Convert a List to XML

Transform any text list into properly formatted XML documents with this Convert a List to XML tool. Whether you’re preparing data for XML feeds, creating configuration files, or building structured documents, this tool converts plain text lists into valid XML with customizable element names and formatting options. Perfect for developers working with XML APIs, data integration projects, or anyone who needs to convert lists into XML format quickly and reliably.

How to Use:

1. Input Your List

• Paste your list items into the input box, with each item on a separate line
• Use the Import button to load text files directly from your computer
• The Convert a List to XML tool processes your text and generates valid XML automatically

2. Configure XML Options

• Toggle “Skip empty lines” to remove blank entries from your XML output
• Enable “Trim whitespace” to clean up extra spaces around list items
• Turn on “Add XML declaration” to include the standard XML header with encoding information
• Customize the “Root element” field to change the main container tag name
• Set the “Item element” field to define what each list item becomes in XML

3. Choose XML Structure

• Select “Simple elements” for basic XML tags containing your text content
• Pick “With attributes” to add ID numbers and value attributes to each element
• Use “CDATA sections” to wrap content that might contain special characters
• Choose “Numbered items” to create uniquely named elements like item1, item2, etc.

4. Convert and Export

• Click “Convert” to generate your XML document instantly
• Use “Copy” to copy the formatted XML to your clipboard
• Export your results as an .xml file for use in other applications
• The tool displays a count of XML elements created from your list

What Convert a List to XML can do:

This tool handles all the XML conversion scenarios you’ll encounter in web development and data processing. Got a product list that needs to become an XML feed for your e-commerce platform? Just paste it in and get properly escaped, valid XML output. Working with configuration data that needs XML formatting? The custom element names let you create exactly the structure your application expects.

The different structure modes give you flexibility for various use cases. Simple elements work great for basic data feeds and import files. The attributes mode is perfect when you need ID numbers or want to store the actual content as an attribute value rather than element text. CDATA sections handle tricky content that contains HTML, special characters, or formatting that would break normal XML parsing.

Numbered items mode creates unique element names for each list entry, which is useful for configuration files or when you need to reference specific items by their element names. The tool automatically validates element names to ensure they follow XML naming rules, preventing syntax errors in your output.

XML escaping happens automatically, so you don’t have to worry about ampersands, angle brackets, or quotes breaking your document structure. The tool converts all special characters to their proper XML entities, ensuring your output is always valid and parseable.

Whether you’re building RSS feeds, creating SOAP request bodies, preparing data for XML databases, or just need to convert a simple list into structured markup, this tool handles the formatting details so you can focus on your actual project.

Example:

Here’s how different structure modes work with a simple product list. Starting with:

MacBook Pro 16-inch
iPad Air 5th Generation
iPhone 15 Pro Max

Simple elements creates:

xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<items>
  <item>MacBook Pro 16-inch</item>
  <item>iPad Air 5th Generation</item>
  <item>iPhone 15 Pro Max</item>
</items>

With attributes generates:

xml

<items>
  <item id="1" value="MacBook Pro 16-inch"></item>
  <item id="2" value="iPad Air 5th Generation"></item>
  <item id="3" value="iPhone 15 Pro Max"></item>
</items>

Numbered items produces:

xml

<items>
  <item1>MacBook Pro 16-inch</item1>
  <item2>iPad Air 5th Generation</item2>
  <item3>iPhone 15 Pro Max</item3>
</items>

Convert List to XML Table:

This table shows how different list formats get converted to XML, demonstrating various structure options and their resulting markup patterns.

Common Use Cases:

Web developers use this tool for creating XML data feeds, RSS content, and SOAP request bodies without manually typing angle brackets and worrying about character escaping. E-commerce teams find it helpful for generating product feeds that integrate with shopping platforms and comparison sites. The custom element naming feature works perfectly for creating configuration files that match specific XML schemas. Data migration projects benefit from the tool’s ability to convert spreadsheet exports and database dumps into XML format for import into other systems. Content management workflows use it to transform simple lists into structured XML that can be processed by publishing systems and content delivery networks.