XML Formatter — by BitTools

XML is widely used in APIs, configuration, and legacy systems. Proper formatting makes it much easier to read, debug, and review changes.

How to use the XML Formatter

1. Paste your XML in the left input pane.
2. Click Format to pretty-print with indentation.
3. Use Minify to collapse whitespace for compact payloads.
4. Click Copy Output to copy the result to your clipboard.
5. Open the XML Formatter

Examples

Before (minified)

AliceBobHello

After (formatted)

  Alice
  Bob
  Hello

Best practices

• Validate structure: Ensure tags are properly nested and closed.
• Normalize whitespace: Keep indentation consistent across files.
• Use attributes wisely: Prefer elements for complex data; attributes for metadata.
• Namespaces: Keep namespace prefixes clear and consistent.

Common pitfalls

• Unescaped special characters (<, &) inside text nodes.
• Mismatched tags or duplicate root elements.
• Incorrect character encodings for non-ASCII content.

FAQs

Does formatting change the data?

No. Pretty-printing only adds whitespace/line breaks for readability.

Can I minify for production?

Yes. Minifying can reduce payload size for transport or storage.

Is my XML uploaded?

No. Everything runs locally in your browser.

Try it now: XML Formatter