Why Format HTML Code?
- Readability: Minified HTML is nearly impossible to read. Proper indentation shows structure at a glance.
- Debugging: Finding unclosed tags, misplaced attributes, and nesting errors is much easier in formatted code.
- Code reviews: Clean, indented HTML makes pull request reviews faster and more effective.
- Consistency: Formatting ensures everyone on a team follows the same indentation standard.
Indentation Styles for HTML
- 2 spaces: The most popular choice for web projects. Used by Google, Airbnb, and most modern style guides.
- 4 spaces: Traditional choice in older projects and PHP/Java environments.
- Tabs: Used by some teams for accessibility reasons (tab width is user-configurable). Smaller file sizes but can cause inconsistencies across editors.
💡 Pro Tip: Configure your code editor's `.editorconfig` file to enforce consistent indentation across your entire team:
indent_style = space and indent_size = 2.How to Format HTML Online
1Open the HTML Formatter tool.
2Paste your HTML — minified, messy, or poorly indented.
3Choose an indentation style: 2 spaces, 4 spaces, or tab.
4Click Format HTML — output appears instantly in the right panel.
5Click Copy to copy the formatted code to your clipboard.
Void Elements (Self-Closing Tags)
Void elements are HTML tags that don't have a closing tag — like <br>, <img>, <input>, <link>, and <meta>. The formatter correctly handles these without adding unnecessary indentation inside them.
FAQ
Does formatting HTML change how it renders in a browser?
No. HTML is whitespace-insensitive for rendering purposes. Adding indentation does not affect how the page looks or behaves — only how the source code reads.
Can I format HTML with inline JavaScript or CSS?
Yes, the formatter handles basic HTML including <script> and <style> blocks. However, for deep JS/CSS formatting within HTML, use a dedicated JavaScript or CSS formatter.