🔀 XML to CSV Converter
By Shihab Mia · Updated 2026-08-01
Paste XML with a repeating element above, then press Convert to CSV.
This XML to CSV converter turns XML with a repeating element, like a list of items or records, into a clean comma-separated table you can open in Excel or Google Sheets. Paste your XML, press Convert, and copy or download the result. The tool automatically finds the repeating element, builds a header row from every leaf field it contains, and quotes values correctly so commas and quotes inside the data never break your columns.
What is the XML to CSV Converter?
XML (Extensible Markup Language) and CSV (comma-separated values) both store structured data, but they are built for different jobs. XML is a nested, tag-based format that is good at describing hierarchy: a document, its sections, and each section's attributes. CSV is flat and row-based, which is exactly what spreadsheets, databases, and most import tools expect. Converting XML to CSV means finding the part of the document that repeats, like a list of orders or products, and turning each repeated block into one row.
To convert XML to CSV, this tool first parses the document with the browser's built-in XML parser, then scans it for the child element that appears most often under the same parent, for example an <item> element repeated inside an <items> root. That repeated element is treated as one row. Every leaf tag inside it (a tag with no further nested elements, just text) becomes a column, and the full set of leaf tags across all rows is collected so the header stays consistent even if one record has an extra field another one lacks.
Once the repeating element and its fields are identified, the xml to csv converter writes a header row followed by one line per record, applying RFC 4180 quoting rules: any field containing the delimiter, a double quote, or a line break is wrapped in double quotes, with inner quotes doubled. This keeps values like "Gadget, Deluxe" or a name containing quotation marks inside a single cell rather than spilling into the next column. The whole process, from XML to CSV, runs in plain JavaScript in your browser, so nothing is uploaded to a server, which matters if your XML contains customer records, invoices, or other sensitive data.
This approach works well for the flat or lightly nested XML that most feeds, exports, and API responses actually use, such as product catalogs, RSS-style item lists, or simple database dumps. It is not built for deeply nested or mixed-content XML with several levels of child elements per record; for that kind of structure you would typically flatten the data first or write a custom XSLT transform, since a general xml to csv converter cannot guess which nested values you want preserved as columns versus dropped.
When to use it
- Converting an XML export from an e-commerce platform or CMS into a spreadsheet a non-technical colleague can open directly.
- Turning an API or feed response in XML (product lists, RSS-style items, inventory records) into CSV for import into Excel, Google Sheets, or a database.
- Quickly inspecting an unfamiliar XML file as a flat table to spot missing fields, duplicate records, or formatting issues.
- Preparing XML data for tools that only accept CSV, such as mail-merge software, BI dashboards, or bulk-upload forms.
How to use the XML to CSV Converter
- Paste XML that contains a repeating element (a root tag wrapping two or more identical child elements) into the input box.
- Pick a delimiter (comma is standard; use semicolon or tab if your locale or target app needs it).
- Leave the header row on if you want column names in the first line, or turn it off for data-only output.
- Press Convert to CSV, then use Copy or Download .csv to save the result.
Formula & method
Worked examples
A simple product list where every item has the same three fields.
- Input: <items><item><name>Widget</name><price>9.99</price><in_stock>true</in_stock></item><item><name>Gadget</name><price>19.5</price><in_stock>false</in_stock></item></items>
- The tool finds <item> repeated twice under <items>, so <item> is the row element.
- Leaf tags inside <item>, first-seen order: name, price, in_stock
- Each <item> becomes one row with those three columns filled in.
Result: name,price,in_stock Widget,9.99,true Gadget,19.5,false
A record where one field contains a comma and must be quoted.
- Input: <items><item><name>Gadget, Deluxe</name><price>19.50</price></item><item><name>Widget</name><price>9.99</price></item></items>
- Header: name,price
- The first name value contains a comma, so it is wrapped in double quotes.
- Result row 1: "Gadget, Deluxe",19.50
Result: name,price "Gadget, Deluxe",19.50 Widget,9.99
When a CSV field needs to be quoted (RFC 4180)
| Field contains | Quoted? | Example output |
|---|---|---|
| Plain text, no special characters | No | Widget |
| The delimiter (e.g. a comma) | Yes | "Gadget, Deluxe" |
| A double quote character | Yes, inner quotes doubled | "Doohickey ""Pro""" |
| A newline or carriage return | Yes | "line one line two" |
| Leading or trailing spaces only | No (preserved as-is) | " spaced " |
How this tool reads an XML record into a CSV row
| XML structure | CSV result |
|---|---|
| Repeated <item> elements under one root | Each <item> becomes one row |
| A leaf tag with text, e.g. <price>9.99</price> | One column named price with value 9.99 |
| A leaf tag missing from one record | That row gets an empty cell for the column |
| An attribute on an element (e.g. id="1") | Not read as a column; only child element text is used |
| A tag nested two levels deep inside the row element | Not flattened; only direct leaf children become columns |
Common mistakes to avoid
- XML with no repeating element. This tool needs a root element that wraps two or more identical child elements, like <items><item>...</item><item>...</item></items>. A single standalone record with no siblings has nothing to build rows from and is rejected with a clear message.
- Expecting attributes to become columns. Only the text inside leaf child elements is read as column data. Values stored as XML attributes, such as <item id="1">, are ignored, so move important data into child elements before converting if you need it in the CSV.
- Deeply nested records. If a repeated element contains further nested elements (more than one level below the row element), those inner fields are not flattened into extra columns. Simplify the XML structure first, or expect only the top-level leaf fields in the output.
- Malformed XML with unescaped characters. A stray & that is not part of an entity like &, a missing closing tag, or mismatched quotes around an attribute will make the document invalid. The browser parser reports this as a friendly error rather than guessing at a fix.
Glossary
- XML
- Extensible Markup Language, a nested, tag-based text format for structured data, commonly used for feeds, exports, and configuration.
- CSV
- Comma-separated values, a plain-text table format where each line is a row and fields are separated by a delimiter.
- Repeating element
- A child element type that appears more than once under the same parent, such as multiple <item> tags inside an <items> root. This is what becomes one row per occurrence.
- Leaf element
- An XML element with no nested child elements, only text content, for example <price>9.99</price>. Leaf elements become CSV columns.
- Delimiter
- The character that separates fields in a CSV line, most commonly a comma but sometimes a semicolon, tab, or pipe.
- RFC 4180
- The common specification for CSV files, including the rules for when and how a field is quoted.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert XML to CSV?
Paste XML that contains a repeating element into the box, choose your delimiter, and press Convert to CSV. The tool finds the repeated element, builds a header from its leaf fields, and writes one row per record.
What XML structure does this tool expect?
It expects a root element wrapping two or more identical child elements, such as <items><item>...</item><item>...</item></items>. Each repeated element becomes one CSV row and its leaf tags become columns.
Does it handle XML attributes?
No, only text inside leaf child elements is converted into columns. Data stored as attributes on a tag, like <item id="1">, is not included in the CSV output.
What happens if some records are missing a field?
The converter collects the union of leaf tags across every repeated element, in first-seen order. Any record missing a given tag simply gets an empty cell in that column, so no other data is lost.
Can it convert deeply nested XML?
It reads one level of leaf fields inside each repeated element, so flat or lightly nested XML converts cleanly. XML with several levels of nested elements per record needs to be flattened first, since a general converter cannot guess which nested values should become columns.
Is my XML data uploaded anywhere?
No. Parsing and conversion run entirely in your browser using the built-in DOMParser, and the CSV file is created locally for download, so your XML never leaves your device.