XML Formatter and Validator

Format, beautify, minify and validate XML online with custom indentation — free.

About

About the XML Formatter and Validator

Pretty-prints XML with your choice of indent size, or minifies it down to a single compact line.

Developers working with SOAP APIs, RSS feeds or config files use it to make dense XML readable before debugging it, while anyone handed a minified XML export uses it to check the document is well-formed before importing it elsewhere. It's one of many free data tools on Toolapt, and like every tool here, it's free to use with no sign-up and no limit on how many times you run it.

Choose what to view about this tool

Guide

Using the XML Formatter and Validator

  1. 1

    Step 1

    Paste your XML into the XML box.

  2. 2

    Step 2

    Set the indent size if you want something other than 2 spaces.

  3. 3

    Step 3

    Click "Format" to pretty-print it, or "Minify" to collapse it to one line.

  4. 4

    Step 4

    Click "Copy" to copy the result, or "Clear" to start over.

  • Pretty-prints XML with an adjustable indent size, from 1 to 8 spaces
  • Minifies XML down to a single compact line
  • Validates that the XML is well-formed before formatting or minifying it
  • Clear error message, taken from the parser, when the XML doesn't parse
  • One click to copy the formatted or minified result
  • Works entirely in your browser — nothing you paste is sent to a server
  • Free to use, with no sign-up and no limit on how many times you run it

Developers

Developers working with SOAP APIs or XML config files use the XML Formatter for making a dense response or file readable before debugging it.

Content and feed managers

Content and feed managers use the XML Formatter for checking that an RSS or Atom feed is well-formed and readable.

QA engineers

QA engineers use the XML Formatter for validating that a system's generated XML output is well-formed before it goes further down a pipeline.

Students learning XML

Students learning XML use the XML Formatter for seeing a document's real nested structure laid out with proper indentation.

Examples

XML Formatter and Validator examples

3 worked examples

01

Pretty-printing dense XML

Formatting <root><item>1</item><item>2</item></root> with the default 2-space indent produces a multi-line, nested layout with root and each item tag properly indented.

02

Minifying readable XML

Clicking Minify on a nicely indented multi-line document collapses it back to a single compact line with no whitespace between tags.

03

Catching malformed XML

Pasting <root><item>1</item></root2> triggers a parser error message instead of formatted output, since the closing tag doesn't match the opening one.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers to common questions about the XML Formatter and Validator.

What does the XML Formatter and Validator do?

It pretty-prints or minifies XML, and first checks that the XML is well-formed before doing either.

Is the XML Formatter free to use?

Yes. It's free, with no sign-up, no watermark and no limit on how many times you use it.

Is my XML safe when I use this tool?

Yes. Parsing, formatting and minifying all happen entirely on your own device using the browser's built-in XML parser — nothing you paste is sent to a server.

What happens if my XML isn't well-formed?

The tool reports the parser's error message instead of producing formatted or minified output, so you know exactly what needs fixing.

Can I control how much indentation is used?

Yes. Set the indent size field to anywhere from 1 to 8 spaces before clicking Format.

Does this tool validate XML against a schema, like an XSD or DTD?

No. It only checks that the XML is well-formed (correctly nested tags, matching quotes, and so on) — it doesn't validate the document's structure against a schema.

What does Minify do differently from Format?

Minify strips whitespace between tags and collapses the document to one line, while Format adds line breaks and indentation for readability — both first confirm the XML is well-formed.

Can I use the XML Formatter on my phone?

Yes. The page is fully responsive and works on mobile, tablet and desktop browsers alike.

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