HTML Pretty Print

What is HTML Pretty Print?

HTML Pretty Print is an online tool that formats and beautifies HTML code to make it more readable and maintainable. The tool applies consistent indentation, proper line breaks, and formatting rules to transform messy, minified, or unformatted HTML into clean, well-structured code.

Our HTML Pretty Print tool provides advanced formatting options including customizable indentation, line wrapping, attribute formatting, and preservation of existing structure. The tool processes all formatting locally in your browser, ensuring your code remains private and secure.

How to Use HTML Pretty Print

Using our HTML Pretty Print tool is straightforward:

Enter HTML: Paste your HTML code into the input area or upload an HTML file
Configure Options: Adjust formatting options like indent size, line wrapping, and attribute formatting
View Result: The pretty-printed HTML appears automatically in the output panel
Copy or Download: Use the copy button to copy the formatted HTML or download it as a file
Adjust Settings: Modify formatting options to customize the output to your preferences

Features of HTML Pretty Print

Our HTML Pretty Print tool includes the following features:

Advanced Formatting: Comprehensive HTML formatting with multiple options
Customizable Indentation: Set indent size (0-10 spaces) for nested elements
Line Wrapping: Configure maximum line length for attribute wrapping
Attribute Formatting: Multiple options for wrapping and aligning attributes
Preserve Newlines: Option to preserve existing line breaks
Indent Inner HTML: Control indentation of content inside HTML elements
Real-time Formatting: See formatted output instantly as you type
Syntax Highlighting: Color-coded HTML syntax for better readability
File Upload: Upload HTML files for formatting
Copy & Download: Copy formatted HTML to clipboard or download as a file
Statistics: View formatting statistics (length, lines, etc.)
Sample Data: Load sample HTML to see how the tool works
No Registration: Use the tool without signing up

Common Use Cases

HTML Pretty Print is useful for various scenarios:

Code Cleanup: Format messy or unformatted HTML code
Minified HTML: Expand minified HTML for readability
Code Review: Format HTML for easier code review and collaboration
Learning: Understand HTML structure through proper formatting
Documentation: Format HTML examples for documentation
Debugging: Format HTML to identify structure issues
Consistency: Ensure consistent formatting across projects
Version Control: Format HTML before committing to version control
Teaching: Format HTML for educational purposes
Maintenance: Improve maintainability of HTML code

Formatting Options Explained

Indent Size

Controls the number of spaces used for indentation of nested elements. Common values:

2 spaces: Most common, balanced and readable
4 spaces: More spacing, easier to see nesting
Tab: Some prefer tabs, but spaces are more consistent

Wrap Line Length

Maximum line length before wrapping. Longer lines are wrapped to improve readability. Common values range from 80 to 120 characters.

Wrap Attributes

Controls how HTML attributes are formatted:

Auto: Automatically wrap attributes when needed
Force: Always wrap attributes to new lines
Preserve: Keep original attribute formatting
Aligned: Align attributes vertically for readability

Preserve Newlines

When enabled, existing line breaks in the input are preserved. This is useful when you want to maintain some of the original formatting structure.

Indent Inner HTML

Controls whether content inside HTML elements is indented. When enabled, text and child elements are indented relative to their parent elements.

Example: Before and After

Before (Unformatted):

<!DOCTYPE html><html lang="en"><head><meta charset="UTF-8"><title>Page</title></head><body><div class="container"><h1>Title</h1><p>Content</p></div></body></html>

After (Pretty Printed):

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
  <head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <title>Page</title>
  </head>
  <body>
    <div class="container">
      <h1>Title</h1>
      <p>Content</p>
    </div>
  </body>
</html>

Best Practices for HTML Formatting

Use Consistent Indentation: Choose 2 or 4 spaces and stick with it
Format Before Committing: Format HTML before committing to version control
Preserve Important Structure: Use preserve newlines for important formatting
Wrap Long Attributes: Use attribute wrapping for elements with many attributes
Indent Nested Elements: Always indent nested elements for clarity
Format Scripts and Styles: Consider formatting embedded CSS and JavaScript separately
Test After Formatting: Verify that formatted HTML still works correctly
Use Appropriate Line Length: Choose line length that fits your screen and preferences

What Gets Formatted?

The tool formats:

HTML Elements: All HTML tags and their structure
Attributes: HTML attributes with proper spacing and alignment
Nested Elements: Proper indentation for nested structures
Text Content: Text inside elements (with indentation options)

The tool preserves (does not format):

Script Tags: Content inside <script> tags (by default)
Style Tags: Content inside <style> tags (by default)
Pre Tags: Content inside <pre> tags (preserves formatting)
Textarea Content: Content inside <textarea> tags

Frequently Asked Questions

Does formatting change the HTML functionality?

No, HTML formatting only changes whitespace (spaces, tabs, line breaks). It does not change the structure, attributes, or content of the HTML. The formatted HTML should function identically to the original. However, always test to ensure everything works as expected.

Can I format minified HTML?

Yes, the tool can format minified HTML. It will add proper indentation, line breaks, and spacing to make the code readable. However, very complex minified HTML might require some manual adjustments.

What's the difference between this tool and HTML Beautifier?

HTML Pretty Print offers more advanced formatting options including attribute wrapping modes, max preserve newlines, and more granular control over formatting behavior. It's designed for users who need more customization options for their HTML formatting.

Does the tool format CSS and JavaScript inside HTML?

By default, the tool preserves the formatting of content inside <script> and <style> tags. This prevents breaking JavaScript or CSS code. You can format CSS and JavaScript separately using dedicated tools.

Can I undo the formatting?

The tool doesn't have an undo feature, but you can keep the original input in the left panel and compare it with the formatted output. You can also copy the original before formatting or use browser back/forward if needed.

What if my HTML has errors?

The tool will attempt to format HTML even if it has errors, but the output might not be perfect. It's best to fix HTML errors before formatting for optimal results. The tool will show error messages if it encounters critical issues.

Can I format HTML with embedded templates?

Yes, the tool supports HTML with embedded templates (like Handlebars, Mustache, etc.). It will format the HTML structure while preserving template syntax. However, very complex template syntax might require manual adjustments.

What's the best indent size to use?

The best indent size depends on your project's coding standards. 2 spaces is the most common and provides a good balance between readability and screen space. 4 spaces is also popular and makes nesting more visible. Choose what works best for your team.

Does formatting affect file size?

Yes, formatted HTML is typically larger than minified HTML because it includes whitespace (spaces, tabs, line breaks). For production, you might want to minify the HTML after formatting for development. The tool shows statistics including file size differences.

Can I format HTML fragments (not full documents)?

Yes, the tool can format HTML fragments, partial HTML, or complete HTML documents. It will format whatever HTML structure you provide, whether it's a full document or just a portion of HTML code.

What is HTML Pretty Print?

How to Use HTML Pretty Print

Features of HTML Pretty Print

Common Use Cases

Formatting Options Explained

Indent Size

Wrap Line Length

Wrap Attributes

Preserve Newlines

Indent Inner HTML

Example: Before and After

Before (Unformatted):

After (Pretty Printed):

Best Practices for HTML Formatting

What Gets Formatted?

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Tags