What Is a .xml File? .xml Format, MIME & How to Open

Quick facts

Extension.xml

File typeXML Document

MIME typeapplication/xml

CategoryData & Text

Charset—

CompressibleYes

Format familyxml

What is .xml

What is a .xml file?

A .xml file is a XML Document — Extensible Markup Language for structured data exchange.

In the mime-db registry it maps to application/xml, and it is marked as compressible. When serving .xml over HTTP, set the Content-Type header as shown in Developer info below.

Related entities: it maps to application/xml and is used by XML among others — and is delivered over HTTP via the Content-Type header.

How to open .xml files

Use VS Code or XMLSpy to open and edit .xml files.
Any text editor (Notepad, VS Code) can inspect the raw content as text.

Developer info

When served over HTTP, responses should set the following header:

Content-Type: application/xml

Common software that reads/writes .xml:

VS CodeXMLSpy

Relation chain

.xmlextension of

format

xmlserved as

mime type

application/xmlsent via header

http header

Related extensions

Related MIME types

Related programming languages

XML

.xml .adml .admx

Common uses

Configuration files
Data interchange between systems
API request and response payloads
Logs and data exports

How to edit .xml files

Open the file with VS Code, make your changes and save.
Most editors preserve the original formatting and encoding — avoid changing the charset.

How to create .xml files

Create a new file and save it with the .xml extension, or export this format from VS Code.

Example

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<note>
  <to>John</to>
  <body>Hello</body>
</note>

Frequently asked questions

What programs can open .xml files?

Common options include VS Code, XMLSpy. You can also open many of these files with built-in viewers or a browser.

How do I create a .xml file?

Create a new file in any text editor or the app that owns the format and save it with the .xml extension.

What is the relationship between .xml and the application/xml MIME type?

application/xml is the media type identifier used for .xml files during network transfer (for example in the HTTP Content-Type header).

Sources & standards

Updated 2026-09-13

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