JSON to XML Converter

JSON TO XML CONVERTER

JSON to XML Converter

This JSON to XML Converter turns a valid JSON object, array, or scalar into clean, well-formed XML in your browser. JSON is compact and common in web APIs, while XML remains useful for document exchange, legacy integrations, configuration files, and systems that expect explicit opening and closing elements.

The converter uses deterministic mapping rules rather than asking a library to guess what your JSON means. Objects become child elements, arrays become a parent element containing repeated item elements, and scalar values become text. A configurable root element makes even a root array or scalar a valid XML document.

Field order is kept as it appears in the source. Numbers, booleans, strings, and null values keep their meaning as far as XML allows. Special characters are escaped by a mature XML builder, and any JSON key that cannot be an XML element name is normalized with a visible conversion note.

HOW TO CONVERT JSON TO XML

How to convert JSON to XML online

1. Paste JSON or choose a local .json file. Drag and drop is supported.
2. Click Validate JSON. The parser reports a nearby line and column when a character position is available.
3. Choose a valid root element name, such as catalog, and an array item name, such as product.
4. Select 2-space or 4-space indentation and decide whether to include the XML declaration.
5. Review the complete XML preview and any conversion notes.
6. Copy the XML or download it as an .xml file.

The source JSON is never sent to an API. Validation and XML serialization happen in the current browser tab.

JSON OBJECT TO XML

Convert a JSON object to XML

A flat object maps each property to an element under the configured root:

<root>
  <name>John</name>
  <age>30</age>
</root>

The same rule applies to nested objects. A property named user becomes a user element, and its properties become children. The builder keeps the original insertion order, so a document written as name, age, email stays in that order after conversion.

JSON ARRAY TO XML

Convert JSON arrays to XML

Arrays use one parent element plus repeated item elements. For {"tags":["seo","marketing"]}, the output is:

<root>
  <tags>
    <item>seo</item>
    <item>marketing</item>
  </tags>
</root>

An array of objects follows the same pattern. If the item name is changed to user, every object in users is emitted as a repeated <user> element. Mixed arrays also use the same configured item name for strings, numbers, booleans, and objects; the converter does not invent different tags based on item type.

A root array is wrapped by the configured root element. With root users and item user, two records become sibling user elements inside <users>. Nested arrays keep their parent property, so a groups array containing a tags array remains visibly nested rather than flattened.

NESTED JSON TO XML

Convert nested JSON to XML

Nested JSON maps naturally to nested XML. This input:

{"user":{"name":"John","settings":{"theme":"dark"}}}

becomes:

<root>
  <user>
    <name>John</name>
    <settings>
      <theme>dark</theme>
    </settings>
  </user>
</root>

V1 does not flatten nested objects because flattening would change the hierarchy that XML is meant to express. It also does not expand relationships into separate tables or documents. The output is a single XML document with the same nesting and array boundaries as the validated JSON value.

XML ELEMENT NAMES

JSON keys and XML element names

JSON allows keys such as user name, 123value, and user@name. XML element names cannot contain those forms directly. The converter applies a deterministic, conservative normalization: invalid characters become underscores, a leading number receives an underscore prefix, and an empty result becomes _key.

Normalization is collision-safe. If user-name becomes user_name and user name would produce the same tag, the second key becomes user_name_2. The source value is retained, the output is deterministic, and the preview lists a conversion note. User-entered root and item names are different: they are validated directly and never silently sanitized. An invalid name blocks conversion until it is corrected.

VALUES AND NULL

JSON null, numbers, and booleans in XML

XML has text content rather than JSON's complete type system. The converter uses clear representations: numbers become their decimal text, booleans become true or false, and strings become escaped text. A JSON null becomes a self-closing element such as <value/>; the field is not deleted and is not changed into an empty string.

Empty strings remain empty XML elements, while special characters such as &, <, and > are escaped so the result stays well formed. Unicode, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Emoji, quotes, and apostrophes are handled by the XML builder rather than a hand-written escaping routine.

FORMAT CHOICES

JSON vs XML

Neither format is always better. Use XML when the receiving system expects XML or when explicit document structure is valuable. For human-readable configuration, the JSON to YAML Converter may be a better fit. For spreadsheet workflows, use the JSON to Excel Converter or JSON to CSV Converter.

PRIVATE LOCAL PROCESSING

Convert JSON to XML without uploading

Your JSON never leaves your browser. Parsing, validation, key normalization, XML building, preview, copy, and download all run locally. The source is not placed in a URL, query string, analytics event, console log, or server request.

This is useful for internal configuration, development fixtures, customer-shaped test data, and legacy integration payloads that should not be pasted into an unknown online service. Local processing is not an absolute device-security guarantee, so protect your browser session and any downloaded XML according to your own policies.

If the goal is a fixed, printable handoff rather than an integration file, the JSON to PDF Converter prepares a local report using the browser's print system.

TROUBLESHOOTING

Common JSON to XML conversion issues

Empty input shows a clear start message. Invalid JSON may contain a missing comma, trailing comma, unclosed quote, extra bracket, comment, or unquoted key; the validator explains the source problem without repairing it.

If conversion is blocked, check the root and array item names. XML names cannot start with a number or contain spaces and many punctuation characters. If you see conversion notes, inspect the normalized tags and confirm that collision suffixes such as _2 still match the receiving system's expectations.

Wide or deeply nested XML is still valid, but readability depends on indentation. Large JSON files may take longer because the complete value is parsed and serialized in memory. The tool does not silently truncate output; split a very large source or use a local script when the browser becomes unresponsive.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about JSON to XML