XML Formatter
Format, beautify, and validate XML documents with proper indentation.
How to Use the XML Formatter
Paste your XML content into the editor and click Format to beautify it with proper indentation. The tool will also validate your XML and show any parsing errors.
Features
- Auto-formatting - Adds proper indentation and line breaks
- Validation - Checks for well-formed XML structure
- Minification - Remove all unnecessary whitespace
- Statistics - Count elements, attributes, and nesting depth
- Comment Handling - Option to preserve or strip comments
XML Structure Requirements
Well-formed XML must follow these rules:
- All elements must have closing tags or be self-closing
- Elements must be properly nested (no overlapping)
- Attribute values must be quoted
- Tag names are case-sensitive
- There must be exactly one root element
Useful with the YAML ↔ JSON Converter for config migration and the Diff Checker for comparing versions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between XML and HTML?
XML is stricter than HTML. All tags must be closed, attribute values must be quoted, and empty elements must use self-closing syntax. XML is designed for data storage and transport, while HTML is for displaying content.
Why is my XML showing as invalid?
Common reasons include: unclosed tags, mismatched tag names (case matters), unquoted attribute values, missing root element, or special characters that need escaping (&, <, >).
Is my XML data stored anywhere?
No. All processing happens in your browser using the native DOMParser API. Your XML data never leaves your device.