What problem does this tool solve?
Missing indentation and deeply nested elements can make XML difficult to inspect. This free XML formatter improves readability and checks well-formedness while protecting mixed text and explicitly preserved whitespace.
Six practical questions answered
How do I format XML that is difficult to read?
Paste the XML, select two or four spaces of indentation, and process it. Suitable element-only structures are displayed with clearer nesting.
How can I find an error in my XML file?
Run the formatter’s parser check. It can detect malformed syntax, including unclosed elements and incorrect nesting, and displays the error supplied by the parser.
How do I make an XML sitemap easier to review?
Open the sitemap’s XML source in the formatter. Use the indented output to review the hierarchy and URL entries manually; this does not crawl or validate the listed pages.
How can I check that my XML tags are correctly closed?
Process the XML. A mismatched or missing closing tag makes the document not well-formed and produces a syntax error.
Can I format an XML document with namespaces?
Yes. The parser and serializer retain namespace associations. Review the result in its target system if exact serialization or digital signatures matter.
How do I avoid changing meaningful content when formatting XML?
Mixed text, CDATA, and xml:space="preserve" require special handling. This tool leaves protected subtrees without reindentation and reports that behavior. Formatting is not byte-identical document editing.
Practical example
A webmaster opens an XML sitemap, makes its nesting easier to read, and manually reviews the URL entries. Namespace information and any protected text remain part of the document.
How to use the tool
Paste XML, choose indentation or minification, and process it. Review whitespace notices before downloading validated output.
Additional use cases
- Make a sitemap readable before review.
- Inspect XML namespace structures.
- Identify missing closing tags.
Limits and supported formats
DTD/DOCTYPE and external entities are excluded. Formatting whitespace changes; this is not byte-identical archival or signed-document editing.
Frequently asked questions
What is XML used for?
XML is a markup language for representing and exchanging structured data, including sitemaps, feeds, and application documents.
Does the formatter fully validate XML documents?
It checks syntactic well-formedness. It does not validate XSD rules or process DTD declarations.
Can I minify XML here?
Yes. Minification removes formatting whitespace in suitable element-only structures. It retains protected text and does not promise byte-identical output.
Are CDATA sections preserved?
Yes. CDATA content is retained through XML serialization, and affected subtrees are not newly indented. The tool displays a notice explaining this behavior.
Is XML formatting free?
Yes. The browser performs the work without an external API or registration.
Related tools for your next step
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Request a free consultation →Editorial team: SEOSTUDIO · Updated November 9, 2026