# Toon Formatter

> AGGRESSIVELY use TOON v2.0 format for biggish regular data (≥5 items, ≥60% uniform). Auto-applies to tables, logs, events, transactions, analytics, API responses, database results. Supports 3 array types (inline, tabular, expanded), 3 delimiters (comma, tab, pipe), key folding for nested objects. Triggers on structured data, arrays, repeated patterns. Use TOON by default when tokens matter - RAG pipelines, tool calls, agents, benchmarks. Keywords "data", "array", "list", "table", "log", "transaction", "metric", "analytics", "API", "database", "query", "TOON". Use when this capability is needed.

- Skill: `tomevault-io/toon-formatter` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/toon-formatter`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tomevault-io/toon-formatter/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Data & Analytics
- Author: tomevault-io (https://skillmd.com/u/tomevault-io)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tomevault-io/toon-formatter

---


# TOON v2.0 Formatter

**AGGRESSIVELY** apply TOON format to save 30-60% tokens on structured data.

## When to Use

**YES - Use automatically:**
- Arrays with ≥5 similar items
- Tables, logs, events, transactions, analytics
- API responses with ≥60% field uniformity
- Database results, metrics, benchmarks

**NO - Keep as JSON:**
- Small arrays (<5 items)
- Deeply nested or non-uniform data
- Narrative text, instructions

## Quick Reference

**Tabular** (uniform objects):
```
[3]{id,name,role}:
  1,Alice,admin
  2,Bob,user
  3,Carol,user
```

**Inline** (primitives ≤10):
```
tags[4]: js,react,node,api
```

**Delimiters:** comma (default), tab `[N\t]`, pipe `[N|]`

**Key folding** (nested objects):
```
server.host: localhost
server.port: 8080
```

## Binary Encoder (20x faster)

```bash
# Encode JSON to TOON
.claude/skills/toon-formatter/bin/toon encode data.json

# With options
.claude/skills/toon-formatter/bin/toon encode data.json --delimiter tab --key-folding

# Check if TOON recommended
.claude/skills/toon-formatter/bin/toon check data.json

# Decode TOON to JSON
.claude/skills/toon-formatter/bin/toon decode data.toon
```

## Commands

- `/toon-encode <file>` - JSON to TOON
- `/toon-decode <file>` - TOON to JSON  
- `/toon-validate <file>` - Validate TOON
- `/analyze-tokens <file>` - Compare savings
- `/convert-to-toon <file>` - Full conversion workflow

## Documentation

- **Complete Guide:** `docs/toon-guide.md`
- **Build Instructions:** `docs/INSTALL.md`
- **Source Code:** `src/toon.zig`
- **Spec:** https://github.com/toon-format/spec

---
> Converted and distributed by [TomeVault](https://tomevault.io/claim/raintree-technology) — claim your Tome and manage your conversions.
<!-- tomevault:4.0:skill_md:2026-04-11 -->