HTML Formatter

Readable HTML speeds code reviews and reduces mistakes. A formatter applies consistent indentation and line breaks so you can see structure at a glance. This tool takes a messy snippet and returns a neat version with two-space indents and one element per line. It respects void elements, handles simple inline content, and avoids rewriting attributes so the output stays faithful to the original markup.

Quick start - paste, format, copy

Drop HTML into the input and click Format. The result shows nested elements as an outline, which makes missing closers and mis-nesting easier to spot. Copy the formatted HTML back into your editor and continue work. For very large documents, consider running a formatter in your editor of choice, but for quick checks this page is faster than configuring a project plugin.

What a formatter should and should not do

It should add indentation, normalize line breaks, and leave content intact. It should not rewrite attribute order, remove optional tags that your project depends on, or move elements. Those decisions belong to a linter or a template engine with strong rules. The goal here is clarity, not transformation. If you need enforcement across a team, pair this step with an editorconfig and a linter that catches risky patterns before review.

Benefits - fewer merge conflicts and cleaner diffs

Inconsistent spacing causes noisy diffs and frustrating conflicts. When everyone formats snippets the same way, diffs show the real changes. This speeds code reviews and lowers the chance that a stray edit lands in a production deploy. Formatting also helps non-specialists navigate templates during content updates because structure becomes obvious even to new eyes.

Edge cases - void elements and inline text

Void elements such as img, input, and br do not have closing tags; the formatter treats them as single lines. Inline text sits on its own line when surrounded by block tags for simplicity. If your project relies on very compact markup for emails or SMS templates, use this tool for review and compress later. The output is designed for readability, not byte-perfect production payloads.

Comparison - manual cleanup vs automated formatting

Bullet notes - keep HTML tidy across the team

• Use two-space indents for templates that mix HTML with server tags to reduce wrap width.
• Avoid aligning attributes in columns - it looks neat but breaks diffs when one line changes.
• Keep text content on its own line when it improves readability for translators and editors.
• Run a quick format pass before review to avoid style comments that slow down feedback.

Real example - cleaning CMS snippets

A content team pasted HTML from a docs tool into a CMS, which produced dense markup. Reviews took longer and small bugs slipped through. Formatting the snippet revealed an extra wrapper that broke spacing on mobile. After a quick fix and a policy to format before publishing, reviews sped up and issues dropped. The team kept using their docs tool - the difference was a 10-second step before save.

Two questions before you commit

• Does the formatted output match your team’s indentation and line break conventions so diffs stay clean?
• Are you formatting before review so comments focus on function rather than spacing?

A tiny formatting habit pays back in calmer diffs and smoother reviews. Use this tool for quick cleanup and keep your project’s heavier tools for enforcement and advanced checks. Clean structure makes everything that follows easier and safer.