XML Formatter & Validator
Paste your XML to format, validate, beautify, or minify it instantly. Syntax highlighting with line numbers and 2-space, 4-space, or tab indentation. Check well-formed XML with error location and download formatted output as an .xml file.
XML Formatting Tips
Validate before deploying
Always check XML is well-formed before using it in configs, APIs, or data feeds. A single unclosed tag can break an entire pipeline.
Escape special characters
Use & for &, < for <, > for >, " for ", and ' for ' in text content and attribute values.
One root element
Every XML document must have exactly one root element. Wrap multiple elements in a container like <data> or <root> if needed.
Case-sensitive tags
XML tags are case-sensitive. <Book> and <book> are different elements. Be consistent with your naming convention.
Minify for transfer
Remove whitespace to reduce XML payload size for network transfer. A verbose XML file can shrink significantly when minified.
Use CDATA for raw content
Wrap content with special characters in <![CDATA[...]]> sections instead of escaping every character individually.
XML Syntax Reference
<tag>content</tag><tag /><tag attr="value"><!-- comment --><![CDATA[raw text]]><?xml version="1.0"?><!DOCTYPE root><root xmlns:ns="uri">Frequently Asked Questions
What is XML formatting?
XML formatting (or “pretty-printing”) adds consistent indentation and line breaks to raw XML, making it easier to read and debug. This tool parses your XML and re-formats it with your chosen indentation (2 spaces, 4 spaces, or tabs), with full syntax highlighting and line numbers.
What does it mean for XML to be well-formed?
Well-formed XML follows all XML syntax rules: every opening tag has a matching closing tag, tags are properly nested, attribute values are quoted, and there is exactly one root element. This validator checks all of these rules and reports the exact line and column of any error.
How do I fix XML parsing errors?
Common XML errors include unclosed tags, mismatched tag names, unescaped ampersands (&), and missing quotes around attribute values. Check the line and column number in the error message to locate the issue. Use & for &, < for <, and > for > in text content.
What is the difference between XML validation and well-formedness?
Well-formedness checks basic syntax rules. Validation goes further by checking against a schema (DTD, XSD, or RelaxNG) to ensure document structure matches expected rules. This tool checks well-formedness, which is the most common need for developers working with XML.
What does minifying XML do?
Minifying removes all unnecessary whitespace and comments from XML, producing the smallest possible output. This reduces file size for network transfer or storage while preserving the exact same data structure.
Is my XML data safe?
Yes. All processing happens entirely in your browser using JavaScript. No data is sent to any server. Your XML never leaves your device.