XML Tools
XML Formatter Online Free
Format and beautify XML online for easier inspection of elements, attributes, namespaces and document hierarchy.
XML quality guide
Format XML while preserving document meaning
XML formatting adds indentation and line breaks around elements so hierarchy is easier to inspect. Whitespace can be significant inside text and mixed-content nodes, so avoid assuming that every formatting change is harmless. Validate and test the document with its intended parser after formatting.
Step-by-step
A reliable workflow
Paste well-formed XML.
Run the formatter.
Inspect elements, attributes and namespaces.
Validate and test the formatted result with the target consumer.
Practical use cases
SOAP debugging
Make service requests and responses easier to inspect.
Configuration review
Read application, build and deployment XML files.
Feed analysis
Inspect RSS, Atom and other XML feeds.
Data exchange
Prepare readable XML examples for integration teams.
Common mistakes
- ⚠Changing whitespace inside mixed content
- ⚠Ignoring namespaces
- ⚠Formatting malformed XML and trusting partial output
- ⚠Removing declarations required by the consumer
Professional tips
- ✓Validate after formatting
- ✓Preserve the original document
- ✓Review namespace prefixes
- ✓Test whitespace-sensitive documents carefully
Continue the workflow
Frequently asked questions
Does XML formatting change data?+
It should mainly change indentation, but whitespace can matter in text and mixed-content nodes.
Why will my XML not format?+
The document may have mismatched tags, invalid characters, unquoted attributes or multiple root elements.
Are XML namespaces preserved?+
A formatter should preserve namespace declarations and prefixes.
Can XML be minified?+
Yes, but removing whitespace must be done carefully when whitespace is semantically significant.
Should the XML declaration be retained?+
Retain it when the target system relies on version or encoding information.
Does formatting validate against XSD?+
No. Formatting and well-formedness are separate from XSD validation.
Is my input uploaded to a server?+
These FormatForge tools process supported input in your browser. Still, remove passwords, tokens, personal data and confidential production values before using any online utility.
Can I use the tool on mobile?+
Yes. Large documents, deep nesting and side-by-side comparisons are usually easier on a desktop browser with more memory and screen space.
Should I use the result directly in production?+
Review the output, validate it with the target system and test it in a safe environment before using it in production code, APIs or deployments.
Why do very large files take longer?+
Parsing, rendering, comparing and reformatting structured documents use your device processor and memory. Reduce the sample size when possible.