How to Format XML Online
Enter a complete XML document with one root element, then select Format XML. The browser parses the document before printing it. Missing closing tags, unquoted attributes and mismatched element names must be corrected before output is available. Use Ctrl+Enter or Command+Enter to format from the input, and keep your original file if exact source bytes matter.
XML Indentation and Pretty Printing
Two spaces produce a compact outline; four spaces make deeper levels more prominent. Element-only containers are split across lines, while mixed text such as <p>Hello <b>Ada</b>!</p> stays together. Elements marked xml:space="preserve" keep their internal whitespace. The browser serializer may normalize entity spelling, empty-element syntax or namespace declarations, so output is not a byte-for-byte copy.
Common XML Syntax Errors
XML is case-sensitive: <Item> cannot be closed by </item>. Attribute values need quotes, and literal ampersands must be escaped as &. Parser errors can identify the point where the structure became unreadable, which may follow the original mistake. This formatter rejects DTD/DOCTYPE input and does not load external entities or validate against an XSD. Correct syntax is only one part of checking a business document.
XML Formatter vs XML to JSON
An XML beautifier keeps the XML model and changes its printed layout. XML to JSON changes representation, which raises questions about attributes, repeated elements and mixed text. Choose formatting for reviewing a feed or configuration file; choose conversion when a downstream system requires JSON and you have checked the mapping. Pretty printing is not a substitute for defining that mapping.
Formatting Large XML Documents
This tool limits source to 200,000 characters and nesting to 200 levels to keep browser work bounded. Open-file handling also limits file size. Split larger documents outside the browser or use a local streaming XML tool. Whitespace inserted in element-only content can still matter to a consumer without a schema; review before replacing a production document. Never pretty print signed XML and assume its signature remains valid.
Standards and references
Frequently asked questions
How do I format XML online?
Paste a complete XML document or open a local file, choose indentation and press Format XML. Copy or download the result.
Can the tool validate malformed XML?
It checks XML well-formedness using the browser parser and reports malformed markup. It does not validate an XML Schema or DTD.
Can I minify XML too?
No. This version provides readable indentation. A general whitespace-removal operation could change mixed content or significant whitespace.
What is the difference between XML Formatter and XML to JSON?
XML Formatter retains XML, while XML to JSON maps the document into JSON values. Conversion may require decisions about attributes and repeated elements.
Is XML uploaded?
No. Parsing and formatting take place in this browser tab; XML input is not uploaded.