JSON vs XML: Differences, Examples and How to Convert

Mr Deepak in Developer Guides Oct 08 / 4 weeks ago

JSON and XML both store structured data. JSON uses key–value pairs and arrays, is lighter and is the default for web APIs. XML uses opening and closing tags, supports attributes, comments and schemas, and is still used for sitemaps, RSS, SVG and many enterprise systems. Convert between them with JSON to XML and XML to JSON.

The same data in both formats

JSON:

{
  "tool": "Merge PDF",
  "free": true,
  "formats": ["pdf"]
}

XML:

<tool free="true">
<name>Merge PDF</name>
<formats><format>pdf</format></formats>
</tool>

Key differences

Feature	JSON	XML
Syntax	Key–value pairs, arrays	Nested tags
Size	Smaller	Larger (closing tags)
Data types	String, number, boolean, null, array, object	Everything is text unless a schema says otherwise
Comments	Not allowed	Allowed
Attributes	No	Yes
Validation	JSON Schema	XSD, DTD
Typical use	REST APIs, config, JavaScript apps	Sitemaps, RSS, SVG, SOAP, documents

Convert between them

JSON to XML – paste JSON, get XML.
XML to JSON – paste XML, get JSON.
JSON Formatter – make the JSON readable before converting.
JSON Validator – fix syntax errors first; invalid JSON cannot be converted.

Which should you choose?

Building a web or mobile API → JSON.
Config files for JavaScript tools → JSON.
Sitemaps, RSS, SVG → XML (required by the format).
Integrating with a bank, government or older enterprise system → use whatever they specify, often XML.

Try the free JSON to XML now

Open the JSON to XML on pdfseotools.com – free, no sign-up and it works on any device.

Open JSON to XML →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is JSON better than XML?

🧑‍💻 For web APIs and JavaScript apps, JSON is usually simpler and smaller. XML is still the right choice for documents with mixed content, strict schemas, SOAP services, RSS feeds and many enterprise or government systems.

Can I convert JSON to XML without losing data?

Simple data converts cleanly. XML attributes, namespaces and mixed text have no direct JSON equivalent, so check the result when converting complex documents.

Which is smaller?

JSON is usually smaller because it has no closing tags.

Can JSON have comments?

No – standard JSON does not allow comments. XML does: .

Where is XML still common?

Sitemaps, RSS feeds, Microsoft Office files (inside .docx/.xlsx), SVG images, SOAP APIs and many banking and e-invoicing systems.

Is my data uploaded when I convert?

The JSON tools run in your browser. Check each tool page for details.

Summary

JSON for lightweight data exchange, XML for documents, feeds and strict schemas. Convert with JSON to XML or XML to JSON and explore all free developer tools.

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