Web Dev Tools

XML Formatter

Format and validate XML with proper indentation. Beautify minified XML, validate syntax, and make XML readable. Supports XML, SOAP, RSS, and SVG formatting with customizable indentation.

Use XML Formatter to get instant results without uploads or sign-ups. Everything runs securely in your browser for fast, reliable output.

Your results will appear here.

Ready to run.

About this tool

XML (Extensible Markup Language) is widely used for data storage and transfer in APIs, configuration files, RSS feeds, and document formats. However, minified or unformatted XML is nearly impossible to read and debug. Our XML Formatter makes any XML document instantly readable with proper indentation and structure.

Whether you're debugging SOAP web services, editing RSS feeds, working with SVG graphics, or configuring enterprise applications, properly formatted XML is essential. This tool handles all XML variants including XML 1.0, XML 1.1, with support for namespaces, attributes, CDATA sections, and processing instructions.

Unlike server-based formatters that might log your data, our tool processes everything locally in your browser. Your XML content, whether it contains sensitive configuration data or private information, never leaves your computer. This makes it perfect for enterprise developers working with confidential data.

The built-in validator checks for common XML errors like unclosed tags, mismatched brackets, invalid characters, and malformed declarations, helping you fix issues quickly before they cause problems in production.

Usage examples

Format Minified XML

Beautify compressed XML

Before: <root><item>value</item></root>
After:
<root>
  <item>value</item>
</root>

Validate XML Syntax

Check for errors

Input: <root><item>value</root>
Error: Mismatched closing tag - found </root>, expected </item>

Format SOAP Message

Beautify web service XML

Handles SOAP envelopes with namespaces:
<soap:Envelope>
  <soap:Body>...</soap:Body>
</soap:Envelope>

Format RSS Feed

Beautify RSS/Atom feeds

Format RSS 2.0 and Atom feeds with proper indentation for readability

How to use

  1. Paste your XML string into the input field.
  2. The tool automatically validates XML syntax.
  3. Choose your preferred indentation level (2 or 4 spaces).
  4. Click Format to beautify the XML with proper structure.
  5. View validation status and any syntax errors.
  6. Copy the formatted XML for use in your project.

Benefits

  • Instant XML formatting with proper indentation
  • Validate XML syntax and catch errors early
  • Support for XML 1.0 and 1.1 standards
  • Works with SOAP, RSS, SVG, and all XML types
  • Handles XML namespaces and attributes
  • Preserves CDATA sections and entities
  • Customizable indentation (2 or 4 spaces)
  • Local processing for complete privacy
  • No file size limits for XML documents
  • Essential for API developers
  • Debug XML parsing issues quickly
  • Make minified XML human-readable

FAQs

What is XML formatting?

XML formatting (also called pretty printing or beautifying) adds proper indentation, line breaks, and spacing to XML documents to make them human-readable. It doesn't change the XML content or meaning, just makes the structure visually clear by showing nested elements with consistent indentation.

Why is my XML invalid?

Common XML errors include: unclosed tags (missing closing tag for an opened element), mismatched tag names (<item> closed with </itme>), missing quotes around attribute values, improper nesting (tags closed in wrong order), invalid characters in tag names, or malformed XML declaration. Our validator will identify the specific error.

What's the difference between XML and HTML?

XML is stricter than HTML. All XML tags must be properly closed, tag names are case-sensitive, attribute values must be quoted, and you must use valid nesting. HTML (especially HTML5) is more forgiving. XML is designed for data storage/transport, while HTML is for web page display.

Can this format SOAP web service responses?

Yes! SOAP messages are XML documents, and this formatter fully supports SOAP envelopes including XML namespaces (like soap:, xsd:, xsi:), attributes, and nested structures. It's perfect for debugging web service calls and responses.

Does the formatter support XML namespaces?

Absolutely. The formatter correctly handles XML namespaces including namespace declarations (xmlns:prefix="uri"), prefixed element names (prefix:elementName), and default namespaces. All namespace declarations are preserved during formatting.

Will formatting change my XML data?

No. Formatting only adds whitespace (spaces, tabs, line breaks) for visual structure. The actual XML data, element names, attributes, text content, and hierarchy remain exactly the same. Parsers interpret formatted and minified XML identically.

Can I validate XML against a schema (XSD)?

This tool performs basic well-formedness validation (syntax checking) but doesn't validate against XML Schema (XSD) or DTD. It ensures your XML is structurally correct - tags are properly closed, attributes quoted, etc. For schema validation, you'll need specialized XML schema validation tools.

Is my XML data secure when using this tool?

Yes, completely secure. All XML parsing and formatting happens in your browser using JavaScript. Your XML is never uploaded to any server, transmitted over the internet, or stored anywhere. It's safe for sensitive configuration files and private data.

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