smallpdf.app
← All tools Review document structure clearly

XML Compare

Compare two XML documents while choosing whether formatting details should count.

Side-by-side & unified views Line and character highlights Paste or load files
Comparison mode

Original

Paste content or load a local XML file.

0 characters · 0 lines

Changed

Paste content or load the version to compare.

0 characters · 0 lines
Document Tools guide

How to use XML Compare

Review XML documents without treating indentation, comments, or attribute order as data unless exact source comparison is needed.

Three simple steps

  1. Paste XML or load one XML file on each side.
  2. Choose format-aware or exact source comparison.
  3. Review aligned changes and copy either normalized document or the unified result.

XML comparison modes

  • Format-aware comparison ignores indentation-only text, comments, declarations, processing instructions, and attribute order.
  • Namespace values, element order, attributes, and meaningful text remain significant.
  • DOCTYPE declarations are not parsed in format-aware mode.

Frequently asked questions

Does XML indentation count as a change?

Not in format-aware mode. Exact source mode shows indentation and line-break changes.

Are XML comments compared?

Comments and processing instructions are ignored in format-aware mode and included in exact source mode.

Does element order matter?

Yes. Sibling element order remains meaningful in format-aware comparison.