XML Formatter

Format and beautify XML with validation and configurable indentation

What is it and how does it work?

An XML formatter takes minified or messy XML and reformats it with proper indentation and line breaks, turning a dense run-together document into a clean, nested tree you can read. XML is used for configuration, data feeds, SVG, RSS, document formats and countless APIs, and it often arrives all on one line — from a response, a log or an export — where the nesting is impossible to follow. Formatting places each element on its own line and indents it to show how tags contain one another, so the structure becomes obvious.

Readable XML is what lets you understand and fix a document. With the hierarchy laid out you can see which elements are open, where a section begins and ends, and quickly spot a mismatched or unclosed tag that would be invisible in a single line. Good formatters also validate as they go, flagging if the XML is not well-formed. This tool formats the XML in your browser with configurable indentation, so even private configuration or data feeds never leave your machine.

Common use cases

• Reading an API response: paste a one-line XML payload and reformat it to understand its structure.
• Editing a config file: beautify a dense XML configuration so you can find and change the right element confidently.
• Debugging structure: format XML to reveal an unclosed or misnested tag hidden in compressed markup.

Frequently asked questions

Does formatting change the meaning of my XML?

For element structure, no — it only adds whitespace between tags, which XML generally ignores. The data and hierarchy are unchanged. The one caution is that whitespace can be significant inside text content, so well-behaved formatters avoid reflowing the text within elements.

What does it mean that XML must be "well-formed"?

Well-formed XML follows the structural rules: every tag is closed, tags are properly nested, attribute values are quoted, and there is a single root element. A formatter that validates will flag violations, which is often how you discover a missing closing tag.

Can I choose the indentation?

Yes. Most formatters let you pick the indent size or style — typically two or four spaces, sometimes tabs — to match your project's conventions. Consistent indentation is what makes the nested structure easy to scan.

Is my XML uploaded anywhere?

No. Formatting runs entirely in your browser, so the document — including any private configuration, credentials or data — is never sent to a server. You can safely format internal or unreleased XML.

Developer

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