Prettier vs ESLint – Key Differences & When to Use Both

Discover the key differences between Prettier and ESLint. Learn how to format JavaScript code properly and improve code quality using both tools effectively. If you’re working with JavaScript or TypeScript, chances are you’ve heard of Prettier and ESLint. While both tools help improve your code, they serve different purposes—and understanding the distinction is key to writing clean, error-free code.

📚 What Is Prettier?

Prettier is an opinionated code formatter. It focuses strictly on the visual structure of your code, such as:

Indentation
Line length
Spacing
Braces and semicolons

Example:

// Before

const sayHi=(name)=>{console.log("Hi "+name)}

// After

const sayHi = (name) => {

console.log("Hi " + name);

};

🧪 What Is ESLint?

ESLint is a JavaScript linter. It analyzes your code for logic errors, potential bugs, and code quality issues.

✅ What ESLint Does:

Warns you if variables are unused
Flags dangerous patterns (like eval())
Enforces coding standards (like no var, only const/let)
Helps catch bugs early

let x = 10;

console.log('Ready');

// ESLint: 'x' is defined but never used

🤝 Can Prettier and ESLint Work Together?

Yes, and they should. Prettier handles formatting. ESLint handles quality and errors.

To avoid conflicts:

Use the eslint-config-prettier plugin to disable stylistic rules in ESLint that Prettier already manages.
Use eslint-plugin-prettier to run Prettier as an ESLint rule

🖥️ Want to Format Code Instantly?

Don’t want to configure tools or install packages?

Just head to CodeFormatting.com and:

Select your language (JavaScript, TypeScript, etc.)
Paste your code
Click Format ✅

No plugins. No setup. Just clean code.