XML Formatter

XML still runs much of the hidden web: sitemaps, RSS feeds, SVG images, office documents and endless configuration files. Delivered raw, it is often a single compressed line that no human can audit. Our free XML formatter parses your document with a real XML parser, which validates the structure as a bonus, then reprints it with consistent two-space indentation so every element’s nesting is obvious. Malformed XML produces the parser’s own error description instead of silent corruption, helping you find unclosed tags fast.

Quick Answer: Paste XML and click Format to get a validated, neatly indented document. If the XML is malformed, the tool shows the parser error so you can find the broken tag.

Free Online Tool

XML Formatter

Validate and beautify XML with proper indentation.




How to Use the XML Formatter

  1. Paste your XML: a sitemap, feed, SVG source or config file all work.
  2. Click Format XML. The document is first parsed for validity, then re-indented.
  3. If an error appears, read it carefully; it usually names the exact problem, like a mismatched closing tag.
  4. Review the formatted output to confirm the hierarchy looks as expected.
  5. Copy the result back into your file or editor.

Key Features

  • Real parsing with the browser’s XML engine, so formatting also proves validity.
  • Clean, consistent two-space indentation that reveals document structure at a glance.
  • Preserves attributes, namespaces, comments and CDATA sections.
  • Handles large sitemaps and feeds without uploading them anywhere.
  • Clear error reporting for malformed input instead of a blank failure.

Best Practices and Tips

  • Format a sitemap before submitting it; a quick visual scan often reveals wrong URLs or duplicated entries that validators accept silently.
  • When an error mentions a line end, look for the classic culprits: an unescaped & (must be &) or a tag closed in the wrong order.
  • Keep one formatted master copy of config files; diffs between versions become readable, which saves real debugging time.
  • Remember formatting changes only whitespace between elements; text content inside elements is preserved exactly.
  • Before uploading a hand-edited sitemap, format it here and eyeball the indentation: a URL accidentally nested inside another element stands out immediately in the formatted view.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Assuming the formatter can repair broken XML automatically; it validates and formats valid documents, but structural errors need your fix, guided by the error message.
  • Pasting HTML and expecting XML rules: HTML allows unclosed tags like
    , while XML requires
    and will correctly report an error.
  • Editing formatted XML and accidentally deleting an indentation-only line that actually contained a text node; review diffs carefully.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between XML and HTML?

They look similar but follow different rules. XML is a strict data format: every tag must close, attributes must be quoted and the document must have exactly one root element. HTML is a presentation language with looser rules that browsers forgive.

Why does it say my XML is not well-formed?

Well-formed means the XML obeys the structural rules. The parser error usually pinpoints the issue: common causes are unclosed tags, unescaped ampersands, mismatched tag case, or text outside the root element.

Can I format a sitemap with thousands of URLs?

Yes. Sitemaps of tens of thousands of lines format quickly in the browser. For the very largest files allowed by the protocol (50,000 URLs), expect a few seconds of processing.

Does formatting change how the XML works?

No. XML processors ignore the added indentation between elements. The document’s data, attributes and meaning are identical before and after; only human readability changes.

Is my XML uploaded to a server?

No. The browser’s built-in DOMParser does all the work locally, which matters when your XML contains internal configuration or unpublished feed data.

Can this formatter handle SVG files?

Yes. SVG is XML, so an image’s source formats and validates here like any other XML document. It is a handy way to inspect a bloated SVG export before optimising it, because the indentation makes unnecessary groups and metadata easy to spot.

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