9 Small Web Tools I Reach for Every Week as a Developer

Every developer maintains a collection of bookmarks for quick tasks: formatting JSON, encoding strings, generating QR codes. These small jobs disrupt workflow when tools are hard to find. Here are nine regularly used utilities, all gathered on Toolharo, with usage tips.

A JSON formatter indents API responses, making structure visible. Use it for debugging responses, reading config files, or documenting examples. A JSON validator checks for proper JSON syntax. It flags syntax issues like trailing commas, single quotes, or unclosed brackets. Ideal when a request fails due to parse errors. Base64 tools handle data URIs, basic auth headers, and email attachments.

Quick decoding is useful, but remember Base64 is only encoding, not encryption. Password generators create strong test accounts for staging environments. Use them for non-production credentials. QR code generators share staging URLs with testers or Wi-Fi logins. They're handy for moving links from laptops to phones. Robots.txt generators help launch sites and block admin paths.

Sitemap generators produce XML sitemaps for small projects. A text diff checker highlights changes between text versions, useful for suspect copy-pastes or comparing outputs. Image compressors reduce large image file sizes before adding them to projects. Make sure to compare file sizes and visually check the result. Honorable mentions include a case converter for text formatting, a find & replace tool, a Lorem Ipsum generator, and a favicon generator.

To use these tools safely, avoid pasting real secrets, always verify output before deploying, and keep a well-organized collection of bookmarks.