Free Developer Tool

XML Formatter & Validator

Format, validate and minify your XML data and detect XML syntax errors within seconds.

All processing takes place in your browser. Your data is never sent to a server.

Enter your XML data

Paste the XML code you want to format or validate into the field below.

XML Formatter & Validator features

Everything you need to format, validate and minify XML data and detect errors is available on a single page.

</>

XML formatting

Converts compressed XML data into an indented, readable structure.

✓

XML validation

Checks whether the XML document has well-formed syntax.

−

XML minification

Removes unnecessary whitespace and line breaks between tags.

⧉

Quick copy

Copies the formatted or minified XML data to the clipboard.

↓

XML file download

Lets you download your edited data as an .xml file.

⌁

Secure processing in the browser

Your XML data is processed on your device and is not sent to any server.

What is XML Formatter & Validator?

XML Formatter & Validator is a free online developer tool that converts compressed, messy or hard-to-read XML documents into an indented, easy-to-understand structure and also checks whether the document has well-formed XML syntax.

XML is widely used in SOAP services, integration systems, configuration files, data transfer processes, e-invoice applications, RSS feeds and enterprise software solutions. Manually inspecting XML documents that are delivered on a single line or contain many nested tags can be difficult.

XML formatting indents tags according to their hierarchy. This makes parent and child nodes, attributes, text values and nested data structures easier to analyze.

The tool detects basic XML syntax problems such as unclosed tags, mismatched opening and closing tags, incorrect attribute usage, multiple root elements or invalid characters. This validation checks that the XML document is well-formed, not its conformance to an XSD or DTD schema.

How do you use XML Formatter & Validator?

Follow the steps below to format or validate your XML data.

1

Add the XML data

Type or paste the XML code into the input field.

2

Choose an action

Use Format to tidy up the data, or Validate to only check it.

3

Check for errors

The tool automatically reports invalid XML syntax.

4

Use the result

Copy the XML data or download it as a file.

XML formatting example

The XML document below is valid, but because it is on a single line it is hard to read, especially with larger data structures.

Unformatted XML

<company><name>Tekno Danışman</name><services><service active="true">Özel Yazılım</service><service active="true">Danışmanlık</service></services></company>

Formatted XML

<company>
    <name>Tekno Danışman</name>
    <services>
        <service active="true">Özel Yazılım</service>
        <service active="true">Danışmanlık</service>
    </services>
</company>

After formatting, nodes and child nodes become more distinct. The structure and values of the data are not changed; only the indentation and line layout are improved.

Comparison

What is the difference between XML Formatter and XML Validator?

Although both operations are often used together, their main purposes differ.

Feature XML Formatter XML Validator
Main purpose Arranging XML data in a readable form Checking the syntax of an XML document
Indentation ✔ Supported Usually not supported
Syntax check Performed during formatting. This is its core function.
Error detection Invalid XML cannot be formatted. Reports syntax errors.
Schema validation Not supported. XSD/DTD validation is not performed in this tool.
Use case Reading, editing and analysis Well-formed XML check
Tekno Danışman XML Formatter & Validator checks the XML document for syntax errors before formatting it. The tool does not perform XSD or DTD schema validation.
XML Syntax

Rules for writing valid XML

XML syntax rules are strict. Violating any of the rules below can cause an XML parsing error.

01

Single root element

An XML document must contain only one root element.

02

Tag matching

Every opening tag must be matched by a corresponding closing tag.

03

Case sensitivity

<Name> and <name> are different tags.

04

Correct nesting

Tags must be closed in the reverse order in which they were opened.

05

Attribute quotes

Attribute values must be enclosed in single or double quotes.

06

Special characters

Entity equivalents such as &lt;, &gt; and &amp; must be used.

07

Empty elements

Elements with no content can be closed in the form <item />.

08

Valid tag names

Tag names cannot contain spaces and cannot start with a digit.

09

XML declaration

If used, the declaration must appear at the very beginning of the document.

10

Use of comments

XML comments are written in the form <!-- comment -->.

11

Use of namespaces

For tags that use a prefix, the corresponding namespace must be declared.

✓

Validation tip

Run XML data through a syntax check before using it.

Common XML mistakes

1. Forgetting the closing tag

<company>
    <name>Tekno Danışman
</company>

The document is invalid because the <name> tag is not closed.

2. Closing tags in the wrong order

<company>
    <name>Tekno Danışman
</company>
</name>

Nested tags must be closed in the correct order.

3. Using multiple root elements

<company>Tekno Danışman</company>
<status>active</status>

An XML document can have only one root element.

4. Writing an attribute value without quotes

<service active=true>Yazılım</service>

Attribute values must be written inside quotation marks.

Where is XML used?

XML is used to transfer structured data between systems and to store documents in a hierarchical structure.

SOAP web services

SOAP requests and responses use an XML-based message structure.

System integrations

Can be used to transfer data between enterprise applications.

Configuration files

Application settings and system configurations can be stored as XML.

E-invoices and electronic documents

XML data structures are used in UBL-based commercial documents.

RSS and Atom feeds

Content feeds can be published in XML-based formats.

Document and data transfer

Enables platform-independent, hierarchical data sharing.

Frequently Asked Questions About XML Formatter & Validator

Browse the answers to frequently asked questions about XML formatting, validation, minification and XML syntax.

What is XML Formatter & Validator used for?
Arranges XML data in a readable form and checks whether the document has well-formed XML syntax.
What is an XML Validator?
An XML Validator is a tool that checks the opening and closing tags, root element, attributes and general syntax rules of an XML document.
Does this tool perform XSD or DTD validation?
No. The tool checks whether the XML document is well-formed. It does not validate conformance to an XSD or DTD schema.
Why does XML produce an error?
An unclosed tag, incorrect nesting, multiple root elements, an unquoted attribute value or the use of invalid special characters can cause an error.
Are XML Beautifier and XML Formatter the same thing?
Yes. Both terms are used for tools that make XML data readable and indent tags according to their hierarchy.
What is XML minification used for?
XML minification removes unnecessary whitespace and line breaks between tags, making the document more compact.
Is my XML data sent to a server?
No. Formatting, validation and minification are performed directly in your browser.
How do you open an XML file?
XML files can be opened with Visual Studio Code, Notepad++, Visual Studio, web browsers or standard text editors.
What is an XML parse error?
An XML parse error indicates that the parser could not convert the document into a valid XML tree. It is usually caused by syntax problems.
Can comments be used in XML?
Yes. XML comments can be written in the form <!-- comment -->. Two consecutive hyphens must not be used inside the comment content.
Does XML Formatter change the data?
Formatting does not change the underlying data structure; however, whitespace between tags that is used only for visual purposes may be rearranged.
Is XML Formatter & Validator free?
Yes. You can use the tool for free and without registration.

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