Prettier vs ESLint: Formatting vs Linting Explained (Setup Guide)

Introduction If you've ever worked on a JavaScript or TypeScript project with more than one developer, you've probably encountered the eternal debate: tabs vs spaces, semicolons vs no semicolons, single quotes vs double quotes. These arguments can derail entire code reviews. That's where Prettier and ESLint come in — two tools that solve related but fundamentally different problems. Many developers confuse Prettier and ESLint or assume they do the same thing. In reality, they complement each other beautifully when configured correctly — but can cause frustrating conflicts when set up poorly. This guide will walk you through exactly what each tool does, how they differ, how to configure them individually and together, and how to avoid the most common pitfalls. Whether you're setting up a brand-new project or untangling a messy existing configuration, this article has everything you need. If you'd like to experiment with code formatting in your browser first, try our JavaScript Formatter