Online XML to JSON Converter

Instantly convert XML to JSON online—free, fast, and accurate. Perfect for API designers, data engineers, and developers working with modern web workflows. Our tool transforms XML into valid JSON, handles attributes, arrays, and nested structures, and lets you copy or format the output in one click.

  • Supports compact and pretty-printed JSON output
  • Handles XML attributes, arrays, and edge cases
  • Great for APIs, ETL, and web app data pipelines
  • No sign-up, always free—just paste and convert
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A conceptual photo showing XML and JSON code on screens, illustrating data transformation for web APIs

XML to JSON Converter Tool

Tip: For best results, input well-formed XML. Attributes and arrays are preserved in the output. Use the Sample XML to see conversion in action.

How XML is Converted to JSON: Rules & Edge Cases

Our XML to JSON conversion logic is designed to be robust for most real-world use cases, including API data, configuration files, and integration workflows. Here’s how we handle key scenarios:

XML Pattern JSON Output (Pretty) Notes 
<user id="23">
  <name>Alice</name>
  <role>admin</role>
</user>
 
{
  "user": {
    "@id": "23",
    "name": "Alice",
    "role": "admin"
  }
}
 Attributes use an @ prefix for clarity 
<colors>
  <color>Red</color>
  <color>Blue</color>
</colors>
 
{
  "colors": {
    "color": ["Red", "Blue"]
  }
}
 Repeated elements become arrays 
<item price="9.99"/>
 
{
  "item": {
    "@price": "9.99"
  }
}
 Empty elements with attributes become objects 
<note>Hi <b>there</b>!</note>
 
{
  "note": {
    "_text": "Hi ",
    "b": "there",
    "_tail": "!"
  }
}
 Mixed text/elements: text as _text, trailing as _tail
  • Attributes: Added to the JSON object with an @ prefix (e.g., "@id": "123").
  • Arrays: Repeated elements at the same level become arrays in JSON.
  • Empty Elements: If an XML tag is empty but has attributes, it becomes an object. If no attributes, outputs as null or "" (empty string).
  • Mixed Content: (text + elements) is mapped so both are preserved; may need manual editing for complex cases.
  • Edge Cases: Comments, processing instructions, and DTDs are ignored during conversion.
  • Namespaces: Not preserved; output is flat for simplicity.
Tip: For best compatibility, use simple, consistent XML structure. If your XML is very complex (e.g., with namespaces, custom encodings), validate both your input and output before using in production!

Best Practices for XML to JSON Conversion

  • Validate XML Input: Ensure your XML is well-formed before converting. Use a linter or validator if you see errors.
  • Compact vs. Pretty Output: Use compact (single-line) for APIs or minified payloads; pretty (multi-line, indented) for debugging or readability.
  • Check Output Consistency: Always test output in your downstream workflow—especially with deeply nested or attribute-rich XML.
  • Performance Matters: For very large XML documents, consider server-side conversion or breaking up input into manageable chunks.
  • API & Data Pipeline Integration: JSON is the standard for most REST APIs and modern data pipelines. Use this tool to prep data for endpoints, ETL, or web apps.
  • Common Pitfalls: Watch for special characters (&, <, >), mixed content, or XML namespaces—these may require manual tweaks after conversion.
Pro Tip: Pair this converter with our JSON Formatter or XML Formatter to clean and validate both input and output for flawless integration.
A conceptual photo of developers collaborating at computers, transforming data between XML and JSON formats

XML to JSON Conversion FAQ

Most well-structured XML can be converted to JSON with high accuracy, but perfect one-to-one conversion isn’t always possible. Losses can occur with XML features that don’t map directly to JSON, such as comments, processing instructions, namespaces, and mixed content (text + elements). For best results, use simple XML and always validate your output.

XML attributes are mapped to JSON properties with an @ prefix. For example, <user id="5">... becomes { "user": { "@id": "5", ... }}. This helps distinguish between XML attributes and child elements. You can further process the JSON as needed for your application.

Compact JSON is output on a single line with no extra whitespace—ideal for API requests, storage, and minimizing file size. Pretty-printed JSON is indented and spaced for readability, making it better for debugging, documentation, or manual editing. This tool lets you toggle between both output styles instantly.

For most users, you can paste or convert XML up to several thousand lines. However, very large files (over 1MB) may slow down your browser. Special characters (e.g., &, <, >, unicode) are supported if your XML is valid and well-formed. Invalid or malformed XML will trigger an error message and won’t convert.

This tool is designed for XML to JSON conversion. However, converting JSON back to XML is possible using other online tools or libraries (e.g., for JavaScript or Python). Keep in mind that attributes and XML-specific features may not be perfectly restored from JSON.

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