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How to Format XML - Step by Step Guide

Step 1

Input Your XML Data

Let's get your XML into the formatter! You have several convenient options:

•
Paste directly: Copy your web service response or XML data and paste it into the input editor
•
Upload a file: Click "Upload" to select a .xml or .txt file from your computer
•
Try sample XML: Click "Sample" to load example XML and see the tool in action 🎨

Example: Unformatted XML

Here's how messy, unformatted XML typically looks:

<library><books><book id="1" category="fiction"><title>The Great Gatsby</title><author><name>F. Scott Fitzgerald</name><country>USA</country></author><price currency="USD">12.99</price></book><book id="2" category="biography"><title>Steve Jobs</title><author><name>Walter Isaacson</name><country>USA</country></author><price currency="USD">14.99</price></book></books></library>
Step 2

Choose Your Formatting Options

Customize how you want your XML formatted with these professional options. The formatter provides flexible settings to match your coding standards and project requirements:

•
Indentation Size: Choose between 2, 4, or 8 spaces for proper XML structure visualization
• 2 spaces: Compact formatting, ideal for configuration files
• 4 spaces: Standard formatting, most commonly used
• 8 spaces: Wide formatting, excellent for complex nested structures
•
Pretty Print Mode: Automatically formats with proper line breaks, indentation, and attribute alignment
Transforms compressed XML into readable format with consistent spacing and proper hierarchy visualization
•
Minify Option: Compress XML by removing unnecessary whitespace, line breaks, and comments
Perfect for production environments where file size matters or when sending XML over networks
•
Attribute Formatting: Automatically aligns and organizes XML attributes for better readability
Handles multiple attributes per element with consistent spacing and alignment

Indentation Comparison Examples

2 Spaces (Compact)
<config>
  <database>
    <host>localhost</host>
    <port>5432</port>
  </database>
</config>
4 Spaces (Standard)
<config>
    <database>
        <host>localhost</host>
        <port>5432</port>
    </database>
</config>

Pretty Print vs Minify Comparison

Pretty Print (Readable Format)
<user id="123" active="true">
    <name>John Doe</name>
    <email>john@example.com</email>
    <preferences>
        <theme>dark</theme>
        <language>en</language>
    </preferences>
</user>

File size: ~280 bytes • Easy to read and debug

Minified (Compressed Format)
<user id="123" active="true"><name>John Doe</name><email>john@example.com</email><preferences><theme>dark</theme><language>en</language></preferences></user>

File size: ~180 bytes • 36% smaller, ideal for production

Step 3

Get Your Formatted XML

The formatter processes your XML in real-time and provides beautifully formatted output:

•
Instant Results: See formatted XML appear automatically as you type or paste
•
Copy to Clipboard: One-click copying of the formatted XML for easy use
•
Error Detection: Automatic validation with helpful error messages and suggestions

Example: Beautifully Formatted XML

Here's how the same XML looks after formatting with proper indentation:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<library>
  <books>
    <book id="1" category="fiction">
      <title>The Great Gatsby</title>
      <author>
        <name>F. Scott Fitzgerald</name>
        <country>USA</country>
      </author>
      <price currency="USD">12.99</price>
    </book>
    <book id="2" category="biography">
      <title>Steve Jobs</title>
      <author>
        <name>Walter Isaacson</name>
        <country>USA</country>
      </author>
      <price currency="USD">14.99</price>
    </book>
  </books>
</library>

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between XML formatting and beautifying?

XML formatting and beautifying are essentially the same - both add proper indentation, line breaks, and spacing to make XML more readable while preserving the original data structure.

Can I customize the formatting style?

The tool uses standard XML formatting conventions with consistent indentation and line breaks. This ensures compatibility across different XML parsers and development environments.

Does formatting affect XML performance?

Formatted XML is slightly larger due to added whitespace, but the impact on parsing performance is minimal. The readability benefits usually outweigh the small size increase.

What XML versions are supported?

This formatter supports XML 1.0 and 1.1, including documents with namespaces, CDATA sections, processing instructions, and DOCTYPE declarations. You can also convert formatted XML to JSON for modern applications.

Is this XML formatter completely free?

Yes, completely free with no file size limits, no registration required, and unlimited usage. All formatting features are available at no cost.