Declaration header
Prepends a UTF-8 XML declaration for well-formed starter documents.
JSON to XML - Free Online Tool
JSON to XML converts parsed JSON structures into a straightforward XML document with a root element you name. Objects become nested elements using keys as tag names where those names are valid in XML; arrays wrap repeated child tags; strings, numbers, and booleans become text content with proper escaping. This is intentionally a simple educational mapper—not a full data-binding or schema-generation pipeline—so complex attributes, namespaces, mixed content, and xsi types are out of scope.
JSON to XML
Objects become nested elements; arrays wrap items. Invalid XML name keys become item element names.
What is JSON to XML?
Teams still encounter XML at the edges of enterprise systems, SOAP services, RSS, and legacy configuration. When you only have JSON from a modern API but your downstream tool speaks XML, a quick converter can unblock integration spikes. This page helps you prototype element shapes before you invest in a hardened serializer with tests, CI, and versioning.
Because XML is stricter about element names than JSON is about keys, the tool substitutes a safe tag for invalid names. Arrays receive a repeated wrapper tag with an _item suffix pattern so children stay grouped. Those conventions are predictable for demos but may not match your target schema—always validate output against an XSD or partner sample before production.
Escaping follows basic XML rules for text nodes: ampersands, quotes, and angle brackets become entities so the document remains well formed. Null values render as empty elements without attributes—another simplification you may need to adjust when mapping to nullable schemas.
How to Use This JSON to XML
- Choose a root element name that matches XML naming rules: start with a letter or underscore, then letters, digits, dots, or hyphens.
- Paste JSON into the input area—objects and arrays are the sweet spot; primitives alone are allowed but rare.
- Click Convert to generate XML with a declaration header and your root wrapper.
- Review the output for tag names that were rewritten when keys contained spaces or symbols.
- Click Copy when the structure matches your prototype expectations.
- Adjust the JSON source and re-run until namespaces or attribute needs are understood—even if you later code them by hand.
- For large payloads, trim to the subtree you are mapping first.
- Round-trip check with XML to JSON only when you understand both tools’ limitations.
Why Use This JSON to XML?
- Fast mental model of how JSON nesting maps to XML trees.
- Automatic escaping reduces hand-typed entity mistakes in demos.
- Configurable root tag supports multiple samples in one session.
- Browser-side conversion for draft payloads without deploying jq-xml stacks.
- Pairs with XML to JSON for bidirectional learning.
- Clear scope statement avoids pretending to solve enterprise XSD pipelines.
When to Use JSON to XML
- Integration spikes translating sample REST payloads into SOAP-like shapes.
- Teaching how JSON arrays differ from XML repeated elements.
- Generating starter XML for manual cleanup before XSD validation.
- Writers preparing side-by-side examples in API migration guides.
- Developers comparing escaped text nodes versus CDATA needs.
- Interview take-home exercises illustrating serialization trade-offs.
JSON to XML Features
Key-based element names
Maps object keys to child tag names when they satisfy XML name rules.
Array handling
Wraps array items in repeated child elements under a predictable parent.
Text escaping
Escapes characters that would otherwise break XML parsers.
Explicit convert action
Runs only when asked, keeping large edits responsive.
Clipboard support
Copies the textarea output after human review.
Why JSON-to-XML is never “one click” for production
JSON and XML disagree about several fundamentals: JSON has objects and arrays; XML has elements, attributes, text, and mixed content. Attributes cannot hold every JSON shape without conventions. Namespaces complicate automated mapping further. That is why this tool stays simple: it shows a baseline tree, not the final contract your partner will sign.
Schemas (XSD, RELAX NG) add constraints like required ordering, enumerations, and default namespaces. A generic converter cannot infer those rules from JSON alone. Expect to add attributes, xsi:type markers, and wrapper elements manually or with your organization’s codegen tools after prototyping here.
Security-wise, billion-laughs-style entity bombs are not relevant to this JSON-first path, but you should still treat XML consumers as potentially strict. Validate externally before feeding mission-critical parsers.
Decision Guide
Best for
- Prototypes, teaching, and early integration sketches.
Avoid when
- You need production-grade SOAP envelopes with WS-Addressing headers.
- You need deterministic attribute placement from arbitrary JSON.
Example
Object to XML
Input
{"note":{"title":"Hi","body":"Test"}}Output
<?xml ...><root><note><title>Hi</title><body>Test</body></note></root>Exact spacing may wrap in the UI; copy for full text.
JSON to XML Best Practices
Validate with partner XSDs
Prototype here, then run formal validation before integration tests pass.
Normalize key names upstream
Rename weird JSON keys before conversion to reduce surprise tag substitutions.
Prefer explicit arrays in JSON
Ambiguous single-object versus single-element arrays map differently—be explicit.
Document conventions
Note which fields became elements versus future attribute plans in your design doc.
Redact secrets
XML samples in tickets still leak tokens if copied from production responses.
Where naive mapping breaks
Illegal XML characters in text
Control characters in JSON strings may still be invalid even after basic escaping.
Colliding key names
Keys that normalize to the same element name need manual disambiguation.
Deep recursion
Extremely nested JSON may hit stack limits—flatten or chunk first.
Attribute-centric schemas
This tool emits elements; attribute-heavy XSDs need another pass.
Mixed content models
NewsML-style documents cannot be reconstructed from JSON alone.
FAQs
Does output always validate against my XSD?
No. Validation is your responsibility with appropriate tools.
How are arrays represented?
Each item becomes a child element under a predictable wrapper naming pattern.
What about JSON null?
Null becomes an empty element in this simple mapping.
Can I set attributes?
Not in this version; add attributes manually after export.
Is CDATA supported?
No. Text is escaped as standard text nodes.
Does conversion run on a server?
Convert runs in your browser for typical usage.
Can I choose indentation?
Output uses a consistent readable layout; reformat in your editor if needed.
Should I use this in CI?
Prefer dedicated libraries and tests for automated pipelines.
Start using JSON to XML
Sketch XML shapes from JSON quickly here—then harden them with schemas, namespaces, and tests before production.