Sort XML Online
Sort XML elements and attributes online. Organize XML data by element name, attribute value, or custom criteria. Free XML sorting tool with multiple sorting options.
What is Sort XML Online?
Sort XML Online is a powerful online tool that allows you to sort XML elements alphabetically or by custom criteria. This tool helps organize XML data by element names, attribute values, or text content, making it easier to read, compare, and manage XML files. Whether you're working with configuration files, data exports, or API responses, sorting XML can help you find and organize information more efficiently.
Our Sort XML Online tool provides multiple sorting options, preserves XML structure, and maintains data integrity while reorganizing your XML elements. The tool processes your XML locally in your browser, ensuring your data remains private and secure.
How to Use Sort XML Online
Using our Sort XML Online tool is straightforward:
- Enter XML: Paste your XML code into the left text area or upload an XML file
- Choose Sort Criteria: Select how to sort elements (by element name, attribute value, or text content)
- Set Attribute Name: If sorting by attribute, specify the attribute name (e.g., "id", "name")
- Choose Sort Order: Select ascending (A-Z) or descending (Z-A) order
- Configure Options: Enable sorting of attributes and choose whether to preserve structure
- View Sorted XML: The sorted XML appears automatically in the right panel
- Copy or Download: Use the copy button or download the sorted XML
Features of Sort XML Online
Our Sort XML Online tool includes the following features:
- Multiple Sort Criteria: Sort by element name, attribute value, or text content
- Custom Attribute Sorting: Sort elements by any attribute value
- Sort Order Control: Choose ascending or descending order
- Attribute Sorting: Optionally sort attributes within elements alphabetically
- Structure Preservation: Option to preserve XML structure or sort recursively
- Real-time Sorting: XML is sorted automatically as you type or change options
- Syntax Validation: Validates XML syntax before sorting
- File Upload: Upload XML files directly to the editor
- Copy & Download: Copy sorted XML to clipboard or download as a file
- Syntax Highlighting: Color-coded XML syntax for better readability
Common Use Cases
Sort XML Online is useful for various scenarios:
- Configuration Files: Organize XML configuration files for better readability
- Data Comparison: Sort XML data to make comparisons easier
- API Responses: Organize API response data for analysis
- Data Export: Sort exported XML data before processing
- Code Review: Organize XML code for easier review and debugging
- Documentation: Sort XML examples in documentation for consistency
- Data Migration: Organize XML data before migration or transformation
- Testing: Sort XML test data for predictable test results
Sorting Options
The tool provides several sorting options:
Available Sort Criteria:
- Element Name: Sort elements alphabetically by their tag names
- Attribute Value: Sort elements by the value of a specific attribute (e.g., id, name, date)
- Text Content: Sort elements by their text content
Understanding XML Sorting
XML sorting can be performed at different levels:
- Element Level: Sort child elements within a parent element
- Attribute Level: Sort attributes within an element
- Recursive Sorting: Sort elements at all levels of the XML hierarchy
- Structure Preservation: Only sort direct children, preserving nested structure
Best Practices for Sorting XML
- Validate First: Ensure your XML is well-formed before sorting
- Choose Appropriate Criteria: Select the sort criteria that makes sense for your data
- Preserve Structure: Use structure preservation when you want to maintain nested relationships
- Sort Attributes: Enable attribute sorting for consistent attribute ordering
- Test Results: Verify that sorted XML maintains data integrity
- Backup Original: Keep a backup of your original XML before sorting
- Consider Use Case: Choose sorting options based on your specific needs
- Document Changes: Document any sorting applied to XML files
XML Sorting Examples
Example: Sorting by Element Name
Before sorting:
<catalog>
<book id="3">...</book>
<book id="1">...</book>
<book id="2">...</book>
</catalog>After sorting by element name (if different elements) or by id attribute:
<catalog>
<book id="1">...</book>
<book id="2">...</book>
<book id="3">...</book>
</catalog>Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Does sorting XML change the data?
Sorting XML only changes the order of elements, not their content or structure. All data, attributes, and text content remain intact. The tool preserves all XML data while reorganizing the element order based on your selected criteria.
Can I sort by multiple criteria?
Currently, the tool sorts by a single criterion at a time (element name, attribute value, or text content). You can sort your XML multiple times with different criteria if needed, or use the attribute sorting option to also sort attributes within elements.
What happens to nested elements when sorting?
If "Preserve Structure" is enabled, only direct children of each element are sorted, and nested elements maintain their positions. If disabled, the tool will recursively sort elements at all levels. The default is to preserve structure, which is usually what you want.
Can I sort XML with namespaces?
Yes, the tool handles XML with namespaces. Elements with namespaces are sorted based on their full qualified names. The namespace declarations are preserved in the sorted output.
What if an element doesn't have the attribute I'm sorting by?
If you're sorting by attribute value and an element doesn't have that attribute, it will be sorted as if it has an empty attribute value. Elements without the attribute will typically appear first (in ascending order) or last (in descending order), depending on your sort order setting.
Is my XML data secure?
Yes, all processing happens locally in your browser. Your XML data is never sent to any server, ensuring complete privacy and security. You can safely sort sensitive XML files without worrying about data exposure.
Can I sort very large XML files?
The tool can handle reasonably large XML files, but very large files (over several megabytes) may take longer to process or could cause browser performance issues. For optimal performance, we recommend processing files under 1MB. For larger files, consider processing them in sections or using a desktop tool.
What's the difference between sorting attributes and sorting elements?
Sorting elements changes the order of child elements within their parent. Sorting attributes changes the order of attributes within each element (e.g., alphabetically ordering id, name, class attributes). You can enable both options simultaneously to sort both elements and their attributes.
Can I undo the sorting?
The tool doesn't have an undo feature, but since all processing happens in your browser, you can simply refresh the page or paste your original XML again. We recommend keeping a backup of your original XML before sorting, especially for important files.
Does the tool preserve XML comments and processing instructions?
The tool focuses on sorting elements and may not preserve all XML comments and processing instructions in their original positions. For XML files with important comments or processing instructions, consider reviewing the sorted output carefully or using a more specialized XML editor.
Tags
Related tools
XML Formatter
XML URL Decoding
JSON to XML Converter
XML to Excel Converter
XML to HTML Converter
Sort Graphemes
XML to TSV Converter
Base64 to XML Converter
Random XML Generator
Sort Calendar Dates
Shuffle Lines
Sort Clock Times
Sitemap URL Extractor
JSON Formatter
Shuffle Paragraphs
Convert Unicode to Data URL
Chunkify Unicode
RSS To JSON Converter
Show CMYK Image Colors
Decrement Code Points
Your recent visits
