XML Formatter
Validate and pretty-print XML using your browser.
About this XML Formatter
Format and validate XML documents with proper indentation and structure. Our XML formatter makes XML code readable by adding proper indentation, line breaks, and formatting. Perfect for developers, data analysts, and anyone working with XML files, API responses, or configuration files. The tool also validates XML syntax to ensure your documents are well-formed.
Key Features
Format XML with proper indentation and line breaks
Validate XML syntax and detect errors
Pretty-print XML for better readability
Minify XML by removing unnecessary whitespace
Copy formatted XML to clipboard
Error detection with line number indicators
Support for large XML files
Works entirely in your browser for privacy
How to Use
Paste your XML code into the input field
Click 'Format' to automatically format and validate your XML
Review the formatted output with proper indentation
Check for any validation errors displayed
Use 'Minify' to compress XML by removing whitespace
Copy the formatted XML to your clipboard
Fix any errors and reformat until validation passes
Popular Use Cases
Format XML API responses for debugging
Validate XML configuration files
Beautify minified XML from web services
Check XML syntax before using in applications
Format XML data for documentation
Validate user-submitted XML data
Debug XML parsing errors
Prepare XML for code reviews
Tips & Best Practices
Always validate XML before using it in production
Well-formatted XML is easier to read and debug
Minify XML for production to reduce file size
Check for unclosed tags and mismatched elements
Ensure all attributes are properly quoted
Validate XML structure matches your expected schema
Use consistent indentation (2 or 4 spaces)
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes XML well-formed?
Well-formed XML must have a single root element, all tags must be properly closed, attributes must be quoted, and tags must be properly nested. Our validator checks all these requirements.
Can I format invalid XML?
The tool will attempt to format XML, but will display validation errors if the XML syntax is incorrect. You must fix errors before the XML can be properly formatted.
Does formatting change the XML data?
Formatting only changes whitespace and indentation. The actual data values and structure remain unchanged. Minifying removes all unnecessary whitespace.
What's the difference between XML and HTML?
XML is a markup language for storing and transporting data, while HTML is for displaying data. XML is stricter - all tags must be closed and properly nested, and it's case-sensitive.