XML Formatter

Format, minify, and validate XML online

Format XML with proper indentation, minify XML by removing whitespace, and validate XML structure online. Free XML formatting tool.

What is XML Formatter?

XML Formatter is a free online tool for formatting, minifying, and validating XML. It helps you make XML readable with proper indentation, compress XML by removing unnecessary whitespace, and check if your XML is well-formed and valid.

Whether you need to debug XML files, prepare XML for production, or validate XML structure, this tool makes it quick and easy.

How to use XML Formatter?

Format XML

To format XML with proper indentation:

Paste your XML in the input field
Click "Format" button
View formatted XML in the output field
Copy the result using the copy button

Minify XML

To compress XML by removing whitespace:

Paste your XML in the input field
Click "Minify" button
View compressed XML in the output field
Copy the result to use in your project

Validate XML

To check if XML is well-formed:

Paste your XML in the input field
Click "Validate" button
See validation result in a success or error message
Fix errors if validation fails

Features

Format XML - Add proper indentation for readability
Minify XML - Remove whitespace to reduce size
Validate XML - Check if XML is well-formed
Error messages - Clear error descriptions for invalid XML
Syntax preservation - Maintains XML structure and attributes
Large file support - Handle XML of any size
Copy output - One-click copy formatted or minified XML
Dark theme support - Works in light and dark modes

Use Cases

1. Format Unreadable XML

Input:

<?xml version="1.0"?><root><user><name>John</name><age>30</age></user></root>

After Format:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<root>
  <user>
    <name>John</name>
    <age>30</age>
  </user>
</root>

2. Minify XML for Production

Input:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<config>
  <setting name="debug">
    false
  </setting>
  <setting name="timeout">
    30
  </setting>
</config>

After Minify:

<?xml version="1.0"?><config><setting name="debug">false</setting><setting name="timeout">30</setting></config>

3. Validate XML Structure

Valid XML:

<book>
  <title>XML Guide</title>
  <author>John Doe</author>
</book>

Result: ✅ Valid XML

Invalid XML:

<book>
  <title>XML Guide
  <author>John Doe</author>
</book>

Result: ❌ Error - Unclosed title tag

4. Format XML from API Response

API Response:

<response><status>success</status><data><id>123</id><name>Product</name></data></response>

After Format:

<response>
  <status>success</status>
  <data>
    <id>123</id>
    <name>Product</name>
  </data>
</response>

5. Format XML Configuration

Input:

<configuration><appSettings><add key="Version" value="1.0"/><add key="Debug" value="true"/></appSettings></configuration>

After Format:

<configuration>
  <appSettings>
    <add key="Version" value="1.0"/>
    <add key="Debug" value="true"/>
  </appSettings>
</configuration>

Understanding XML

What is XML?

XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is a markup language that defines rules for encoding documents in a format that is both human-readable and machine-readable.

Key characteristics:

Uses tags like HTML but with custom names
Stores and transports data
Self-descriptive and hierarchical
Platform and language independent

XML Structure

Basic XML document:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<root>
  <element attribute="value">Content</element>
</root>

Components:

XML declaration: <?xml version="1.0"?>
Root element: Single top-level element
Child elements: Nested elements
Attributes: Key-value pairs in tags
Content: Text between opening and closing tags

Well-formed XML Rules

Must have a root element: One top-level element containing all others
Tags must be properly nested: <a><b></b></a> not <a><b></a></b>
Tags are case-sensitive: <Name> and <name> are different
All tags must close: Use </tag> or self-closing <tag/>
Attribute values must be quoted: attribute="value"

Common XML Errors

Missing Closing Tag

Error:

<book>
  <title>XML Guide
  <author>John</author>
</book>

Fix:

<book>
  <title>XML Guide</title>
  <author>John</author>
</book>

Improper Nesting

Error:

<book>
  <title>XML Guide<author>John</title></author>
</book>

Fix:

<book>
  <title>XML Guide</title>
  <author>John</author>
</book>

Multiple Root Elements

Error:

<book>Book 1</book>
<book>Book 2</book>

Fix:

<library>
  <book>Book 1</book>
  <book>Book 2</book>
</library>

Unquoted Attributes

Error:

<book id=123>Title</book>

Fix:

<book id="123">Title</book>

Special Characters Not Escaped

Error:

<text>Cost: 5 < 10 & 10 > 5</text>

Fix:

<text>Cost: 5 &lt; 10 &amp; 10 &gt; 5</text>

XML vs JSON

XML

<person>
  <name>John</name>
  <age>30</age>
  <city>New York</city>
</person>

JSON

{
  "person": {
    "name": "John",
    "age": 30,
    "city": "New York"
  }
}

When to use XML:

Document-oriented data
Complex data structures
Attribute and namespace support needed
Legacy system integration
SOAP web services

When to use JSON:

Modern web APIs
Simple data structures
JavaScript applications
Smaller file sizes needed
REST web services

Tips for Better XML

Use meaningful tag names: <firstName> instead of <fn>
Be consistent with naming: Choose camelCase or snake_case and stick with it
Use attributes for metadata: <book id="123"> where id identifies the book
Use elements for data: <title>XML Guide</title> for actual content
Add comments for clarity:

<!-- User information -->
<user>
  <name>John</name>
</user>

Include XML declaration:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

Escape special characters: Use < > & " '
Format for readability: Use proper indentation in development
Minify for production: Remove whitespace to reduce file size
Validate regularly: Check XML structure before deployment

Common Use Cases for XML

1. Configuration Files

XML is widely used for application configuration:

<configuration>
  <database>
    <connection>Server=localhost;Database=mydb</connection>
    <timeout>30</timeout>
  </database>
</configuration>

2. Data Exchange

XML is used to exchange data between systems:

<order>
  <orderId>12345</orderId>
  <customer>John Doe</customer>
  <items>
    <item id="1" quantity="2">Product A</item>
    <item id="2" quantity="1">Product B</item>
  </items>
</order>

3. Web Services (SOAP)

SOAP uses XML for message format:

<soap:Envelope>
  <soap:Body>
    <getUser>
      <userId>123</userId>
    </getUser>
  </soap:Body>
</soap:Envelope>

4. RSS Feeds

RSS feeds use XML for content syndication:

<rss version="2.0">
  <channel>
    <title>My Blog</title>
    <item>
      <title>New Post</title>
      <description>Post content...</description>
    </item>
  </channel>
</rss>

5. Document Storage

XML stores structured documents:

<document>
  <metadata>
    <author>John Doe</author>
    <date>2024-01-01</date>
  </metadata>
  <content>
    <section>
      <heading>Introduction</heading>
      <paragraph>Content here...</paragraph>
    </section>
  </content>
</document>

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between formatting and minifying?

A: Formatting adds indentation and line breaks for readability. Minifying removes them to reduce file size.

Q: Does this tool validate XML against a schema?

A: No, it only checks if XML is well-formed (proper syntax). It does not validate against XSD or DTD schemas.

Q: Can I format XML with namespaces?

A: Yes, the tool preserves namespaces and formats them correctly.

Q: Why do I get an error for valid-looking XML?

A: Common reasons include unclosed tags, improper nesting, unquoted attributes, or unescaped special characters.

Q: Is there a file size limit?

A: No, but very large files may take longer to process in the browser.

Q: Does minifying change the XML structure?

A: No, minifying only removes whitespace. The structure and data remain identical.

Q: Can I use this for HTML?

A: This tool is for XML. While HTML and XML are similar, use an HTML formatter for HTML files.

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