XML Formatter
Format and beautify XML documents with proper indentation
XML Formatter
Format and beautify XML documents with proper indentation
Formatted XML
Formatted XML will appear here as you type...Real-time Processing
Advanced Web Worker handles large XML files without freezing the interface, processing up to 50MB+ files.
File Upload Support
Drag-and-drop or browse for XML, config, and WSDL files with instant processing and validation.
Export Suite
One-click copy, download, and minify options for seamless integration into your development workflow.
About XML Document Formatting
XML formatting transforms compressed or poorly structured XML documents into well-organized, human-readable format with proper indentation, line breaks, and attribute alignment. Essential for configuration files, web services, data exchange, and document processing.
- Proper element indentation and nesting
- Attribute formatting and alignment
- CDATA and comment preservation
- XML validation and error reporting
- Minification and compression options
XML Formatting Features
Structure Enhancement
- Hierarchical element indentation
- Consistent tag spacing
- Attribute value formatting
- Text content wrapping
- Empty element optimization
Customization Options
- Indentation style (spaces or tabs)
- Line ending normalization
- Attribute wrapping rules
- Comment formatting preferences
- Namespace declaration organization
Frequently Asked Questions
How to format XML online?
Paste your raw XML into the utilAZ XML Formatter input area and the tool will instantly add proper indentation, line breaks, and element nesting. Everything runs in your browser with no server upload required, so your data stays private.
What is an XML beautifier?
An XML beautifier is a tool that takes compressed or unformatted XML and restructures it with consistent indentation and spacing. It does not alter the document content or attributes. utilAZ provides a free online XML beautifier that works instantly in any modern browser.
How to pretty print XML?
You can pretty print XML by pasting it into an online formatter like utilAZ, or by using command-line tools such as xmllint with the --format flag. In Python you can use xml.dom.minidom.parseString(s).toprettyxml(). All methods add indentation and line breaks without changing the data.
Best free XML formatter?
utilAZ offers a free XML formatter with syntax highlighting, error detection, and customizable indentation. It processes everything client-side, requires no account, and supports large documents, making it a reliable option for developers and testers.
How to indent XML code?
Proper XML indentation means adding spaces or tabs for each level of element nesting. You can do this automatically by pasting your XML into the utilAZ formatter, which applies consistent indentation based on the document hierarchy in a single click.
Can VS Code format XML?
VS Code does not format XML out of the box, but you can install extensions like XML Tools or XML Formatter from the marketplace. Alternatively, paste your XML into the utilAZ online formatter for a quick one-off format without installing anything.
How XML Formatting Works
XML formatting transforms flat, minified markup into a well-structured document with proper indentation, making hierarchies visible at a glance. The formatter parses the document tree and rewrites it with consistent spacing while preserving all data and semantics.
The raw XML string is parsed into a DOM tree. Syntax errors are detected and reported before any formatting begins.
Each nested element gets one additional indent level (2 or 4 spaces). Attributes can remain inline or be split onto separate lines.
The tree is serialized back to text with line breaks after each closing tag, preserving CDATA, comments, and processing instructions.
XML Formatting Styles
Different use cases call for different formatting approaches. Our tool supports multiple styles so you can match your project conventions.
Attributes stay on the same line as the opening tag. Best for short configuration files where each element has few attributes.
<db host="localhost" port="5432" />Each attribute gets its own line. Ideal for elements with many attributes or long values that would exceed comfortable line widths.
Empty elements use <tag /> instead of <tag></tag>, reducing visual noise and file size.
Elements containing both text and child nodes are handled carefully to preserve inline text while still indenting sub-elements.
Advanced XML Constructs
The formatter correctly handles all standard XML constructs without corrupting your document structure.
Namespace declarations (xmlns:prefix) are preserved and kept alongside the element that defines them. Prefixed elements remain fully qualified.
<![CDATA[...]]> blocks are kept intact without adding extra indentation inside, since their whitespace is meaningful content.
<!-- ... --> comments are indented to match their surrounding elements, maintaining context and readability in the output.
<?target data?> instructions (like the XML declaration) are placed at the top level without indentation, per specification.
Formatting XML in Code
After testing with our tool, you can integrate XML formatting into your build pipeline or application using standard library methods.
Quick Reference by Language:
new DOMParser().parseFromString(xml, 'application/xml')
xml.dom.minidom.parseString(s).toprettyxml(indent=' ')
Transformer.setOutputProperty(OutputKeys.INDENT, "yes")
xmllint --format input.xml > output.xml
Our browser-based formatter requires no installation and processes everything locally for privacy.
XML Formatting Best Practices
- Consistent Indentation: Use 2 or 4 spaces consistently throughout the document
- Attribute Organization: Put multiple attributes on separate lines for readability
- Empty Elements: Use self-closing tags for empty elements (<tag />)
- Comment Placement: Add meaningful comments above complex sections
- Namespace Declarations: Declare namespaces at the root or appropriate level
- CDATA Usage: Use CDATA sections for content with special characters
- Encoding Declaration: Always specify encoding in the XML declaration
Common Use Cases
- Configuration file maintenance
- Web service SOAP/REST responses
- Data export and import formatting
- XML schema and documentation
- Build system configuration (Maven, Ant)
- Database migration scripts
- API response debugging
- Template and transformation files