Free Online XML to JSON Converter
XML remains deeply embedded in enterprise systems — SOAP APIs, RSS and Atom feeds, banking protocols (SWIFT, FIX), SAML authentication, and countless legacy applications still speak XML. Modern web development, however, runs on JSON. Our free XML to JSON converter bridges that gap instantly, transforming any XML document into structured JSON you can use in JavaScript, REST APIs, and NoSQL databases.
Paste your XML directly or upload an .xml file. The fast-xml-parser library maps elements to JSON keys, text content to values, attributes to prefixed keys, and repeated elements to arrays. CDATA sections are extracted as strings. Everything runs in your browser with no server uploads. This is essential when integrating legacy SOAP services, parsing RSS feeds for a modern JavaScript frontend, or migrating XML-based configuration to JSON-driven systems.
How to Use the XML to JSON Converter
Paste XML into the input area or click Upload .xml to load a file from your device. The tool validates the XML structure and reports parsing errors if the input is malformed. The JSON output appears instantly with proper indentation. XML elements become JSON object keys, text content becomes string values, attributes become keys prefixed with @_, and repeated sibling elements automatically become JSON arrays. Copy the output to your clipboard or use it directly in your code, API tests, or data processing pipeline.
Common XML Sources
SOAP API responses from enterprise services and government systems. RSS and Atom feeds from blogs, news sites, and podcasts. SAML authentication assertions and X.509 certificate metadata. Banking and financial protocol messages (SWIFT, FIX, ISO 20022). Android layout XML and Maven POM files. Configuration exports from legacy enterprise applications. All of these can be converted to JSON for consumption by modern web frameworks and NoSQL databases.
Who Uses an XML to JSON Converter?
- API developers convert SOAP XML responses to JSON for modern REST API consumers.
- Frontend developers parse RSS and Atom feeds into JSON for JavaScript rendering.
- Integration engineers bridge legacy XML systems with JSON-based microservices.
- Data engineers transform XML data exports into JSON for analytics pipelines.
- Mobile developers convert XML API responses to JSON for native app consumption.
- Students learn how XML document structures map to JSON object hierarchies.
- QA testers convert XML test fixtures to JSON for automated API test suites.
Key Features
- Instant XML to JSON conversion with structure validation
- Upload .xml files directly from your device
- Attributes mapped to @_ prefixed JSON keys
- Repeated elements automatically converted to arrays
- CDATA sections extracted as string values
- 100% browser-based — data never leaves your device
Tips for XML to JSON Conversion
XML attributes appear as JSON keys with an @_ prefix (e.g., @_id, @_type) to distinguish them from child elements. A single occurrence of an element becomes a JSON object, while repeated siblings become a JSON array — be aware of this when writing code that consumes the output. For very large enterprise XML files exceeding 500,000 characters, consider a server-side conversion tool. Always validate the JSON output structure against your application's expectations before deploying to production. Test with a small XML sample first to understand how your specific document structure maps to JSON keys and arrays before converting large files. SOAP envelopes with deeply nested elements produce equally deep JSON object hierarchies that mirror the original XML structure. For RSS feeds, the channel and item elements map cleanly to JSON objects suitable for consumption by JavaScript feed parsers and dashboard widgets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I upload an XML file?
Yes. Click Upload .xml to load a file from your device. The XML content populates the input field automatically and conversion happens instantly upon valid input.
How are XML attributes handled?
Attributes become JSON keys with an @_ prefix to distinguish them from child elements. For example, an element with id="123" becomes { "@_id": "123", ... } alongside any child element keys.
Can this handle large XML files?
Browser-based conversion handles files up to approximately 500,000 characters. For very large enterprise XML documents, use a server-side solution or command-line tool like xml2json.
Does it preserve CDATA sections?
Yes. CDATA content is extracted as a plain string value in the JSON output, preserving the original text without XML entity encoding.
How are repeated XML elements handled?
A single occurrence of an element becomes a JSON object. When the same element appears multiple times as siblings, they are automatically collected into a JSON array.
Is my XML uploaded to a server?
No. Conversion runs entirely in your browser using fast-xml-parser. Your XML data stays on your device and is never transmitted anywhere.
Does it handle XML namespaces?
XML namespace prefixes are preserved in element and attribute key names. For example, an atom:title element becomes a JSON key like "atom:title". Namespace URIs themselves are not separately represented in the JSON output.