XML Formatter & Validator
Paste your XML to format, validate, and minify it instantly.
About This Tool
The XML Formatter & Validator is a free, browser-based tool that helps developers and technical writers quickly format, validate, and minify XML documents. Whether you are debugging a SOAP API response, editing a Maven POM file, inspecting an SVG graphic, or reviewing an XML configuration, this tool makes working with XML effortless.
All processing happens entirely in your browser using the
built-in DOMParser API. No data is uploaded to
any server, logged, or shared with third parties. This makes
it safe for sensitive payloads such as internal configuration
files, XML-based service descriptors, and documents containing
credentials or personally identifiable information.
The formatter parses your XML into a DOM tree and re-serializes it with clean, consistent indentation. You can choose between 2-space and 4-space indentation depending on your project conventions. Attributes, text nodes, CDATA sections, comments, and processing instructions are all preserved during formatting.
The minify mode strips all unnecessary whitespace between tags, producing the most compact representation of your XML. This is useful when you need to embed XML in a single-line configuration value, reduce payload size for network transmission, or prepare XML for storage in a database field. The file size comparison panel shows you exactly how much space you saved or added.
Validation is performed automatically as you type. If your XML contains syntax errors such as mismatched tags, unclosed elements, or malformed attributes, the tool displays the parser error with as much detail as the browser provides, helping you locate and fix issues quickly.
How to Use
- Paste or type your XML into the Input panel on the left (or top on mobile).
- The output updates automatically in the Output panel. By default the tool formats your XML with 2-space indentation.
- Switch between Format and Minify modes using the toolbar buttons.
- In Format mode, toggle between 2-space and 4-space indentation to match your project style.
- Click Copy to copy the output to your clipboard, or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+C.
- Click Sample to load an example XML document and see the tool in action.
- Click Clear to reset both panels and start fresh.
- Check the size comparison below the panels to see the original versus formatted/minified file size.
Popular XML Formatting Examples
FAQ
Is my XML data safe?
Yes. All parsing, formatting, and validation is done entirely in your browser using the native DOMParser API. No data is sent to any server, stored, or logged. Your XML never leaves your machine.
What types of XML errors does it detect?
The tool detects all well-formedness errors reported by the browser's built-in XML parser, including unclosed tags, mismatched element names, duplicate attributes, invalid characters in tag names, and malformed processing instructions. The error message is displayed with as much detail as the parser provides.
Does it preserve XML declarations and comments?
Yes. XML declarations (e.g. <?xml version="1.0"?>), comments, CDATA sections, and processing instructions are all preserved when formatting. They are also retained during minification.
Can it handle large XML files?
The tool works well with XML documents up to several megabytes. For very large files, processing time depends on your browser and device. Since everything runs client-side, there are no server-side file size limits.
What is the difference between Format and Minify?
Format parses the XML and re-serializes it with consistent indentation, making it easy to read. Minify removes all unnecessary whitespace between tags to produce the smallest possible output, which is useful for reducing payload size or embedding XML in single-line fields.
Does it support namespaces?
Yes. Because the tool uses the browser's native DOMParser, it fully supports XML namespaces. Namespace prefixes and declarations are preserved in the formatted output.
What keyboard shortcuts are available?
Press Ctrl+Shift+C (or Cmd+Shift+C on macOS) to copy the formatted or minified output to your clipboard.
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