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About XML Formatter & Validator

XML Formatter & Validator is a powerful online tool that formats, validates, and minifies XML (Extensible Markup Language) documents. Whether you're working with configuration files, data exchange formats, or web services, this tool helps you ensure your XML is properly structured and readable.

Features

  • Format XML with customizable indentation
  • Validate XML syntax and structure
  • Minify XML to reduce file size
  • Real-time error detection
  • Detailed error messages
  • Multiple indentation options (2, 4, 8 spaces)
  • One-click copy to clipboard
  • Character and line count
  • Load example XML
  • 100% browser-based (no server uploads)

How to Use

  1. Paste your XML in the input box
  2. Select your preferred indentation size
  3. Click "Format XML" to beautify your XML
  4. Click "Minify XML" to compress your XML
  5. Click "Validate XML" to check for errors
  6. Copy the formatted output to clipboard

What is XML?

XML (Extensible Markup Language) is a markup language that defines rules for encoding documents in a format that is both human-readable and machine-readable. It's widely used for data storage and transport, configuration files, and web services.

XML Syntax Rules

XML Declaration:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

Elements:

<element>content</element>

Attributes:

<element attribute="value">content</element>

Self-Closing Tags:

<element />

Comments:

<!-- This is a comment -->

Common XML Use Cases

  • Configuration Files: Application settings and preferences
  • Data Exchange: Transfer data between systems
  • Web Services: SOAP APIs and RSS feeds
  • Document Storage: Office documents (DOCX, XLSX)
  • Android Development: Layout and resource files
  • Maven/Gradle: Build configuration files
  • SVG Graphics: Scalable vector graphics

Format vs Minify

Format XML:

Adds proper indentation and line breaks to make XML human-readable. Use this for development and debugging.

Minify XML:

Removes unnecessary whitespace to reduce file size. Use this for production to improve performance.

Common XML Errors

  • Missing closing tags
  • Mismatched opening and closing tags
  • Invalid characters in tag names
  • Unescaped special characters (<, >, &)
  • Missing XML declaration
  • Improper nesting of elements
  • Invalid attribute syntax

Best Practices

  • Always include the XML declaration
  • Use meaningful element and attribute names
  • Properly nest elements
  • Use consistent indentation
  • Escape special characters (<, >, &, ", ')
  • Validate XML before deployment
  • Use namespaces to avoid naming conflicts
  • Keep XML files well-formatted for maintainability

Privacy & Security

All XML formatting and validation happens locally in your browser. Your XML data is never sent to our servers or any third-party services. This ensures complete privacy and security for your configuration files and sensitive data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between XML and HTML?

XML is designed to store and transport data, while HTML is designed to display data. XML has stricter syntax rules.

Can I validate XML against a schema?

This tool performs basic syntax validation. For schema validation (XSD), you'll need a specialized validator.

Why should I format XML?

Formatted XML is easier to read, debug, and maintain. It helps identify structure and nesting issues.

When should I minify XML?

Minify XML for production environments to reduce file size and improve load times.

Does this support XSLT?

This tool formats and validates XML. XSLT transformations require a separate processor.