XML Formatter
Beautify, minify, validate, and convert XML
An XML formatter takes dense, hard-to-scan markup and turns it into properly indented, readable code — or compresses it back down for production. This tool formats, validates, minifies, and converts XML to JSON, all in your browser. It is built for developers working with SOAP APIs, configuration files, sitemaps, and RSS feeds.
What is XML?
XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is a text format for structured data, standardized by the W3C in 1998. Like HTML it uses tags, but you define your own tag names — an invoice might use <lineItem>, an Android layout uses <LinearLayout>. Every document must be well-formed: one root element, properly nested tags, quoted attribute values. That strictness is the point — a parser can reject malformed input immediately instead of guessing, which is why validating a config file or feed before shipping matters.
How to Use
- Paste XML: Drop your markup into the input area
- Choose an action: Format, minify, validate, or convert to JSON
- Inspect the output: Read errors with exact line and column positions
- Copy the result: Take the cleaned-up XML or JSON wherever you need it
Features
- Beautify XML with consistent indentation
- Minify XML for smaller payloads
- Well-formedness validation with precise error locations
- One-click XML to JSON conversion
Use Cases
Debugging a SOAP request that a server keeps rejecting? Paste it in and check well-formedness first — a single unclosed tag is often the culprit. Reading a Maven pom.xml or Android manifest with everything on one line? Format it to see the hierarchy. Shipping an RSS feed or sitemap and want to trim bandwidth? Minify it. Migrating a legacy XML API to a modern JSON stack? The converter maps elements, attributes, and repeated children into a predictable JSON structure you can build on.
Related Tools
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Format and Minify?
Format (beautify) adds line breaks and indentation to make XML human-readable. Minify removes all unnecessary whitespace to produce the smallest possible XML for production.
How does XML to JSON conversion work?
Element names become keys, text content becomes #text values, XML attributes are prefixed with @. Multiple child elements with the same name become JSON arrays. The root element wraps the output.
What validation checks are performed?
The validator checks for matching open/close tags, unclosed tags, empty tag names, unexpected closing tags, unclosed comments and CDATA sections, and missing XML elements with line/column location.
Is my XML uploaded to a server?
No. All formatting, validation, and conversion run locally in your browser — nothing is sent over the network.