How to use this tool
Paste XML, choose indentation, click Format XML, review parser errors or summary details, then copy the output. Use Minify XML when you need compact fixtures or payloads.
XML Formatter / Validator
Format XML, validate well-formed syntax, minify output, inspect the root element, and copy clean XML directly from your browser. WebUtilsLab keeps the XML input local to the page.
Runs locally
No XML upload
Parser errors
Copy-ready output
Paste XML from an API response, RSS feed, SVG, build file, or config file.
Formatted or minified XML appears here after validation.
Status
Waiting for input
Root element
-
Elements
-
Output size
-
XML element paths
After formatting, the tool lists the first few element paths so you can quickly understand the document shape.
- Waiting for valid XML
XML formatter examples and workflows
Real examples
Format SOAP responses, RSS items, SVG snippets, Maven POM files, Android XML resources, sitemap fragments, or XML config copied from logs and API clients.
Common use cases
Review dense XML, validate closing tags before committing config, prepare readable examples for docs, inspect root elements, and copy normalized XML into tests.
Edge cases / errors
XML must be well-formed. Unescaped ampersands, mismatched tags, duplicate attributes, and invalid declarations will produce parser errors instead of output.
Sample input/output
Input: <item id="7"><name>Ada</name></item>. Formatted output places the child element on its own indented line while preserving attributes and text.
Common errors and fixes
Unescaped ampersand: use &. Mismatched tags: make closing tags match exactly. Bad declaration: keep the XML declaration at the top of the document.
Edge cases table
| Case | What to check |
|---|---|
| Namespaces | Namespace prefixes stay attached to element and attribute names. |
| CDATA | CDATA sections are kept as XML content during parsing and serialization. |
| Duplicate attributes | Duplicate attributes are rejected because well-formed XML does not allow them. |
Related workflow
Format XML first, then convert structured API examples with JSON Formatter, YAML to JSON, or CSV to JSON when the source data uses a different format.
Related Data tools
JSON Formatter / Validator
Format and validate JSON payloads for APIs and developer fixtures.
YAML to JSON Converter
Convert YAML config snippets into formatted or minified JSON.
JSON to YAML Converter
Turn JSON into readable YAML for config files and docs.
CSV to JSON Converter
Turn spreadsheet rows into JSON Array or JSON Lines output.
XML Formatter / Validator FAQ
Does this XML formatter upload my XML?
No. XML input is parsed, formatted, and minified locally in your browser.
Can this tool validate XML syntax?
Yes. It uses the browser XML parser and shows parser errors when the XML is not well-formed.
Can it format SVG or RSS XML?
Yes. Well-formed SVG, RSS, Atom, SOAP, sitemap, and config XML can be formatted and inspected.
Does it support XML namespaces?
Yes. Namespaced elements and attributes are preserved by the browser XML serializer.