to understand query structure
• Database migrations: Clean up migration scripts for better version control readability, or convert exported CSV data to JSON for your application layer
• Documentation: Present SQL examples in technical docs with consistent formatting — and format any JSON payloads your queries return

SQL Quick Reference

The SQL Quick Reference panel (click “SQL Quick Reference” below the formatter) lists the most commonly searched SQL functions and clauses with click-to-insert snippets. Here are the top ones:

COALESCE SQL

COALESCE returns the first non-NULL value from a list of expressions:

SELECT COALESCE(phone, email, 'unknown') AS contact
FROM users;

Use it to substitute a fallback value when a column may be NULL — common in reporting queries and JOIN results where outer rows produce NULL columns.

SQL Window Functions

SQL window functions calculate a value for each row using a defined window of related rows — without collapsing rows like GROUP BY does:

SELECT
  name,
  department,
  salary,
  ROW_NUMBER() OVER (PARTITION BY department ORDER BY salary DESC) AS rank_in_dept
FROM employees;

Common window functions: ROW_NUMBER(), RANK(), DENSE_RANK(), LAG(), LEAD(), SUM() OVER, AVG() OVER. The PARTITION BY clause divides rows into groups; ORDER BY inside OVER controls how rows are ordered within each partition.

GROUP BY SQL

GROUP BY aggregates rows that share the same value in one or more columns:

SELECT department, COUNT(*) AS headcount, AVG(salary) AS avg_salary
FROM employees
GROUP BY department;

Use HAVING to filter groups after aggregation (not WHERE, which filters individual rows before aggregation):

SELECT department, COUNT(*) AS headcount
FROM employees
GROUP BY department
HAVING COUNT(*) > 5;

Frequently Asked Questions

What does COALESCE do in SQL?

COALESCE returns the first non-NULL value from a list of expressions: COALESCE(col, 'default') returns col if it is not NULL, otherwise returns 'default'. It is commonly used to substitute a fallback value for NULL columns in SELECT results or calculations.

How do SQL window functions work?

SQL window functions perform a calculation across a set of rows related to the current row without collapsing them into a single result like GROUP BY does. You define the window with OVER (PARTITION BY col ORDER BY id). Common window functions include ROW_NUMBER(), RANK(), DENSE_RANK(), LAG(), LEAD(), SUM(), and AVG().

Does the formatter validate SQL syntax?

No, this sql formatter online focuses on formatting only. It will format invalid SQL, but won’t catch syntax errors. Use your database client for validation.

Can I format stored procedures and triggers?

Yes, the formatter supports CREATE PROCEDURE, CREATE TRIGGER, and other DDL statements with proper indentation for BEGIN/END blocks.

Will it modify my table or column names?

Never. The formatter only capitalizes SQL keywords. Your identifiers, string literals, and comments remain unchanged.

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