What is XML Formatter?

XML Formatter helps you format, validate, and minify XML documents. XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is widely used for data storage, configuration files, and data exchange between systems. This tool ensures your XML is well-formed, properly indented, and ready for use in applications or APIs.

How to Use XML Formatter

Paste your XML - Copy and paste your XML document into the editor
Choose action - Select format (prettify), minify, or validate
Process - Click the button to transform your XML
View results - See formatted output or error messages
Copy output - Copy the result to your clipboard

XML Formatter Features

Prettify mode - Add proper indentation and line breaks
Minify mode - Remove whitespace for smaller file sizes
Validation - Check XML for syntax errors
Error highlighting - See exact location of errors
Syntax highlighting - Colored XML for better readability
One-click copy - Copy formatted XML instantly

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between XML and JSON?

XML uses tags to define elements and supports attributes, namespaces, and schemas. JSON is simpler with key-value pairs and arrays. XML is more verbose but offers more features for complex documents. JSON is lighter and more commonly used in modern web APIs.

Can this validate against an XML Schema?

This tool performs basic well-formedness validation, checking that tags are properly closed and nested. For schema validation against XSD or DTD, you would need a more advanced XML validator that supports external schema files.

Why is my XML not formatting correctly?

XML must be well-formed to be formatted. Check that all tags are properly closed, attributes are quoted, and special characters are escaped. The validator will show you the specific line and column where the error occurs.