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Developer4 min read

XML to JSON Converter - Transform XML Data for Modern Apps and APIs

XML was the dominant data format before JSON. Many legacy systems, enterprise APIs, and Office documents still use XML. Converting XML to JSON makes the data usable in modern JavaScript applications and REST APIs.

XML vs JSON: Key Differences

XML uses tags and attributes; JSON uses key-value pairs. XML requires a parser (DOM/SAX); JSON is parsed natively with JSON.parse(). XML supports schema validation (XSD); JSON is schema-less and flexible.

XML-to-JSON Conversion Challenges

  • Attributes - XML has attributes; JSON doesn't. Common mapping: @attr or _attributes
  • Multiple children with same tag - should become a JSON array
  • Text content + attributes - mapped to #text or _text

When to Use Each Format

Use XML for document formats, Office files, enterprise/SOAP APIs, and configurations needing schema validation. Use JSON for REST APIs, web frontends, NoSQL databases, and configuration files.

Free XML to JSON Converter

Use SnapSum XML to JSON Converter - paste XML or upload an XML file, get formatted JSON instantly. Handles attributes, nested tags, and repeating elements. 100% browser-based.