HTML Formatter

HTML that has been minified, generated by a build tool, or pasted from another source often ends up as one long unreadable line. This formatter re-indents HTML markup so nested elements are easy to follow, which makes it much faster to review, debug, or learn from someone else's markup. It can also do the reverse and minify HTML down to a compact form.

Your data stays in your browser — this tool runs entirely on the client side and nothing is uploaded to a server.

How to Use the HTML Formatter

  1. Paste your HTML markup into the input box.
  2. Click "Format" to indent it, or "Minify" to compress it.
  3. Copy the result or download it as an .html file.

Why format HTML?

Properly indented HTML makes the document structure visible at a glance — you can see which elements are nested inside which containers without mentally tracking opening and closing tags across a single dense line. This is especially useful when reviewing markup generated by another tool or when learning from an example page.

Formatting limitations

This formatter uses structural indentation rules based on tag nesting. Because HTML allows some tags to be self-closing or optional (like `<li>` or `<p>` in certain contexts), automatic formatters occasionally make different structural assumptions than a full browser parser would. Always visually check the rendered result for anything unusual, especially with deeply irregular markup.

Example

Minified input
<div><p>Hello</p><ul><li>One</li><li>Two</li></ul></div>
<div>
  <p>Hello</p>
  <ul>
    <li>One</li>
    <li>Two</li>
  </ul>
</div>

Tips

  • Formatting does not validate HTML — use your browser's dev tools console to catch parsing issues.
  • Minify HTML only for production output, and keep readable source files in version control.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this validate my HTML?

No, it only re-indents or compresses it. Use a dedicated HTML validator if you need to check spec compliance.

Is my markup sent to a server?

No, formatting happens locally in your browser.