XML Formatter
Format and beautify XML data
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the XML Formatter work?
Paste minified or messy XML and the formatter adds proper indentation and line breaks. It handles nested elements, attributes, CDATA sections, comments, and processing instructions. Choose 2-space, 4-space, or tab indentation.
Can I minify XML?
Yes. Switch to minify mode to remove all unnecessary whitespace between elements. This reduces file size while preserving the XML structure and content. Whitespace within text nodes is preserved.
Does the formatter validate XML?
The formatter checks for well-formedness: matching open/close tags, proper nesting, valid attribute syntax, and correct entity usage. It highlights errors with line numbers. For schema validation, use a dedicated XML validator.
How are XML namespaces handled?
The formatter preserves all namespace declarations and prefixed elements. It does not modify namespace URIs or prefixes. Namespace-aware formatting ensures the output is semantically identical to the input.
Can I sort XML elements or attributes?
Yes. Enable attribute sorting to alphabetize attributes within each element. Element sorting reorders child elements alphabetically by tag name. This is useful for comparing XML documents or maintaining consistent formatting.