XML Formatter
Format XML instantly in your browser — turn minified or single-line XML into clean, readable, properly indented output.
What Is XML Formatting?
XML is valid regardless of whitespace — a SOAP response, an Android layout file, or an RSS feed is often generated or transmitted as one dense line with no indentation at all. Every element is still well-formed; it's just unreadable to a person scanning it.
Formatting adds consistent indentation so nested elements are visually easy to follow, without touching a single tag, attribute, or text value.
Why Format XML?
APIs and build tools frequently strip whitespace from XML to save bytes. That's fine until you need to actually read the structure — debug a SOAP response, review a config change, or check which element a value belongs to. Formatting turns compact XML back into something you can follow at a glance.
How This Tool Works
This formatter runs entirely in your browser. Paste your XML into the text area, click Format, and get properly indented output instantly. Your data is never uploaded to any server — formatting happens locally on your device.
Minified vs. Formatted XML
| Feature | Minified XML | Formatted XML |
|---|---|---|
| Layout | Single line, no spaces | Indented, one element per line |
| File size | Smallest | Larger (whitespace adds bytes) |
| Human readability | Hard to scan | Easy to scan and diff |
| Best for | API transfer, storage | Debugging, code review, documentation |
Keep XML Minified When
- It's being sent over the network (every byte counts)
- It's stored or cached and never read directly
- It's embedded inside another file
Format XML When
- You're debugging a SOAP response or a config file
- You need to review changes in a pull request
- You're documenting an XML schema or example for other developers
- You're inspecting an RSS/Atom feed or an Android layout file by hand
Common Scenarios for Formatting XML
Debugging a SOAP or REST/XML Response
Legacy APIs and SOAP services often return XML as one dense line. Formatting it first makes the envelope, headers, and body visible instead of forcing you to count angle brackets.
Reviewing an Android Layout or Config File
Android's XML layouts, Maven's pom.xml, and Spring config files are frequently reformatted or minified by tooling. Formatting before a code review makes the actual change visible instead of hidden inside a wall of text.
Inspecting an RSS or Atom Feed
Feed XML is usually generated with no whitespace at all. Formatting it makes it possible to check that titles, links, and publish dates are landing in the right elements.
Documenting an XML Schema
When writing documentation that includes an XML example, formatted output is far easier for readers to follow than a minified blob, and makes the nesting of child elements obvious.
Preparing XML for a Pull Request
If an XML file gets minified by a build step or export tool, formatting it back before committing keeps the diff readable — reviewers can see the specific value that changed. Once your config is readable, our PDF Merge tool is handy for combining any supporting PDF documentation you're attaching alongside it.
Other Ways to Format XML
You can also format XML using your code editor's built-in "Format Document" command, or a command-line tool like xmllint --format. FileCast is useful when you don't have either installed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to format my data here?
Yes. This tool processes your data entirely in your browser. Nothing is uploaded to any server — formatting happens locally on your device. No one else can see or access your data during or after formatting.
Does formatting change my data?
No. Formatting only changes whitespace between tags. Every element, attribute, and text value stays exactly the same, including attribute order and quoting style.
What indentation does this tool use?
Output is indented with 2 spaces per nesting level.
What happens if my XML isn't well-formed?
The tool tells you so, with a description of the problem (like a mismatched closing tag), instead of silently producing broken output. Fix the issue in your input and try again.
Does this validate my XML against a schema (XSD/DTD)?
No. This tool (and our XML Validator) checks that your XML is well-formed — properly nested, matched tags, valid syntax — not that it conforms to a particular schema. Schema validation needs the actual XSD or DTD file to check against, which is a different job from formatting or well-formedness checking.