XML Formatter
Paste messy XML, get clean indented output — and instant validation with plain-English errors.
How to use the XML formatter
- Paste your XML into the input box.
- Click "Format XML" for indented output, or "Minify" to strip all whitespace.
- Invalid XML shows exactly where the parser choked — fix it and re-run.
- Copy the result with one click.
XML tips
Well-formed XML has exactly one root element, every tag closed, attributes quoted, and special characters (<, >, &) escaped — the validator here enforces all of it using your browser's own XML parser, the same strictness a server would apply. When debugging, the most common culprits are unescaped ampersands in URLs, mismatched open/close tags, and stray text outside the root element. Minified XML is great for transport but miserable to read, so keep a formatted copy for humans and ship the minified one. If you work with XML regularly, consider whether JSON would serve you better — but for SOAP APIs, RSS feeds, SVG files, and config formats, XML is not going anywhere.
Frequently asked questions
What does "not well-formed" mean?
The XML breaks basic syntax rules — unclosed tags, multiple roots, or illegal characters. The error message points at the problem.
Does this validate against a schema?
No — it checks well-formedness (valid syntax), not schema validity (correct structure per an XSD).
Is my XML sent to a server?
Never. Parsing happens entirely in your browser, so sensitive payloads stay private.
What is the difference between format and minify?
Format adds indentation and line breaks for readability; minify removes all optional whitespace for the smallest size.