What is a JSON to XML Converter?
Plenty of enterprise systems still speak XML first — SOAP endpoints, legacy ERPs, EDI pipelines, document stores. When a modern service hands you JSON and the downstream consumer wants XML, this converter handles the crossover.
JSON drives most modern APIs, while XML still anchors enterprise messaging and document processing. Converting lets a JSON-native service feed into an XML-native one without middleware.
BeautiCode's JSON to XML Converter produces well-formed XML from nested JSON, escapes special characters automatically, and lets you download the result as an .xml file.
How to Use Our JSON to XML Converter
- Paste your JSON data into the left editor or click the sample data button to load example JSON
- The tool validates your JSON input and highlights any syntax errors immediately
- The converter automatically generates well-formed XML with proper element tags and nesting
- Preview the XML output in the right editor with syntax highlighting in real-time
- Special characters are automatically escaped to produce valid XML entities
- Copy the XML to clipboard or download it as an .xml file for use in your project
Examples
The converter maps each JSON key to an XML element, turns array siblings into repeating tags, and escapes special characters so the output is well-formed.
Example 1: Simple object to element tree
Flat JSON maps to a root element with one child per key. Values stay on the text content of the element.
Input
{
"book": {
"title": "The Go Programming Language",
"author": "Donovan & Kernighan",
"year": 2015
}
}Output
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<book>
<title>The Go Programming Language</title>
<author>Donovan & Kernighan</author>
<year>2015</year>
</book>
Example 2: Arrays and attribute-prefixed keys
Array items become repeating tags. Keys prefixed with @_ are promoted to XML attributes on the enclosing element.
Input
{
"catalog": {
"item": [
{ "@_id": "A1", "name": "Keyboard" },
{ "@_id": "A2", "name": "Mouse" }
]
}
}Output
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<catalog>
<item id="A1">
<name>Keyboard</name>
</item>
<item id="A2">
<name>Mouse</name>
</item>
</catalog>JSON specification reference
Quick reference from RFC 8259. The converter enforces these rules on input; anything outside them is rejected or normalized.
| Element | Meaning | Example |
|---|
| Object | Unordered set of key/value pairs | {"a": 1} |
| Array | Ordered list of values | [1, 2, "x"] |
| String | Unicode, double-quoted only | "hello" |
| Number | IEEE 754 double, no NaN / Infinity | 3.14 |
| Literal | true / false / null only | null |
Common invalid forms
{'a': 1} // single quotes not allowed
{a: 1} // unquoted keys
{"a": 1,} // trailing comma
NaN // not permitted by RFC 8259Key Features
The output is well-formed XML with a declaration, proper nesting, and automatic escaping of ampersands, angle brackets, and quotes. JSON arrays map to repeating elements that share a tag name, and the hierarchy carries through no matter how deep the source goes.
- Live preview: The XML side refreshes as you edit JSON, so you can spot structural issues before copying.
- Runs locally: All parsing happens in the browser; pasted data stays on the device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How are JSON keys with special characters converted to XML tag names?
JSON keys that contain characters invalid in XML tag names (such as spaces, hyphens starting a name, or numeric-only keys) are automatically sanitized to produce well-formed XML. The converter replaces or escapes these characters so the resulting XML is always valid and parseable by any standard XML processor.
Q: How are JSON arrays converted to XML elements?
JSON arrays are converted into repeating XML elements with the same tag name. Each array item becomes a separate XML child element, preserving the order and structure of the original data while conforming to valid XML syntax.
Q: Does the converter support CDATA sections in XML output?
The converter generates well-formed XML elements from your JSON data. Special characters in values are automatically escaped using XML entities. If you need CDATA sections, you can manually wrap specific values after conversion.
Q: Are there any file size limitations?
There is no hard file size limit. Since processing happens entirely in your browser, the practical limit depends on your device's available memory. Most modern browsers can handle JSON files up to several megabytes without issues.
Q: Can I use the output with SOAP web services or enterprise systems?
The converter produces standard well-formed XML that can serve as a starting point for SOAP payloads or enterprise integrations. You may need to add namespace declarations or adjust the root element to match your target system's schema.