XML Formatter
Format, minify, and validate XML with syntax highlighting
Input
Output
What Is an XML Formatter?
XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is used for config files, SOAP APIs, RSS feeds, and document formats like Office Open XML. The W3C XML specification keeps the syntax minimal, which is great for machines but not so great when you need to actually read the data. Minified or poorly indented XML—often a single compressed line—is hard to follow. A formatter adds indentation and line breaks so you can see the tag hierarchy clearly.
This tool parses your XML using the browser's built-in DOMParser and reformats it with consistent indentation. The result shows up in the output panel. Nothing is sent to a server, so it's safe to use with production data, API responses, or sensitive configuration. Use Minify to compress the output, or XML to JSON to convert to another format.
XML Formatting Examples
Minified or compact XML is hard to read; formatting reveals the structure. Telecom-themed examples:
Example 1: Subscriber record
Minified input:
Formatted output:
Example 2: Call records
Minified input:
Formatted output:
Click the Sample button above to load subscriber data into the editor.
How to Use This Tool
Paste or Upload
Copy your XML and paste it into the left editor. You can also click Upload to load a .xml file from your computer. The Sample button loads example data if you want to test things out.
Check the Output
The right panel shows the formatted XML with proper indentation. Valid XML gets reformatted; invalid XML will show an error. Use Minify to remove all whitespace and get a compact single-line version. For extracting specific values from large XML, the XPath tool works well alongside this.
Copy, Download, or Minify
Use Copy to put the result on your clipboard, Download to save it as a file, or Minify to remove all whitespace. For validation before or after formatting, use XML Validator.
How the Formatter Works
The tool uses the browser's DOMParser to parse your XML into a DOM tree. It then serializes the tree back with indentation applied between tags. The W3C XML spec treats whitespace between tags as insignificant in most cases, so the structure and content stay the same—only the formatting changes.
XML supports comments, unlike JSON. If your document has <!-- comments -->, they are preserved. For schema validation (XSD), use a dedicated schema validator; this tool checks well-formedness only. The W3C XML Schema spec defines XSD.
Where XML Formatting Helps
Most developers need a formatter when reading API responses. You send a request through Postman or curl, and the SOAP or REST response comes back as a single compressed line. Pasting it here makes nested elements and attributes visible immediately. For pulling out specific values, use the XPath tool.
Config files like pom.xml, web.config, or AndroidManifest.xml often have nested structures. Formatting them here gives you a consistent layout for pull requests or reviews. If you need to convert to JSON for modern APIs, use XML to JSON.
RSS and Atom feeds are XML. If your feed validator fails or a reader can't parse your feed, formatting here helps you spot the exact error. Running it through the XML Validator first can catch issues before anyone else sees them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my data private?
Yes. The formatting happens in your browser using JavaScript. No data is sent to any server. You can confirm this by opening your browser's Network tab while using the tool.
What about XML namespaces?
Namespace declarations and prefixes are preserved. The formatter only changes whitespace, not structure. The XML Namespaces spec is fully supported.
Can I convert XML to JSON?
Yes. Use the XML to JSON tool.
What if my XML is invalid?
The tool will show an error. Try XML Validator to diagnose.
Does this support XHTML?
XHTML is valid XML. It should format correctly. For HTML specifically, use an HTML formatter.
Related Tools
For a deeper look at XML, the W3C XML specification defines the full syntax. MDN's DOMParser guide covers parsing XML in browsers. For JSON: json.org. For XPath queries: XPath 3.1.