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Markdown to XML Converter

Transform Markdown tables into well-formed XML documents with customizable structure and formatting

Markdown Input

XML Output

About Markdown to XML Converter

Convert Markdown tables to well-formed XML (eXtensible Markup Language) documents. XML is a widely-used markup language for storing and transporting structured data, commonly used in web services, configuration files, and data exchange.

Key Features

  • Customizable Structure: Define your own root and row element names
  • XML Declaration: Optional XML version and encoding declaration
  • Header Metadata: Include column definitions in header element
  • Pretty Printing: Toggle between formatted and compact output
  • Automatic Escaping: Properly escapes XML special characters
  • Element Name Sanitization: Converts headers to valid XML element names
  • Well-Formed Output: Generates valid, parseable XML documents
  • File Upload & Download: Easy import/export

How to Use

  1. Input Markdown Table: Paste your Markdown table or upload a .md file
  2. Configure Structure: Set root and row element names
  3. Choose Options: Toggle XML declaration, header metadata, and formatting
  4. Review Output: The XML updates automatically
  5. Copy or Download: Use the Copy button or download as .xml file

XML Structure Options

  • Root Element: The outermost container element (default: "table")
  • Row Element: The element wrapping each data row (default: "row")
  • Column Elements: Automatically generated from table headers
  • Header Metadata: Optional <header> section with column definitions

Example Conversion

Markdown Input:

| Name | Age | City | Department |
|------|-----|------|------------|
| John Doe | 28 | New York | Engineering |
| Jane Smith | 34 | London | Marketing |

XML Output (Pretty Printed):

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<table>
  <header>
    <column name="Name" />
    <column name="Age" />
    <column name="City" />
    <column name="Department" />
  </header>
  <row>
    <name>John Doe</name>
    <age>28</age>
    <city>New York</city>
    <department>Engineering</department>
  </row>
  <row>
    <name>Jane Smith</name>
    <age>34</age>
    <city>London</city>
    <department>Marketing</department>
  </row>
</table>

Common Use Cases

  • Web Services: Create XML for SOAP APIs and web services
  • Configuration Files: Generate XML config files for applications
  • Data Exchange: Export data for XML-based data interchange
  • RSS/Atom Feeds: Create structured feed data
  • XSLT Processing: Prepare data for XSLT transformations
  • Database Import: Generate XML for database imports
  • Document Processing: Create XML for document workflows

XML Standards Compliance

This converter generates XML that complies with:

  • XML 1.0 specification
  • UTF-8 encoding
  • Well-formed document structure
  • Proper character escaping
  • Valid element naming conventions

Special Character Escaping

The converter automatically escapes XML special characters:

  • & → &amp;
  • < → &lt;
  • > → &gt;
  • " → &quot;
  • ' → &apos;

Element Name Sanitization

Column headers are automatically converted to valid XML element names:

  • Converted to lowercase
  • Special characters replaced with underscores
  • Must start with letter or underscore
  • Can contain letters, digits, hyphens, underscores, periods
  • Numbers at start are prefixed with underscore

XML Formatting Options

  • Pretty Print: Indented, human-readable format with line breaks
  • Compact: Minified format without whitespace (smaller file size)
  • With Declaration: Includes <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
  • Without Declaration: XML fragment without declaration

Advanced XML Features

  • Namespaces: Can be added manually with xmlns attributes
  • Attributes: Can be added to elements for metadata
  • CDATA Sections: Can wrap content with <![CDATA[...]]>
  • Processing Instructions: Can add custom processing instructions
  • Comments: Can include XML comments

XML Validation

The generated XML can be validated using:

  • Online XML validators
  • XML Schema (XSD) validation
  • DTD (Document Type Definition) validation
  • Programming language XML parsers
  • IDE XML validation tools

Markdown Table Support

Supports GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM) table syntax:

  • Pipe-delimited columns
  • Header separator line with dashes
  • Optional column alignment indicators
  • Leading and trailing pipes

Tips for Best Results

  • Use descriptive element names that match your data structure
  • Enable pretty printing for human-readable output
  • Include XML declaration for standalone documents
  • Use header metadata for schema documentation
  • Validate output with an XML parser before production use
  • Consider adding namespaces for complex XML schemas
  • Use compact format for smaller file sizes in production

Privacy & Security

All conversions happen locally in your browser. Your Markdown data is never uploaded to any server, ensuring complete privacy and security.