XML

XML Formatter

LOCAL · Browser-Only

Format, validate, and beautify XML data with proper indentation

Indent:

Preserve commentsAuto-formatLine numbers

Input XML

Output

Formatted XML will appear here

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What is XML Formatter?

Free online XML formatter to beautify and validate XML documents with proper indentation.

Paste messy or minified XML and get a clean, readable tree with consistent indentation that you control (2 spaces, 4 spaces, or tabs). The tool checks well-formedness and highlights errors with line numbers, so you can quickly find an unclosed tag or a bad attribute. It also minifies XML back to a single line for production. Useful for reading an SOAP response, formatting an RSS feed, tidying a config or POM file, or pretty printing an SVG. CDATA sections, comments, processing instructions, and namespaces are preserved. Runs entirely in your browser, so your XML stays private. No signup required.

How to Use XML Formatter

1Paste your XML data into the input area
2Select your preferred indentation (2 spaces, 4 spaces, or tab)
3Click 'Format' to beautify or 'Minify' to compress your XML
4Review the output, check for validation errors, and copy the result

Frequently Asked Questions

What is XML formatting?

XML formatting (or pretty-printing) adds proper indentation and line breaks to XML data so that the hierarchical structure of elements is visually clear. Formatted XML is much easier to read, debug, and compare than minified or single-line XML.

Does the tool validate XML?

Yes. The tool checks for well-formedness, ensuring all tags are properly opened and closed, attributes are quoted, and the document follows XML syntax rules. Validation errors are reported with clear messages indicating the line and type of error.

Can it handle large XML files?

Yes. The formatter processes XML entirely in your browser and can handle files up to several megabytes. For extremely large files, processing may take a few seconds depending on your device's performance.

Does it preserve CDATA sections and comments?

Yes. CDATA sections, XML comments, processing instructions, and namespace declarations are all preserved during formatting. The tool only modifies whitespace and indentation - content is never altered.

How do I fix XML that will not format?

If formatting fails, the XML is usually not well-formed. The tool reports the line and type of error, such as a tag that is opened but never closed or an attribute value missing its quotes. Fix the reported issue and run the formatter again.

Can I minify XML instead of beautifying it?

Yes. Use the Minify option to strip indentation and line breaks and collapse the document to a single line, which reduces payload size for production responses or storage. Run Format again whenever you need the readable version back.

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