XML Formatter & Beautifier
Prettify or minify XML with configurable indentation — runs entirely in your browser.
What is XML and when is it used?
XML (Extensible Markup Language) is a structured text format that stores data in a tree of tagged elements. It's widely used in enterprise software, SOAP web services, SVG graphics, RSS/Atom feeds, Android layouts, Maven build files, and many legacy system integrations. While JSON has replaced XML in most modern REST APIs, XML remains the standard in many industries and older systems.
Frequently asked questions
Why would I minify XML?
Minified XML removes all unnecessary whitespace, reducing file size. This is useful when transmitting XML over a network (SOAP requests, API payloads) or embedding XML as a string inside another format like JSON or a database field. Whitespace between tags is technically insignificant in most XML applications.
What is the difference between 2-space and 4-space indentation?
Both are valid — it's a style preference. 2-space indentation keeps deeply nested XML more compact on screen. 4-space indentation is the default in many XML editors and IDEs. The XML parser treats both identically.
Does the formatter validate my XML?
It performs basic structural parsing to detect unclosed tags and malformed markup. It does not validate against an XML Schema (XSD) or DTD. For full schema validation, you would need a dedicated XML validation tool.
