XML Formatter & Validator
Minified XML from an export or API is nearly impossible to read, and a single unclosed tag silently breaks a feed. This free XML formatter and validator pretty-prints your XML with clean two-space indentation, validates that it is well-formed, and pinpoints the exact line and column of any error — all privately in your browser.
What is an XML formatter?
An XML formatter takes a raw XML document — usually a single long line from an export, an API response, or a feed — and reformats it so the structure is obvious. It adds indentation for every nested level, puts each tag on its own line, and keeps text content aligned, producing readable output that is identical in meaning to the input. Because XML is a markup language, the tags and indentation are purely cosmetic: the underlying data does not change.
Alongside formatting, this tool validates your XML to make sure it is well-formed. Well-formedness means every element has both an opening and closing tag, every attribute value is wrapped in quotes, the document has exactly one root element, and special characters are escaped. If anything is off, the validator reports the exact line and column where the problem was found, so you can fix it immediately rather than hunting through hundreds of lines.
This tool runs entirely in your browser, so your XML — including anything confidential — never leaves your device.
How to use the XML formatter
- Paste your XML into the input area.
- Click Format to indent and beautify it.
- Click Validate to confirm it is well-formed and to find the line and column of any error.
- Read the result, then click Copy to use it.
Example
Input: <note>...<to>Alice</to>...</note>
Format →
<note> <to>Alice</to> <from>Bob</from> <body>Hello!</body> </note>
If you remove a closing tag, Validate reports something like Error near line 4, column 26 and shows the offending line.
Common use cases
- Reading a minified XML feed or API response for debugging or documentation.
- Tidying a configuration file or sitemap before editing it by hand.
- Checking that generated XML is well-formed before publishing or importing it.
- Preparing readable XML for a code review or a technical blog post.
Pro tips
- Always Validate before Format if you suspect a broken tag — an error message is far more useful than bad indentation.
- Remember that
content & datamust escape&as&in valid XML. - Every document needs a single root element, so wrap multiple siblings in one parent.
- For large files, paste in sections; a single malformed ending can hide the real earlier error.
FAQ
What is XML formatting?
It is the process of adding indentation, line breaks and spacing to an XML document so the tag hierarchy is easy to read, without changing the data.
What is XML validation?
Validation checks that the input is well-formed XML — every tag closed, attributes quoted, a single root element — and reports the exact line and column of any error.
Does it upload my XML anywhere?
No. Formatting and validation run entirely in your browser, so your XML never leaves your device.
How do I find my error in XML?
Paste the XML and click Validate. The tool reports the line and column of the problem plus a snippet of the offending line, so you can fix it fast.
What causes an XML parse error?
Common causes are an unclosed tag, an attribute value missing quotes, a misplaced ampersand, two root elements, or mismatched opening and closing tags.
What indentation does the formatter use?
It uses two spaces per level, the most widely used convention, producing clean, readable nested output.
Can I format XML with a stylesheet or DTD?
It works on any well-formed XML string. Declarations and processing instructions are preserved.
Is it free to use?
Yes, free and unlimited with no signup required.
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