This tool checks the well-formed XML structure first: one root element, matching open and close tags, quoted attributes and closed comments, CDATA sections and processing instructions. It then formats the same text tree without rendering your markup as HTML.
Free XML Formatter
Runs entirely in your browser - no upload, no sign-up.
XML
Formatted XML
Paste XML to format and validate it
What does an XML formatter do?
An XML formatter turns compact or messy XML into readable, consistently indented markup and checks whether the document is well formed. Paste XML, choose an indent style and copy the formatted or minified result. The parser runs in your browser, so private feeds, SVG snippets and config files are not uploaded.
How to use
- 1Paste XML. Add an XML document, SVG snippet, SOAP payload or feed sample to the input box.
- 2Read the status. The status bar validates the XML live and shows the first well-formedness error with a line and column when available.
- 3Choose the output. Use Beautify for indented XML or Minify for a compact single-line version.
- 4Copy the result. Copy the formatted XML once the status says it is valid.
Who it's for
- Developers cleaning API responses, SOAP payloads, SVG snippets and XML config files before debugging them.
- QA and support teams checking whether copied XML is well formed before attaching it to a ticket.
- Technical writers preparing readable XML examples for docs, tutorials or release notes.
- Data teams reviewing feeds where nested elements and attributes are hard to scan in a single line.
FAQ
Is the XML formatter free?
Yes. The XML formatter is free to use, with no sign-up, no download and no usage limit. Paste XML, format it, minify it and copy the result from the browser.
Is my XML uploaded anywhere?
No. The formatter runs locally in your browser. Your XML is placed in textareas and is not sent to a server, which is useful for private feeds, internal API payloads and configuration files.
What XML errors does it catch?
It catches common well-formedness problems such as a missing root element, more than one root element, mismatched closing tags, unclosed tags, unclosed comments or CDATA sections and unquoted attribute values.
Does it validate against an XSD or DTD?
No. This is a well-formedness formatter, not a schema validator. It checks XML syntax and nesting, then beautifies the document. Use a dedicated XML schema validator when you need XSD, DTD, Relax NG or Schematron rules.
Does it preserve comments and CDATA?
Yes. Comments, CDATA sections, XML declarations, processing instructions and DOCTYPE declarations stay in the output. Spacing around tags and indentation are normalized so the structure is easier to read.
What does XML minify do?
Minify removes formatting whitespace between tags and collapses tag spacing where it is safe, producing a compact XML string. It keeps text content, comments, CDATA sections and attributes intact.