A project manager opens a SharePoint list to check which tasks need attention. The information is there, but completed, pending, and overdue items all look almost identical. Instead of spotting the important entries immediately, they have to read through rows and compare values one by one.
This is where JSON column formatting becomes useful. In our work with SharePoint lists at Code Creators, we often use formatting to make existing list data easier to interpret without changing the values behind it. A status can stand out based on its value, an overdue date can draw attention, and users can understand what needs action without scanning every field manually.
You also do not need to rebuild the list or create a custom application. SharePoint applies the JSON to how a column appears while keeping its stored value unchanged. In this article, you will learn how to use SharePoint column formatting JSON, understand the elements you need, and apply practical formatting to common list columns.
What Is SharePoint Column Formatting with JSON?
SharePoint column formatting lets you control how a field appears in a list or library. You create JSON that tells SharePoint what to display and how to style it.
In the SharePoint lists we work with, status fields are one of the clearest places where column formatting helps. Values such as Not Started, In Progress, and Completed can be difficult to distinguish when they appear as regular text. JSON formatting can give these values distinct visual treatment, making the status of each item easier to recognize while scanning the list.
The important point is that formatting changes the presentation, not the underlying data. If a column contains “Completed,” JSON can change how that value looks, but the stored value remains “Completed.”
This makes column formatting useful when the list already works as intended but its information needs to be easier to scan.
How Do I Use JSON Formatting to Format Columns in SharePoint?
You can add JSON directly from the formatting options of a SharePoint list or library.
Open the list and select the column you want to customize. Choose Column settings > Format this column. When the formatting pane opens, switch to Advanced mode to enter or edit JSON.
A basic format looks like this:
JSON Example
{
"elmType": "div",
"txtContent": "@currentField"
}This JSON tells SharePoint to display the current column value inside a div element. It does not add conditional styling yet, which makes it a useful starting point.
After adding the JSON, preview the result and check it against different values in the column. Once the formatting behaves as expected, save it.
Understanding SharePoint Column Formatting JSON
You do not need to learn every part of JSON before you start formatting SharePoint columns. However, a few properties and references appear regularly.
elmType tells SharePoint which element to render. For example, div works as a container for the column content.
txtContent defines the text that appears inside that element. When you use @currentField, SharePoint displays the value of the column you are formatting.
style controls visual properties such as background color, text color, padding, and font weight.
attributes lets you define additional properties when an element requires them.
You can also use references such as [$Status] to read another field from the same list item. This becomes useful when the appearance of one column depends on information stored in another.
Once you understand these elements, you can adjust existing JSON examples instead of writing every format from scratch.
SharePoint Column Formatting JSON Examples
Once you understand the basic structure, you can add conditions that make list information easier to interpret. The following SharePoint column formatting JSON examples cover two common situations: identifying a specific status and drawing attention to dates that have passed.
Change the Color Based on a Column Value
We often see status columns where values such as “Completed” need to stand out from items that still require action. Giving that value a different background makes completed items easier to identify when users scan the list.
JSON Example
{
"elmType": "div",
"txtContent": "@currentField",
"style": {
"background-color": "=if(@currentField == 'Completed', '#dff6dd', '')",
"padding": "4px 8px"
}
}Here, @currentField represents the value in the Status column. The if expression checks whether that value equals “Completed.” If it does, SharePoint applies the specified background color. Otherwise, it leaves the background unchanged.
You can use the same approach for priority levels, approval results, project stages, and other fields where the value determines how the column should appear.
Highlight Overdue Dates
Due dates often need more attention because users need to see quickly which items require action. JSON lets you compare a date field with the current date and time.
JSON Example
{
"elmType": "div",
"txtContent": "@currentField",
"style": {
"color": "=if(@currentField <= @now, '#a4262c', '')",
"font-weight": "=if(@currentField <= @now, '600', 'normal')"
}
}@now represents the current date and time. When the field value is earlier than or equal to @now, SharePoint changes its text color and font weight. This makes dates that need attention easier to identify while scanning the list.
However, the condition should match the way your list works. If completed tasks remain visible after their due dates, checking the date alone could make finished work appear overdue. In that case, you can also reference the Status column in the condition.
How to Reference Other Columns in JSON Formatting
SharePoint list column formatting JSON becomes more useful when the formatting can respond to other fields in the same list item.
In more detailed list formatting, we often need one column to respond to the value stored in another. A Task Name column, for instance, can change its text color when the Status field contains “Completed.” To do this, you can reference the Status field directly:
JSON Expression
"color": "=if([$Status] == 'Completed', '#107c10', '')"[$Status] tells SharePoint to read the Status field from the current list item rather than the column you are currently formatting.
Pay attention to field names when using these references. The internal field name in SharePoint may differ from the name displayed to users. For example, spaces in a field’s internal name can appear as _x0020_. A field displayed as “Due Date” could therefore have an internal name such as Due_x0020_Date.
If your JSON structure looks correct but a cross-column condition does not work, check the internal field name before changing the condition itself.
Common Problems with SharePoint JSON Column Formatting
JSON follows a strict structure. A missing quotation mark, comma, bracket, or brace can prevent the format from working correctly. For that reason, make one change at a time and test the result before adding another condition.
Incorrect field references can also cause problems. This often happens when the visible column name differs from its internal SharePoint name. If a condition involving another field does not work, verify the field reference first.
Empty values need attention as well. For example, a date condition should account for blank fields instead of assuming that every item contains a valid date. The same principle applies to number, choice, and text fields.
Finally, test the formatting with different types of list items. Do not check only the value you used while writing the JSON. Test completed and incomplete statuses, past and future dates, and blank fields where relevant. This helps you catch conditions that work in one case but produce unexpected results elsewhere.
How to Keep SharePoint Column Formatting Easy to Maintain
Good column formatting should make information easier to understand. Adding too many colors, conditions, or visual effects can have the opposite effect.
Start with fields where visual differences have a clear meaning. Status, priority, deadlines, and approval results are strong candidates because users often need to recognize these values quickly.
Keep the JSON conditions focused as well. Several nested conditions may work, but they become harder to troubleshoot and update. Start with the simplest rule that solves the problem. Then add another condition only when the list requires it.
You should also treat copied JSON as a starting point rather than a finished solution. A SharePoint column formatting JSON example may use different field names, choice values, or column types from your list. Update those references and conditions before applying the format to a live list.
Improve Your SharePoint Experience with Code Creators
SharePoint lists should make information easier to manage, not leave users spending extra time finding the fields and items that need attention. JSON column formatting can improve that experience, but it works best when it fits the list structure, business process, and way users interact with the data.
At Code Creators, our SharePoint development services help businesses improve SharePoint environments around these practical needs. From refining lists and their structure to creating custom solutions for more complex requirements, the focus stays on making SharePoint easier to use and manage as business needs change.
Ready to improve how your teams work with SharePoint? Get in touch with Code Creators to discuss a SharePoint solution built around your business requirements.
Conclusion
SharePoint column formatting JSON works best when you use it to solve a specific readability problem. @currentField lets you work with the column being formatted, while references such as [$Status] let you use another field in the same item. Expressions such as if() and @now then allow the appearance of a column to respond to its actual data.
You do not need complex JSON to make a SharePoint list easier to use. A simple condition that distinguishes a completed status or highlights a past due date can make important information easier to find without changing the underlying values.
Start with one column and one clear condition. Test it against normal values, blank fields, and less common cases before expanding the formatting. This keeps your JSON easier to troubleshoot and maintain while giving users a clearer view of the information that requires their attention.
If your lists need more than individual formatting fixes, explore how Code Creators can help you turn SharePoint into a clearer and more efficient workspace for your team.
