How to View XML Files

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This wikiHow teaches you how to view an XML file's code. You can do this on any computer by using the built-in text editor, a browser, or an online XML viewer.

Things You Should Know

  • You can view XML files in different ways including using a text editor, like Notepad or TextEdit, a web browser like Safari, Chrome, or Firefox, or an XML viewer.
  • Open your text editor or XML viewer, then open your XML to view it.
  • Drag and drop the XML file to your web browser to view it.
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Using a Text Editor

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6e\/View-XML-Files-Step-1-Version-5.jpg\/v4-460px-View-XML-Files-Step-1-Version-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6e\/View-XML-Files-Step-1-Version-5.jpg\/aid1420855-v4-728px-View-XML-Files-Step-1-Version-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You can use your computer's "Open With" feature to open the XML file in a text editor, which will allow you to see the XML file's code in plain-text form.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/8e\/View-XML-Files-Step-2-Version-5.jpg\/v4-460px-View-XML-Files-Step-2-Version-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/8e\/View-XML-Files-Step-2-Version-5.jpg\/aid1420855-v4-728px-View-XML-Files-Step-2-Version-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Doing so will prompt a drop-down menu.
    • On a Mac, click on the XML file, then click File in the upper-left side of the screen.
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  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/ce\/View-XML-Files-Step-3-Version-5.jpg\/v4-460px-View-XML-Files-Step-3-Version-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/ce\/View-XML-Files-Step-3-Version-5.jpg\/aid1420855-v4-728px-View-XML-Files-Step-3-Version-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It's near the middle of the drop-down menu. A pop-out menu will appear. [1]
    • On a Mac, you'll find Open With in the File drop-down menu.
    • If you don't see Open with on Windows, click once the XML file to select it, then right-click the file.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/dd\/View-XML-Files-Step-4-Version-5.jpg\/v4-460px-View-XML-Files-Step-4-Version-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/dd\/View-XML-Files-Step-4-Version-5.jpg\/aid1420855-v4-728px-View-XML-Files-Step-4-Version-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Click Notepad on Windows, or click TextEdit on a Mac. Doing so will open the XML file's code in the text editor.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/af\/View-XML-Files-Step-5-Version-5.jpg\/v4-460px-View-XML-Files-Step-5-Version-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/af\/View-XML-Files-Step-5-Version-5.jpg\/aid1420855-v4-728px-View-XML-Files-Step-5-Version-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    While the XML file's actual formatting (if present) won't display due to being opened in a text editor, you will be able to see the code that was used to create the XML file.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Using a Browser

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/ef\/View-XML-Files-Step-6-Version-5.jpg\/v4-460px-View-XML-Files-Step-6-Version-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ef\/View-XML-Files-Step-6-Version-5.jpg\/aid1420855-v4-728px-View-XML-Files-Step-6-Version-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Most popular web browsers can display XML files' code, though Microsoft Edge cannot: [2]
    • Google Chrome
    • Firefox
    • Safari
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/02\/View-XML-Files-Step-7-Version-5.jpg\/v4-460px-View-XML-Files-Step-7-Version-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/02\/View-XML-Files-Step-7-Version-5.jpg\/aid1420855-v4-728px-View-XML-Files-Step-7-Version-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":349,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":552,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Click the "New Tab" button, which is usually to the right of the right-most tab at the top of the window, to do so.
    • In most web browsers, you can also press Ctrl + T (Windows) or ⌘ Command + T (Mac) to open a new tab.
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/29\/View-XML-Files-Step-8-Version-5.jpg\/v4-460px-View-XML-Files-Step-8-Version-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/29\/View-XML-Files-Step-8-Version-5.jpg\/aid1420855-v4-728px-View-XML-Files-Step-8-Version-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Open the XML file's location, then click and drag the file onto the browser window and drop the file there.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/29\/View-XML-Files-Step-9-Version-5.jpg\/v4-460px-View-XML-Files-Step-9-Version-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/29\/View-XML-Files-Step-9-Version-5.jpg\/aid1420855-v4-728px-View-XML-Files-Step-9-Version-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Dragging and dropping your XML file into the browser will prompt the browser to display the XML file's code in a "tree" view.
    • You can click the + or - (or, if you're using Chrome, the triangle) to the left of a main tag in the XML code to minimize or expand the code.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Using an XML Viewer

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/fa\/View-XML-Files-Step-10-Version-5.jpg\/v4-460px-View-XML-Files-Step-10-Version-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/fa\/View-XML-Files-Step-10-Version-5.jpg\/aid1420855-v4-728px-View-XML-Files-Step-10-Version-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Go to https://codebeautify.org/xmlviewer in your computer's web browser. This viewer allows you to upload an XML file to view its code, as well as choose different viewing formats.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/5d\/View-XML-Files-Step-11-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-View-XML-Files-Step-11-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/5d\/View-XML-Files-Step-11-Version-4.jpg\/aid1420855-v4-728px-View-XML-Files-Step-11-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You'll find this button near the top of the window. Doing so opens a File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) window.
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/45\/View-XML-Files-Step-12-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-View-XML-Files-Step-12-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/45\/View-XML-Files-Step-12-Version-4.jpg\/aid1420855-v4-728px-View-XML-Files-Step-12-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Go to the location of your XML file, then click the XML file once to select it.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/95\/View-XML-Files-Step-13-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-View-XML-Files-Step-13-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/95\/View-XML-Files-Step-13-Version-4.jpg\/aid1420855-v4-728px-View-XML-Files-Step-13-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This option is in the bottom-right corner of the window. Your XML file will be uploaded to the viewer, and its code will be displayed on the left side of the page.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/fc\/View-XML-Files-Step-14-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-View-XML-Files-Step-14-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/fc\/View-XML-Files-Step-14-Version-4.jpg\/aid1420855-v4-728px-View-XML-Files-Step-14-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It's a button in the middle of the window. Doing so will cause your XML file's text to display in color-coded format in the "Result" window on the right side of the page.
    • Sections of XML which are the same (non-black) color correspond to each other. For example, green text refers to tags.
  6. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/bc\/View-XML-Files-Step-15-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-View-XML-Files-Step-15-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/bc\/View-XML-Files-Step-15-Version-4.jpg\/aid1420855-v4-728px-View-XML-Files-Step-15-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Clicking the green Tree button in the middle of the page will format the "Result" window, making the code easier to read.
    • You can click each of the headings in the "Tree View Result" window to minimize or expand them.
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  • Question
    How can I display an XML file as a database?
    Community Answer
    You need a program that "parses" the data into the database. MySQL (MariaDB) has a method called ''LOAD XML''.
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  • Question
    How are XML programs understood by a web browser?
    Community Answer
    The same way it interprets the HTML, CSS, Javascript, etc. languages. Web browsers are designed to translate the plain text information into graphics.
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  • Question
    How can I open an XML file on a mobile phone?
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    You open it the same way you would open HTML files. The browser interprets it without problems.
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      Warnings

      • XML files often don't have specific formatting assigned to them, so you may end up looking at a jumble of coding language instead of a clear page.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/how-to-open-an-xml-file/
      2. ↑ https://pds.nasa.gov/datastandards/training/documents/How%20to%20View%20an%20XML%20File.pdf

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Find and right-click the XML file.
      2. Select Open With
      3. Click Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit (Mac).
      4. Review the XML file's code.

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