JSON to XML Converter
Convert JSON objects and arrays into well-formed, indented XML. Customize the root element name and download the result.
About JSON to XML Converter β JSON to XML Converter Online
Paste JSON into the JSON to XML Converter online and get back JSON data into well-formed, indented XML instantly. As a JSON to XML converter online, it handles all JSON data types and structures: object keys become XML element names, string, number, and boolean values become element text content, arrays produce repeated sibling elements, and null values produce self-closing empty elements. The output includes a proper XML declaration and is indented for readability. No server is involved β conversion happens entirely in the browser.
Data integration work regularly requires converting between JSON and XML. Many enterprise systems, legacy SOAP web services, EDI platforms, and older APIs use XML as their data format, while modern APIs and front-end applications use JSON. When you need to import JSON data into an XML-based system, feed data to an XML web service, or prepare a data file for a tool that only accepts XML, a fast and accurate JSON-to-XML converter saves significant manual effort. This tool handles the structural mapping automatically so you can focus on verifying the output rather than constructing it by hand.
How to Use the JSON to XML Converter
- Paste your JSON data into the Input JSON text area on the left. The tool accepts any valid JSON value β an object, an array, or a primitive at the top level.
- Optionally customize the Root element name in the field at the top. The default is "root". This sets the name of the wrapping XML element that contains all converted content.
- Click the Convert to XML button. The well-formed XML appears in the output panel on the right.
- Click Copy to copy the XML to your clipboard, or click Download XML to save it as an
.xmlfile.
JSON to XML Conversion Rules
The converter follows a consistent set of rules that map JSON structures to their XML equivalents.
- Objects: Each key in a JSON object becomes a child XML element. The key name is used as the element tag name. The value of the key becomes the content of that element (text content for primitives, or nested child elements for objects and arrays). Object properties are converted in their original order.
- Arrays: Each item in a JSON array produces a repeated XML element. The element tag name used for each item is the key of the property that holds the array in the parent object. For example,
"colors":["red","blue"]produces two sibling<colors>elements. Top-level arrays produce repeated<item>elements inside the root. - Strings, numbers, and booleans: These become the text content of their parent XML element. Special XML characters in string values β ampersand, less-than, greater-than, double quotes, and apostrophes β are automatically escaped using XML character references (
&,<, etc.) to ensure the output is well-formed. - Null values: JSON
nullproduces a self-closing empty XML element, such as<fieldName/>. This is the standard way to represent an absent or empty value in XML. - Invalid XML tag name characters: XML element names must start with a letter or underscore and may only contain letters, digits, hyphens, underscores, and periods. If a JSON key contains spaces, special characters, or starts with a digit, those characters are replaced with underscores automatically to produce a valid tag name.
Tips for Getting the Best Results
Understanding the structural differences between JSON and XML helps you predict the output and adjust your JSON structure if needed.
- Choose a meaningful root element name: The root element wraps your entire converted document. Use a name that reflects the content type β for example,
order,customer, orconfigβ rather than the generic default "root". This makes the XML document self-describing and easier for consuming systems to validate against a schema. - Structure array data with descriptive key names: The element tag used for each array item comes from the key name of the array property. If your JSON has
"items":[...], each converted element will be named<items>. Use plural key names for arrays and ensure the name makes semantic sense both as a collection name (in JSON) and as a repeated element name (in XML). - Flatten deeply nested JSON for cleaner XML: JSON supports deep nesting naturally. In XML, very deep nesting can become unwieldy. If your use case calls for simpler XML, consider flattening one or two levels of your JSON structure before converting. The converter will reproduce whatever structure you provide, so preparing the JSON first gives you control over the XML depth.
- Verify special characters are correctly escaped: The converter handles XML escaping automatically for the five required characters. After conversion, scan the output for any
&,<, or"sequences in text content to confirm that string values with these characters were processed correctly. - Use Download XML for large outputs: For large JSON payloads that produce substantial XML, use the Download XML button to save the file directly rather than copying from the text area. This avoids clipboard size limitations and gives you a proper .xml file ready to use in downstream tools.
Why Use a JSON to XML Converter Online
Writing JSON-to-XML conversion code manually is tedious and error-prone β edge cases like null values, special characters, invalid tag names, and array handling all need specific logic. A dedicated converter tool handles all of these cases automatically and produces well-formed XML with a proper declaration and correct escaping, eliminating a common category of integration bugs.
A browser-based tool is particularly practical for data engineers, backend developers, and integration specialists who need to quickly convert a JSON payload for testing or inspection without writing a script. Because the conversion runs client-side, JSON data containing sensitive fields (user records, API responses, proprietary schemas) is never exposed to an external service.
Frequently Asked Questions about JSON to XML Converter
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>, which is the standard XML declaration required by most XML parsers and validators. This declaration tells the parser the XML version and the character encoding used in the document. It is required by many XML-based systems and APIs that consume XML input.<first_name> and a key "2nd" becomes <_2nd>.{"colors":["red","green","blue"]} produces three sibling <colors> elements inside the parent. For top-level JSON arrays, each item is wrapped in an <item> element inside the root. Array index positions are not included in the output.