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How to Pretty Print XML - Step by Step Guide

Step 1

Input Your XML Data

Let's get your XML into the pretty printer! You have several convenient options:

•
Paste directly: Copy your compressed or minified web service response or XML data and paste it into the input editor
•
Upload a file: Click "Upload" to select a .xml or .txt file from your computer
•
Try sample XML: Click "Sample" to load example XML and see the pretty printer in action

Example: Compressed XML Input

Here's how compressed, unformatted XML typically looks before pretty printing:

<library><books><book id="1" category="fiction"><title>The Great Gatsby</title><author><name>F. Scott Fitzgerald</name><country>USA</country></author><price currency="USD">12.99</price></book></books></library>

Difficult to read and understand - perfect candidate for pretty printing!

Step 2

Choose Your Pretty Print Options

Customize how you want your XML pretty printed with these professional options. The pretty printer provides flexible settings to match your coding standards and project requirements:

•
Indentation Size: Choose between 2, 4, or 8 spaces for proper XML structure visualization
• 2 spaces: Compact pretty printing, ideal for configuration files
• 4 spaces: Standard pretty printing, most commonly used
• 8 spaces: Wide pretty printing, excellent for complex nested structures
•
Pretty Print Mode: Automatically formats with proper line breaks, indentation, and attribute alignment
Transforms compressed XML into readable format with consistent spacing and proper hierarchy visualization
•
Minify Option: Compress XML by removing unnecessary whitespace, line breaks, and comments
Perfect for production environments where file size matters or when sending XML over networks

Pretty Print vs Minified Comparison

Pretty Printed (Readable Format)
<user id="123" active="true">
    <name>John Doe</name>
    <email>john@example.com</email>
    <preferences>
        <theme>dark</theme>
        <language>en</language>
    </preferences>
</user>

File size: ~280 bytes • Easy to read and debug

Minified (Compressed Format)
<user id="123" active="true"><name>John Doe</name><email>john@example.com</email><preferences><theme>dark</theme><language>en</language></preferences></user>

File size: ~180 bytes • 36% smaller, ideal for production

Step 3

Get Your Pretty Printed XML

The pretty printer processes your XML in real-time and provides beautifully formatted output:

•
Instant Results: See pretty printed XML appear automatically as you type or paste
•
Copy to Clipboard: One-click copying of the pretty printed XML for easy use
•
Error Detection: Automatic validation with helpful error messages and suggestions

Example: Beautifully Pretty Printed XML

Here's how the same XML looks after pretty printing with proper indentation:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<library>
  <books>
    <book id="1" category="fiction">
      <title>The Great Gatsby</title>
      <author>
        <name>F. Scott Fitzgerald</name>
        <country>USA</country>
      </author>
      <price currency="USD">12.99</price>
    </book>
  </books>
</library>

Clean, readable, and properly indented - perfect for development and documentation!

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between XML formatting and pretty printing?

XML formatting and pretty printing are essentially the same - both add proper indentation, line breaks, and spacing to make XML more readable while preserving the original data structure. "Pretty print" is commonly used in programming to describe making code more human-readable.

Can I customize the pretty print indentation style?

Yes! The pretty printer offers multiple indentation options including 2, 4, or 8 spaces. Choose the indentation size that matches your project's coding standards or personal preferences. This ensures compatibility across different development environments.

Does pretty printing affect XML performance?

Pretty printed XML is slightly larger due to added whitespace, but the impact on parsing performance is minimal. The readability benefits usually outweigh the small size increase. For production environments where file size matters, you can use the minify option instead.

What XML versions are supported for pretty printing?

This pretty printer supports XML 1.0 and 1.1, including documents with namespaces, CDATA sections, processing instructions, and DOCTYPE declarations. You can also convert pretty printed XML to JSON for modern applications.

Is this XML pretty printer completely free?

Yes, completely free with no file size limits, no registration required, and unlimited usage. All pretty printing features including custom indentation, minification, and download options are available at no cost.