Format, beautify, validate and minify XML documents online. Uses the browser's native DOMParser for accurate validation — your data never leaves your machine.
Last updated: March 2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is XML formatting and why is it important?
XML formatting adds consistent indentation and line breaks to XML documents, making deeply nested structures human-readable. Unformatted XML from APIs, SOAP web services, RSS feeds, or configuration files is often compressed into a single line. Proper formatting is essential for debugging XML parsing errors, reviewing configuration files like pom.xml, web.xml, and AndroidManifest.xml, and understanding complex document structures.
How do I validate XML syntax?
Well-formed XML must follow these rules: every opening tag needs a matching closing tag, tags must be properly nested without overlapping, attribute values must be enclosed in quotes, element names are case-sensitive, and there must be exactly one root element. Self-closing tags like <br/> are also valid. This tool uses the browser's built-in DOMParser to validate XML and reports any syntax errors with descriptions.
What is the difference between XML and HTML?
XML is strict and extensible — you define your own tag names, all tags must be explicitly closed, attributes must be quoted, and element names are case-sensitive. HTML is more lenient — it has predefined tags, browsers auto-close certain elements, and it's case-insensitive. XML is used for data transport (SOAP APIs, RSS feeds, config files, SVG), while HTML is for rendering web pages in browsers.