XML Formatter

Professional XML formatter and validator. Format XML documents with proper indentation, validate syntax, and detect errors with detailed statistics.

Developer Tools

XML Input

About XML Formatter

Format and validate XML documents with proper indentation.

Beautify XML structure
Validate XML syntax
Proper indentation
Error detection

Formatted Output

Paste your XML and click Format

to see the beautified output

About & Features

Learn more about this tool and its capabilities

About XML Formatter

Format and validate XML documents with our professional XML formatter and beautifier. Essential for developers working with XML configuration files, data feeds, SOAP APIs, or any XML-based data format.

XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is widely used in web services, configuration files, and data exchange. Our formatter ensures your XML is properly structured, validates syntax, and provides detailed error messages when issues are detected.

Key Capabilities:

Format XML with proper indentation
Validate XML syntax and structure
Detect and report parsing errors
Count elements and nodes
Show XML document statistics
Download formatted XML files
Copy formatted output instantly

How to Use

Step-by-step guide to get the most out of this tool

How to Use the XML Formatter

Formatting XML

Paste your XML code into the input area
Click the "Format" button
View beautified XML with proper hierarchy
Each element is indented based on nesting level
Easy to see parent-child relationships

Validating XML

Paste XML you want to validate
Click "Format" to process
If valid: See "Well-formed: Yes" indicator
If invalid: Error message appears with details
Fix errors and try again

Understanding XML Structure

The formatter helps you understand:

Elements: Tags that contain data
Attributes: Properties within opening tags
Nesting: Parent-child element relationships
Depth: How many levels deep your XML goes

Common XML Errors:

Missing closing tags
Mismatched opening and closing tags
Invalid characters in tag names
Improper attribute quoting
Missing root element
Incorrect nesting order

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions and answers about this tool

XML Formatter FAQ

What is XML used for?

XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is used for storing and transporting data. Common uses include configuration files, web services (SOAP), RSS feeds, sitemap files, data exchange between systems, and document markup.

What makes XML "well-formed"?

Well-formed XML must have: a single root element, properly nested elements, closing tags for all opening tags, quoted attribute values, and valid tag names. Our validator checks all these requirements.

What's the difference between XML and HTML?

XML is stricter and used for data storage/transport. HTML is for displaying content in browsers. XML requires all tags to be closed and is case-sensitive. HTML is more forgiving. Both use similar tag-based syntax.

Can I validate XML against a schema?

This tool validates XML syntax (well-formedness) but not against specific schemas (XSD/DTD). It ensures your XML structure is valid, but schema validation requires specialized tools.

Why do I need to format XML?

Formatted XML is much easier to read and debug. Many systems generate minified or poorly formatted XML. Proper indentation helps you understand the document structure, find errors, and maintain the code.

Is my XML data secure?

Yes. All XML formatting and validation happens in your browser. No data is sent to any server. Your XML documents remain completely private and secure on your device.