XML Formatter
LiveFormat and beautify XML documents with proper indentation and structure.
Understanding XML Markup Language
XML (eXtensible Markup Language) provides a strict, self-describing data format used in SOAP web services, RSS/Atom feeds, SVG graphics, Microsoft Office documents (.docx, .xlsx), Android layout files, Maven/Gradle build configurations, and enterprise data interchange. Unlike JSON, XML supports attributes, namespaces, DTD validation, XSLT transformations, and mixed content. XML's strict parsing rules — every tag must close, attribute values must be quoted, entities must be escaped — demand precisely structured documents.
Format raw or minified XML documents into clean, readable markup.
The Devkitr XML Formatter parses raw XML and applies consistent indentation, line breaks, and attribute alignment to produce a clearly structured document. It handles deeply nested elements, namespace declarations, CDATA sections, processing instructions, and XML declarations while validating well-formedness during the formatting process.
In a typical development workflow, XML Formatter becomes valuable whenever you need to format and beautify xml documents with proper indentation and structure. Whether you are working on a personal side project, maintaining production applications for a company, or collaborating with a distributed team across time zones, having a reliable browser-based formatting tool eliminates the need to install desktop software, write one-off scripts, or send data to third-party services that may log or retain your information. Since XML Formatter processes everything locally on your device, your data stays private and your workflow stays uninterrupted — open a browser tab, paste your input, get your result.
Key Features
Namespace-Aware Formatting
Correctly handles XML namespace declarations (xmlns, xmlns:prefix) and preserves namespace prefixes on elements and attributes throughout the document.
CDATA Section Handling
Preserves CDATA sections (<![CDATA[...]]>) without escaping their contents, maintaining raw text blocks used for embedded code or HTML.
Attribute Alignment
Multi-attribute elements are formatted with one attribute per line aligned vertically for readability in configuration files with many settings.
Well-Formedness Validation
Detects unclosed tags, mismatched elements, unescaped special characters, and other well-formedness violations during formatting.
How to Use XML Formatter
Paste Your XML
Copy XML from SOAP responses, configuration files, SVG source, API output, or any other XML source into the input panel.
Set Indentation
Choose between 2-space, 4-space, or tab indentation for the formatted output based on your project conventions.
Review Formatted Output
The formatter displays the XML with proper nesting, element alignment, and any well-formedness errors highlighted at the top.
Copy and Use
Copy the formatted XML back to your configuration file, API documentation, or development environment.
Use Cases
Debugging SOAP API Responses
SOAP services return complex XML with nested namespaces. Format the response to navigate the data structure and locate specific elements.
Editing Maven/Gradle Build Files
Format pom.xml or build configuration files to review dependency trees, plugin configurations, and profile definitions clearly.
Inspecting SVG Source Code
SVG graphics are XML. Format SVG source to understand the element hierarchy, find specific paths or groups, and edit attributes.
Processing RSS and Atom Feeds
Format RSS/Atom XML feeds to inspect feed structure, item elements, and metadata when building or debugging feed readers.
Pro Tips
Use 2-space indentation for XML files that nest deeply — Android layouts and complex SVGs can have 10+ nesting levels.
Format both the request and response XML when debugging SOAP services to clearly see the complete data exchange.
Check CDATA sections after formatting — they should remain on their own lines with content preserved exactly as written.
Format XML alongside its XSD schema to verify that element nesting matches the schema's expected structure.
Common Pitfalls
Formatting XML fragments without a root element
Fix: XML requires exactly one root element. Wrap fragments in a temporary root tag for formatting, or ensure the document has proper structure.
Not preserving XML declaration and encoding attributes
Fix: The <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> declaration is significant. Ensure the formatter preserves it, especially the encoding attribute for non-UTF-8 documents.
Treating XML elements as case-insensitive like HTML
Fix: XML is case-sensitive — <Item> and <item> are different elements. The formatter preserves case, but be aware during manual editing.
Frequently Asked Questions
QDoes it validate XML syntax?
The formatter checks for well-formedness (matching tags, proper nesting). It does not validate against DTD or XSD schemas.
QHow are self-closing tags handled?
Self-closing tags like <br/> are preserved in their original form.
QDoes it preserve CDATA sections?
Yes. CDATA sections and processing instructions are preserved in the formatted output.
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