Format HTML while preserving content and structure
HTML formatting should make markup easier to read and maintain without changing what the page says. A good formatter organizes tags, indentation and line breaks while preserving text, attributes, links and the relationship between elements.
Use the HTML Formatter for snippets, email templates, small web pages or copied markup that has become difficult to inspect. Review the result before replacing source code, especially if the HTML contains scripts, forms or tracking attributes.
What HTML formatting should improve
Formatting can add indentation, split long lines, align nested elements and make closing tags easier to match. It can reveal mistakes that are hard to see in minified or pasted markup.
For example, a compact card can be made readable by placing the heading, paragraph and link on separate lines. The rendered page should still contain the same heading, same paragraph and same link target.
What must stay unchanged
HTML carries meaning through more than visible text. Attributes can control behavior, accessibility and styling. A formatter should preserve:
- href and src values
- alt text and aria attributes
- form names and values
- data attributes
- classes and IDs
- inline text and punctuation
Removing an attribute can break a design or an interaction even when the visible text looks fine.
Be careful with code and templates
HTML often contains template syntax, conditional comments or framework attributes. Treat those parts as content that must survive formatting. A snippet such as `{{ name }}` or `v-if="ready"` may look unusual, but it can be required by the surrounding system.
If the formatter changes template delimiters, quotes or embedded code, do not use the result without correcting it.
Review before publishing
After formatting, compare the output with the original. Check links, image paths, form fields, accessibility labels and any custom attributes. If possible, render the HTML in the target environment before publishing.
Use Markdown Formatter when the source is Markdown or plain-text documentation. Use HTML Formatter when you need clearer HTML markup.