How to Convert XML to JSON Files – Free & Reliable Ways

This blog is going to resolve the most searched query on the internet: how to convert XML to JSON format. We will use copy and paste, different languages, online, and offline automatic solutions. Also, this article compares XML and JSON, two major formats dominating data interchange. These two formats serve the purpose of data structuring and data exchange and inherently differ from each other. This difference forces people to convert XML to JSON format at times, etc.

Let’s start with the basic information of XML and JSON for better knowledge.

Know the File Formats: XML vs JSON

An XML document uses nested tags and attributes to set up a tree, or more accurately, a hierarchical structure. It’s based on document-centric data and thus is fit for use where no compromise can be made in schema validation, such as SOAP-based Web Services.

In contrast, JSON is a lightweight data-interchange format-as well as human-friendly and language-independent. This key:value pairing results in an immensely intuitive and efficient data representation, especially when it comes to Web Applications and APIs. The native compatibility with JavaScript for JSON somehow annihilated all opposition, thereby becoming the de facto data representation format in modern web development.

This article will guide you through various methods and tools on how to transform XML to JSON, from manual approaches to leveraging powerful programming libraries and dedicated software.

How to Convert XML to JSON Format?

XML to JSON transformation is not an easy task; we have used 4 different methods, including three manual methods and one alternative tool. You can use these methods to convert XML to JSON format:

• Do It Manually by Copying & Pasting
• Use Programming Libraries (Python, Java & JS)
• Online XML to JSON Converting Tools
• SysTools XML to JSON Converter Software

Now, let us go through each method one by one in detail.

#1: Try Converting XML to JSON Manually (DIY)

If the XML file contains a very small and simple snippet, then manual translation into JSON is quite appropriate here. This would imply a transformation of XML elements, attributes, and text into respective JSON objects, arrays, and values.

XML Example:

<book id="123">
    <title>The Great Gatsby</title>
    <author>F. Scott Fitzgerald</author>
    <year>1925</year>
</book>

Manually Conversion:

{
  "book": {
    "id": "123",
    "title": "The Great Gatsby",
    "author": "F. Scott Fitzgerald",
    "year": 1925
  }
}

Note: In JSON, numbers (like ‘year’) are typically represented as actual numbers, not strings.

This method is highly prone to errors and impractical for anything beyond trivial examples.

#2 Use Programming Libraries to Convert XML to JSON Format

As highly effective options for conversion from XML to JSON, strong programming libraries should be recommended and acknowledged for the automated conversion-then-automated phase. Let us take examples of well-known languages:

I. Python

In Python, there is a complete array of libraries to tackle XML and JSON. xmltodict is the most commonly used one, making it a very straightforward conversion.

First, install xmltodict:

pip install xmltodict

Python Code Example:

import xmltodict
import json

xml_string = """
<library>
    <book id="123">
        <title>The Great Gatsby</title>
        <author>F. Scott Fitzgerald</author>
        <genre>Fiction</genre>
    </book>
    <book id="124">
        <title>1984</title>
        <author>George Orwell</author>
        <genre>Dystopian</genre>
    </book>
</library>
"""

# Convert XML to Python dictionary
data_dict = xmltodict.parse(xml_string)

# Convert Python dictionary to JSON string
json_string = json.dumps(data_dict, indent=4) # indent for pretty-printing

print(json_string)

Output:

{
    "library": {
        "book": [
            {
                "@id": "123",
                "title": "The Great Gatsby",
                "author": "F. Scott Fitzgerald",
                "genre": "Fiction"
            },
            {
                "@id": "124",
                "title": "1984",
                "author": "George Orwell",
                "genre": "Dystopian"
            }
        ]
    }
}

Notice how xmltodict uses the @-prefix to denote attributes (like id) and repeats <book> elements as JSON arrays.

II. Java

In Java, libraries such as org.json (json-java) and jacksonare popularly used for transforming XML to JSON.

Using org.json:

First, add the json-20240303.jar (the latest version) to your library path in your project or, if you are using Maven, add this dependency in your XML file:

<dependency>
    <groupId>org.json</groupId>
    <artifactId>json</artifactId>
    <version>20240303</version>
</dependency>

Java Code Example (using org.json):

import org.json.JSONObject;
import org.json.XML;

public class XmlToJsonConverter {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        String xmlString = "<?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?>\n" +
                           "<note>\n" +
                           "  <to>Tove</to>\n" +
                           "  <from>Jani</from>\n" +
                           "  <heading>Reminder</heading>\n" +
                           "  <body>Don't forget me this weekend!</body>\n" +
                           "</note>";

        try {
            JSONObject jsonObject = XML.toJSONObject(xmlString);
            System.out.println(jsonObject.toString(4)); // 4 for pretty-printing
        } catch (Exception e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    }
}

Output:

{
    "note": {
        "to": "Tove",
        "from": "Jani",
        "heading": "Reminder",
        "body": "Don't forget me this weekend!"
    }
}

III. JavaScript

Users often opt for xml-js and xml2js When they use JavaScript to convert XML file to JSON format. This is especially the case when an application runs under Node.js or in a browser environment. Below is an example of the code:

Using xml-js (Node.js):

First, install xml-js:

npm install xml-js

JavaScript Code Example (using xml-js):

const convert = require('xml-js');

const xmlData = `
<data>
    <item id="A1">Value 1</item>
    <item id="B2">Value 2</item>
</data>
`;

// Convert XML to JSON with compact format and 2 spaces for indentation
const jsonResult = convert.xml2json(xmlData, { compact: true, spaces: 2 });
console.log(jsonResult);

Output:

{
  "data": {
    "item": [
      {
        "_attributes": {
          "id": "A1"
        },
        "_text": "Value 1"
      },
      {
        "_attributes": {
          "id": "B2"
        },
        "_text": "Value 2"
      }
    ]
  }
}

Note: Use compact: true to bring about the designation of XML attributes as _attributes and element text contents as _text.

#3 Convert XML to JSON using Online Converter

An online XML to JSON converter is an excellent option for one-time conversion. Users can search for these tools online. There are multiple of them available on the internet. Here are the easiest steps:

1. Open any online XML to JSON converter.
2. Upload your file or copy & paste the XML data.
3. Choose JSON format as your saving option.
4. Select the Convert or Download icon.

Important: DO NOT USE the Online Converter for sensitive information. As the user needs to add XML file to an unknown server, we do not know how it is accessed, who accesses it, or how the data is used. So, it is important to exercise caution with highly sensitive data on public online tools.

Complete Steps to Transform XML Files into JSON Format

1. Download and install SysTools XML to JSON Converter on your Windows or macOS system.

   

2. Use the “Add Files” or “Add Folders” option to import the XML data you wish to convert.

   

3. From the available export options, choose “JSON” as the target format.

   

4. Select the desired destination folder for the converted JSON files.
5. Click the “Export” button to start the process to convert XML to JSON.

   

6. Once the conversion is complete, navigate to the output folder and verify the generated JSON files.

   

Comparative Analysis of Tools and Methods

It is important to select the right method for converting XML to JSON file. There are multiple factors to look at. For example: volume of data, complexity of XML, conversion frequency, and users’ technical background.

Method/Tool	Advantages	Disadvantages	Best For
Manual Conversion	No tool installation or coding required	Highly error-prone and thus is only feasible for tiny one-off simple files	Learning bare mapping basics and very minimal one-off snippets
Online Converters	Fast, use on any platform, installation not required, free most often	Security issues for sensitive data, minimal customization, may choke on files of a very huge size	For quick one-off conversions, testing, and minute XML files
Programming Libraries (Python, Java, JS)	Highly flexible, scalable, automatable, secure (processing locally), fine-grained control over the mapping	Requires programming knowledge; initial setup (installing libraries)	Frequent conversions, large datasets, complex XML structures, integration into existing apps
SysTools XML to JSON Converter	GUI is friendly, batch processing, handles complex XML, offline security, supports multiple output formats	Usually requires a commercial license	Businesses and professionals who must convert XML into various formats on a frequent or large scale

Wrapping It Up

XML to JSON conversion is not an easy task, especially for non-technical users. So, we have tried to provide every related information and process in simple language. We have used the best and simplest four methods, including manual, language, online, and offline XML to JSON converters. For multiple and large XML files, use the professional automatic solution to convert multiple XML files into JSON format while preserving the original data. Also, you can download the free trial edition to understand the working steps and features.

When choosing the right method, consider the volume and complexity of your XML data, your technical expertise, security requirements, and the need for automation or integration into existing systems to convert XML to JSON. By understanding the strengths and limitations of each approach, users can effectively manage the data formats and ensure seamless data conversion across diverse applications and platforms.