About the XML to CSV Converter
This tool converts XML to CSV in your browser. XML is a tag-based format where every value sits inside named opening and closing tags, with optional attributes, and it is common in older APIs, feeds, office documents and configuration files. CSV is a plain table where commas split the columns and each line is a row, and it is common in spreadsheets, database exports and mailing-list uploads. When a file in the first format has to go into a program that wants the second, you can paste the text, read the CSV on the right, and copy or download it. The converter looks inside the wrapper elements for the repeating records, then writes one row per record with the child elements as columns. Everything runs on your device, so the XML you paste is never sent to a server, which matters when the data is a customer list, a payroll export or private settings.
Updated October 2026
How to use the XML to CSV Converter
- 1Paste your XML into the box on the left, or press Try a sample to see how it works.
- 2Check the options above the boxes; they only show the ones that matter for XML to CSV.
- 3Read the CSV output on the right. It updates as you type.
- 4If an error appears, it names the line of the XML that could not be read; fix it and the output returns.
- 5Press Copy result, or Download to save a CSV file.
Why people convert XML to CSV
The two formats suit different jobs. XML is a tag-based format where every value sits inside named opening and closing tags, with optional attributes; people meet it in older APIs, feeds, office documents and configuration files. CSV is a plain table where commas split the columns and each line is a row; people meet it in spreadsheets, database exports and mailing-list uploads. A move from XML to CSV usually happens when data created in one place has to be used in another, and retyping it by hand would be slow and error-prone.
The converter looks inside the wrapper elements for the repeating records, then writes one row per record with the child elements as columns. Attributes become their own columns with an at-sign style prefix, so an id attribute on each record is kept.
How the XML to CSV conversion works
The tool first reads your XML into a plain structure of rows or objects, so it knows what is a key and what is a value. It then writes that structure again in the CSV style. Because nothing is guessed about the content, the values you see in the CSV are the ones that were in the XML.
Records nested more than one level deep are flattened into dotted column names, and any list inside a record is written into its cell as JSON text.
- Paste the XML exactly as it is, including the header line if there is one.
- Use Try a sample to see how a small XML turns into CSV before using your own data.
- Read the CSV before you use it; check that special characters came through as you expect.
Tips for a clean CSV result
Start with tidy XML: the same keys or columns in every record give the neatest CSV. If your XML has stray blank lines or an inconsistent number of items, tidy them first, or the CSV will show empty values where something is missing.
Keep a copy of the original XML. The conversion works well for data, but formatting such as colours, formulas and comments belongs to the program that made the file and does not travel into plain CSV.
On phone and computer
On a computer, paste with Ctrl+V or Cmd+V, check the CSV and use Copy result. On a phone, long-press in the left box to paste, and use the Download button to save a CSV file you can send from the share menu.
The two boxes sit side by side on a wide screen and one above the other on a narrow one, so you can read both without zooming. Wide tables with many columns are easier to check on a computer, but short lists work fine on a phone. If the XML is a mess, XML Formatter makes it easier to see which elements repeat. JSON Formatter helps when you compare the same data as JSON, Data Format Converter covers other conversions, and CSV Tools helps with the table afterwards.
Features
- Converts XML to CSV as you type
- Clear error messages that name the problem in the XML
- Sample data to try first
- Copy result or download as a file
- Private: runs in your browser, nothing uploaded
- Works on phone and computer
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert XML to CSV?
Paste the XML into the left box and the CSV appears on the right straight away. Press Copy result to copy it or Download to save a file. You can also press Try a sample first. With the sample XML shown here, the CSV output is: people.person / "[{""name"":""Ann"",""age"":30,""@_id"":1},{""name"":""Bob"",""age"":25,""@_id"":2}]".
Is this XML to CSV converter free and private?
Yes. It is free, needs no account and works in your browser, so the XML you paste stays on your device. Nothing is uploaded or stored, which makes it suitable for lists and settings that you would rather not send anywhere.
What happens to numbers and true or false values when converting XML to CSV?
With the option on, values that look like numbers or true and false are written as real numbers and booleans in the CSV. Turn the option off if you need every value kept as text, for example postcodes or phone numbers with a leading zero.
What is the difference between XML and CSV?
XML is a tag-based format where every value sits inside named opening and closing tags, with optional attributes. CSV is a plain table where commas split the columns and each line is a row. XML is mostly used for older APIs, feeds, office documents and configuration files, while CSV is mostly used for spreadsheets, database exports and mailing-list uploads.
What if my XML is invalid?
The converter does not guess. It stops and shows what is wrong, with the line where it can tell, so you can fix the XML and try again. An empty box simply gives an empty result.
Is there a size limit for XML to CSV conversion?
Very large pasted text can slow a phone, so there is a limit of about 2 million characters. For the usual files, such as a few thousand rows, the CSV appears within a moment.
Can I change the XML to CSV output after converting?
Yes. The result is plain text that you can copy into any editor. If you change an option, such as the header row or the indent, the CSV updates by itself.