Best XML Viewers and Editors for macOS

Best XML Viewers and Editors for macOS

When it comes to working with XML files on your Mac, choosing the right tool is crucial for productivity and ease of use. Whether you need a powerful editor with advanced features or a lightweight text editor, there are several options available that can meet your needs. Here, we will explore some of the best XML viewers and editors for macOS, ensuring you find the perfect fit for your workflow.

Commercial Options

XMLSpy: is a robust and comprehensive XML editor that offers a wide range of features such as schema validation, XSLT support, and a graphical schema editor. It is a commercial product but highly regarded in the industry for its advanced features and user-friendly interface. XMLSpy provides developers with the tools they need to efficiently work with XML data.

Oxygen XML Editor: Another powerful choice is , which supports XML, XSLT, and XQuery development. It comes with a user-friendly interface and numerous advanced features, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced users. While it is a paid tool, its comprehensive suite of features justifies the cost for many users.

Free and Open-Source Options

Sublime Text: If you prefer a versatile text editor that also supports XML syntax highlighting, is an excellent choice. It is not specifically designed for XML editing, but with the right plugins, it can be enhanced to provide a robust XML editing experience. Sublime Text is highly customizable and offers syntax highlighting, which is crucial for XML files.

Visual Studio Code: Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a free and open-source code editor that supports XML through extensions. It offers syntax highlighting, formatting, and a vast library of plugins that can significantly enhance its functionality. VS Code is known for its extensibility and ease of use, making it a popular choice among developers.

BBEdit: If you are looking for a powerful text editor that includes features for editing XML files, is a strong contender. It offers syntax coloring, search capabilities, and other useful features that make editing XML files a breeze. BBEdit is a commercial product, but its robust features and ease of use justify the cost for many users.

Other Recommendations

In addition to the above, there are many other XML editors and text editors that can be used for XML files on macOS. Here are a few more options:

TextMate: A lightweight text editor that supports XML syntax highlighting and is highly customizable. It comes with various bundles that can add functionality to meet your specific needs. Eclipse: While primarily a software development environment, Eclipse can be used for XML development with the right plugins. Xcode: The Apple Xcode software development environment includes a free editor called Property List Editor, which is what I have used for years. It is an excellent tool for XML editing. Text Wrangler: A text editor that supports XML and has an XML Tidy script. It is free and works well for simple XML editing tasks.

The choice of XML viewer or editor largely depends on your specific needs. If you need advanced features, commercial options like XMLSpy and Oxygen XML Editor are highly recommended. For a more customizable and flexible choice, Sublime Text and Visual Studio Code are excellent alternatives.