What is XML?
XML (Extensible Markup Language) is a markup language used to store and transport data. It is both human- and machine-readable. For example: <note>...</note>
Here's a simple example of XML structure:
<note>
<to>User</to>
<from>Developer</from>
<heading>Reminder</heading>
<body>Format your XML properly!</body>
</note>XML Syntax
- Opening and closing tags
<tag>value</tag> - Self-closing tag
<tag /> - Attributes in tags
<tag attr="value">text</tag>
XML Elements
- Root element
<root>...</root> - Child element
<child>...</child> - Nested structure
<parent><child /></parent>
Use Cases
XML is widely used in configuration files, data exchange (like SOAP), and storing structured information.
<config>
<setting name="theme">dark</setting>
<setting name="language">en</setting>
</config>Why Format XML?
Formatted XML is easier to debug, read, and maintain. Indentation helps visualize data hierarchy.
Why Minify XML?
Minifying XML reduces file size, which is helpful for transmission and performance.
<note><to>User</to><from>Developer</from><heading>Reminder</heading><body>Format!</body></note>XML Formatter / Minifier FAQs
What does the XML Formatter & Minifier tool do?
Why should I format XML files?
What file extensions are supported?
.xml and other XML-based file formats like .rss, .xhtml etc.