XML Formatter

XML Formatter - Format and Beautify XML Online

Our free XML formatter tool helps you format, beautify, and validate XML documents instantly. Whether you're working with configuration files, data exchange formats, or web services, our XML formatter makes your XML code readable and properly structured.

What is XML Formatting?

XML (eXtensible Markup Language) formatting is the process of organizing XML code with proper indentation, line breaks, and spacing to make it human-readable. Well-formatted XML is easier to read, debug, and maintain. Our tool automatically:

• Adds proper indentation - Nests child elements with consistent spacing
• Inserts line breaks - Separates elements for better readability
• Validates syntax - Checks for XML structure errors
• Preserves content - Maintains all original data and attributes

Key Features of Our XML Formatter

🔧 Real-time Formatting

Format your XML instantly as you type. No need to click buttons - see the formatted result immediately in the output panel.

✅ XML Validation

Our tool validates your XML syntax and highlights any errors, helping you identify and fix issues quickly.

📁 File Upload Support

Upload XML files directly from your computer. Supports files of any size and automatically processes them.

📋 Copy & Download

Copy formatted XML to your clipboard or download it as a .xml file for use in your projects.

🎨 Syntax Highlighting

Beautiful syntax highlighting makes it easy to distinguish between tags, attributes, and content.

Common Use Cases

Configuration Files

Format XML configuration files for applications, servers, or development tools. Proper formatting makes configuration management much easier.

Data Exchange

When working with APIs or data feeds that return XML, formatting helps you understand the structure and debug issues.

Web Services

SOAP web services and REST APIs often use XML for request/response data. Formatting makes debugging and development more efficient.

Documentation

Create well-formatted XML examples for documentation, tutorials, or code samples.

XML Formatting Best Practices

Consistent Indentation

Use 2 or 4 spaces for indentation consistently throughout your XML document. Our formatter uses 2 spaces by default.

Proper Nesting

Ensure all XML elements are properly nested and closed. Our validator will catch nesting errors.

Meaningful Element Names

Use descriptive, lowercase element names with hyphens for multi-word names (e.g., <user-name>).

Attribute Organization

Place attributes on the same line as the opening tag, or use our formatter's attribute wrapping feature for long attribute lists.

XML vs Other Formats

XML vs JSON

While JSON is more compact and easier to parse, XML provides better support for metadata, namespaces, and complex document structures. XML is still widely used in enterprise applications and web services.

XML vs HTML

XML is a markup language like HTML, but XML is designed to carry data rather than display it. XML is more strict about syntax and doesn't have predefined tags like HTML.

Tips for Using Our XML Formatter

1. Start with sample data - Click the "Sample" button to see how the formatter works with example XML
2. Upload large files - For large XML files, use the upload feature instead of copy-pasting
3. Check validation errors - If formatting fails, look for validation errors in the output
4. Use copy feature - Copy the formatted result to your clipboard for easy pasting into your code editor
5. Download results - Save formatted XML files directly to your computer

Browser Compatibility

Our XML formatter works in all modern browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. No plugins or additional software required - everything runs in your browser.

Privacy & Security

Your XML data is processed entirely in your browser. We don't store, log, or transmit your XML content to our servers. Your data remains private and secure.