About XML ↔ JSON Converter - Free Bidirectional Format Conversion

Convert XML to JSON and JSON to XML with advanced options. Handle attributes, nested structures, custom markers, and preserve data integrity. Free online bidirectional converter with validation.

XML and JSON: Understanding Data Format Standards

XML (eXtensible Markup Language) and JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) are fundamental data format standards used across web development and enterprise systems. XML uses hierarchical tags to structure data and remains popular in SOAP APIs, configuration files, and legacy enterprise systems. JSON is more compact and lightweight, making it the preferred format for modern REST APIs, microservices, and web applications. While both formats can represent the same data, they differ in structure, verbosity, and parsing efficiency. Understanding when and how to convert between these formats is essential for system integration and API development.

How to Use the XML ↔ JSON Converter - Step-by-Step Guide

Select your conversion mode: XML → JSON or JSON → XML from the toggle
Paste or type your XML or JSON data in the left input panel
Optionally configure conversion options by clicking the settings gear icon (⚙️)
Click the "Convert" button to process your data instantly
Review the formatted output in the right output panel
Use "Copy" button to quickly copy the result to your clipboard
Use "Download" to save the converted file to your computer
Click the swap button (⇄) to reverse the conversion direction
All processing is done in your browser - no data is uploaded to our servers
Process multiple conversions sequentially for batch transformation

Understanding XML to JSON Conversion

XML Attributes are converted to @attributes objects in JSON for preservation
Mixed content (text + elements) is stored as #text property in JSON
Duplicate element names automatically create arrays in JSON output
Deeply nested structures are fully preserved through recursive conversion
Whitespace and formatting are normalized for consistency
Special characters are properly escaped in both formats
Optional custom markers allow flexible attribute and text node naming

Common Use Cases and Applications

Migrating from SOAP APIs to REST APIs - Convert existing XML data structures
Converting legacy XML data to JSON format for modern applications
API response transformation between system boundaries
Configuration file format conversion for different platforms
Data export/import operations between heterogeneous systems
Integration between microservices using different data formats
Batch processing of structured data with format conversion
Database export standardization across multiple systems
API testing and debugging with format validation
Version control friendly format conversion for diffs

Format Examples

XML: Uses tags with opening and closing elements
JSON: Uses key-value pairs with braces and brackets
XML attributes: <person id="123"> becomes "person": {"@attributes": {"id": "123"}}
XML text nodes: <name>John</name> becomes "name": "John"
Arrays in JSON: Multiple same-name elements become arrays

Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn't XML → JSON → XML conversion return the original result?

This is a normal limitation of bidirectional conversion. XML contains data that JSON cannot represent: (1) Comments - are completely lost, (2) XML declaration - is not preserved, (3) CDATA sections - become plain text, (4) Processing instructions - are lost. Additionally, attributes are stored in @attributes and text content in #text when mixed with child elements, changing the structure. This tool is best for one-way conversion, not round-trip.

How can I convert without losing comments?

There's no way to preserve comments when converting to JSON since JSON doesn't support comments. If you need to keep comments, you should: (1) Convert comments to elements or attributes before conversion, (2) Only use this tool for data without comments, (3) Handle comments separately outside the tool.

How are XML attributes handled?

XML attributes are converted to a JSON object with the key `@attributes`. For example: `<user id="123" name="John"/>` becomes `{"user": {"@attributes": {"id": "123", "name": "John"}}}`. When converting back, attributes are restored from the @attributes object.

How is mixed content (text + elements) handled?

When an XML element has both text content and child elements, the text is stored under the key `#text`. For example: `<p>Hello <b>world</b></p>` becomes `{"p": {"#text": "Hello", "b": "world"}}`. This isn't perfect but is the most common way to represent mixed content in JSON.

How are CDATA sections handled?

CDATA sections are treated as regular text content - the CDATA wrapper is removed and only the content inside is kept. For example: `<![CDATA[<html>content</html>]]>` becomes `"<html>content</html>"`. When converting back to XML, content is escaped normally instead of using CDATA.

Can this tool handle large XML/JSON files?

There's no strict file size limit, but files > 10MB may be slow since conversion happens in your browser. For very large files, consider using server-side tools or splitting the data first.

Are XML namespaces (xmlns) preserved?

Namespaces are partially preserved - namespace prefixes are kept in element names (e.g., "ns:element"), but namespace declarations are not maintained. For full namespace support, specialized tools would be more appropriate.

🔄 XML ↔ JSON Converter

📄 XML Input

📊 JSON Output