XML Formatter
The XML Formatter beautifies minified or messy XML by adding proper indentation, line breaks, and spacing. Well-formatted XML is easier to read, debug, and validate. This formatter follows standard XML formatting conventions, adding newlines after each element, indenting nested tags, and aligning attributes. It is perfect for working with API responses, configuration files, and SOAP messages.
Formula
Formatting adds: - Newline after each element - Indentation for nested elements (2 spaces) - Line breaks for attributes - Proper closing tags - XML declaration at top Result: well-formed, readable XML
Example
Input (minified): <root><user><name>Alice</name><age>30</age></user></root> Output (formatted): <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <root> <user> <name>Alice</name> <age>30</age> </user> </root>
How to Use
- Paste your XML data into the input field
- Select indentation size (2 or 4 spaces)
- Click format to beautify the XML
- Review the well-formed output
- Copy the formatted XML for your use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between XML and HTML formatting?
XML requires strict well-formedness (all tags must be closed, attributes must be quoted). HTML is more lenient (some tags can be unclosed). XML formatting enforces these rules. HTML formatting may not require closing tags for void elements like br and img.
Does the formatter handle XML namespaces?
Yes. The formatter preserves namespace declarations and prefixed elements. Namespace prefixes like xmlns:prefix are kept intact. The formatter does not modify namespace URIs or prefix names.
Can formatting change XML meaning?
No. Formatting only adds whitespace for readability. The XML structure and data remain identical. However, be careful with elements that contain mixed content (text and elements interleaved) — formatting may add unwanted whitespace.
Should I format XML for production?
It depends. For API responses, minified XML saves bandwidth. For configuration files, formatted XML is easier to maintain. For SOAP messages, formatting is optional as the parser ignores whitespace.
Does the formatter validate XML?
The formatter checks for well-formedness (matching tags, proper nesting, quoted attributes) but does not validate against a DTD or XML Schema. For schema validation, use a dedicated XML validator.