Formatted XML will appear here...
Format XML documents with proper indentation and line breaks for better readability. Handles self-closing tags and nested elements.
What is XML Formatter?
XML (Extensible Markup Language) is used for data interchange, configuration files, and document markup. XML formatting adds proper indentation to nested elements, making structure visible and documents maintainable. Minified or single-line XML becomes readable with clear element hierarchy. This is essential for editing configs, debugging API responses, and reviewing RSS/Atom feeds.
How to Use
- Paste XML content (minified or unformatted)
- Select indentation preference (2 or 4 spaces)
- Click 'Format XML' to beautify structure
- Copy formatted output for editing or debugging
Why Use This Tool?
Tips & Best Practices
- 2 spaces common for XML; 4 for visibility
- Check for missing closing tags after format
- Attributes stay on opening tag lines
- Self-closing tags (<tag/>) formatted properly
- Format API responses to debug structure
- XML prolog preserved at document start
Frequently Asked Questions
What XML is supported?
Standard XML documents with nested elements, attributes, and self-closing tags. Handles XML prolog, namespaces, and CDATA sections (preserved verbatim). Works for configs, SOAP responses, RSS feeds, and generic XML data.
How are attributes formatted?
Attributes stay on the opening tag line. Multiple attributes remain inline. Attribute spacing is normalized. For long attribute lists, consider manual line breaks - this formatter keeps attributes compact.
What about self-closing tags?
Self-closing tags (<element/> or <element />) are detected and formatted without creating separate closing tags. Indentation matches their nesting level. Common for empty elements like <br/> or config flags.
Can formatting break XML?
No - formatting only adds whitespace for readability. Element names, attributes, content, and structure remain identical. The XML document parses exactly the same before and after formatting.
What if XML is malformed?
The formatter requires valid XML structure. Missing closing tags or invalid syntax cause errors. Fix XML errors before formatting. Use XML validators to identify structural problems first.
Should I format XML in production?
Format XML for debugging, editing configs, and code review. For production APIs, minified XML is fine (smaller size). Keep formatted version in source control, deploy minified to production systems.