XML to JSON Converter: Modernize Your Data Format
Convert XML to JSON format instantly. Learn why modern APIs prefer JSON, how to handle attributes and elements, and use cases for API modernization.
February 1, 2026
Why Convert XML to JSON?
The shift from XML to JSON is one of the most significant trends in modern software development. As REST APIs have replaced SOAP services and JavaScript frameworks dominate frontend development, JSON has become the preferred data format. Our XML to JSON Converter helps you modernize your data quickly and accurately.
The Case for JSON Over XML
Simplicity and Readability
JSON is inherently simpler than XML. It uses a minimal syntax of key-value pairs, arrays, curly braces, and square brackets. There are no closing tags, no attributes, and no namespaces to manage. This simplicity makes JSON easier to read, write, and debug. For developers working with modern frameworks like React, Vue, or Svelte, JSON feels natural because it maps directly to JavaScript objects.
Performance Advantages
JSON documents are typically 30-50% smaller than their XML equivalents. This reduced payload size translates to faster network transfers, lower bandwidth costs, and improved application performance. JSON parsing is also significantly faster than XML parsing in most programming languages, which matters when processing large volumes of data.
Native JavaScript Support
In web development, JSON enjoys first-class support. The JSON.parse() and JSON.stringify() methods are built into every browser and Node.js runtime. XML, on the other hand, requires a dedicated DOM parser and XPath queries for data extraction, adding complexity and overhead.
Handling XML Attributes vs Elements
One of the trickiest aspects of XML to JSON conversion is handling XML attributes. In XML, elements can have both child elements and attributes, like <product id="123" category="tools"><name>Hammer</name></product>. JSON has no concept of attributes, so the converter must decide how to represent them.
Common approaches include:
- Prefix Convention: Attributes are prefixed with @ or _ to distinguish them from child elements, resulting in {"product": {"@id": "123", "@category": "tools", "name": "Hammer"}}.
- Nested Object: Attributes are placed in a dedicated sub-object like {"product": {"attributes": {"id": "123"}, "name": "Hammer"}}.
- Flat Merge: Attributes and elements are merged into the same level, which is simpler but can cause naming conflicts.
Common Use Cases
API Modernization
Organizations migrating from SOAP to REST APIs need to convert their XML data structures to JSON. This is often part of a broader digital transformation initiative to make services more accessible and efficient.
Data Migration
When moving data from legacy XML-based systems to modern databases like MongoDB or Elasticsearch that natively support JSON documents, conversion is a critical step in the migration pipeline.
Frontend Integration
Backend systems that produce XML responses need conversion to JSON before the data can be consumed by modern JavaScript frameworks. Our converter simplifies this transformation.
Configuration Modernization
Many modern tools prefer JSON configuration files over XML. Converting existing XML configurations to JSON enables compatibility with newer tooling ecosystems.
How to Use the XML to JSON Converter
Paste your XML data into the input field. The converter instantly produces clean, well-structured JSON output. It handles nested elements, repeated elements (converting them to arrays), attributes, CDATA sections, and mixed content. Copy the result with one click and use it in your project immediately.
Best Practices
After conversion, validate your JSON output to ensure it meets your application's expectations. Pay special attention to arrays: XML elements that appear multiple times should be converted to JSON arrays, while single elements should remain as values. Our converter handles this automatically, producing consistent and predictable output every time.