Hosts File to JSON - Parse System DNS Overrides

Convert hosts files to JSON for analysis and documentation. Supports IPv4/IPv6, comments, and multiple hostnames per line. Private, browser-based processing.

Hosts File Input

JSON Output

Options

Format:

Indent:

Include comments

Include statistics

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Frequently Asked Questions

A hosts file maps hostnames to IP addresses, overriding DNS lookups. Located at /etc/hosts (Linux/Mac) or C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts (Windows), it's used for local development, ad blocking, and network testing.

Converting to JSON helps with documentation, backup, analysis, version control, and programmatic processing. It's useful for auditing ad-blocking lists, managing development environments, or migrating configurations between systems.

Yes. The converter handles both IPv4 (e.g., 127.0.0.1) and IPv6 (e.g., ::1) address formats. Each entry is properly parsed regardless of IP version, with full support for IPv6 notation.

Comments (lines starting with #) are preserved in the JSON output with their associated entries. You can choose to include or exclude them. Comments provide context about blocking rules or environment setup.

Yes. Hosts files often map one IP to multiple hostnames (e.g., '127.0.0.1 localhost myapp.local api.local'). These are parsed into an array of hostnames per IP address for easy processing.

Choose from three formats: Array of objects (with ip, hostnames, comment fields), Grouped by IP (consolidated entries), or Flat list (separate object per hostname). Each format suits different analysis needs.

Ad-blocking hosts lists (like from someonewhocares.org or Steven Black) contain thousands of entries. Converting to JSON enables filtering, counting unique domains, analyzing categories, or integrating with blocking tools.

Absolutely. Convert your development hosts file to JSON for backup, team sharing via version control, or generating documentation. Easily track which local domains point to which environments (dev, staging, prod).

The converter provides total entries count, unique IP addresses, unique hostnames, and comment lines. These metrics help understand the size and scope of your hosts file configuration.

Yes. All parsing happens in your browser using JavaScript. No data is uploaded to any server. Your hosts file may contain sensitive internal domains, so privacy is guaranteed.