XML File

What are XML files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening an XML file or just wondering what they contain? We explain what these files are used for and show you software that we know can open or otherwise handle your files.

What is an XML file?

XML files have multiple uses, and Extensible Markup Language is one of them. Read more about the other uses further down the page.

Extensible Markup Language File

XML files are structured text files. They are used by thousands of applications and communication protocols to represent structured information like documents, configuration options, books, transaction data, invoices, and much more.

Like HTML, XML is a human-readable text file consisting of values stored between tags. A tag is a named property, e.g., "<name>Brian</name>" specifies that the name is Brian.

XML is very similar to HTML but with stricter rules. For example, the tags are case sensitive when writing in XML, and they must be ended, unlike the tags used in HTML documents.

XML is used everywhere. Applications use it to store data that other applications can read. Network protocols use it to share data between network devices and applications. Applications use it to store user configuration options, etc.

Since the use is so vast, and we know hundreds of specific XML formats, we only show a limited number of the more widely used ones on this page.

How to open XML files

We have identified eight XML openers that are compatible with this specific type of XML file.

Programs that open Extensible Markup Language files

Last updated: January 16, 2023

All known file formats using extension .XML

While Extensible Markup Language File is a popular type of XML-file, we know of 20 different uses of the .XML file extension. Different software may use files with the same extension for different types of data.

Circuit Diagram Component

Electronic component for use in Circuit-Diagram, a PCB layout design program.

XML opener for Windows

We have identified one XML opener that is compatible with this specific type of XML file.

COLLADA Interchange Scheme for 3D Assets

COLLADA defines an XML-based schema to make it easy to transport 3D assets between applications. The intermediate format provides encoding of visual scenes with, e.g., geometry, shaders, effects, physics, animation, and kinematics. COLLADA FX enables 3D authoring tools to work effectively together.

You usually do not need to edit or view these files, as they only contain information usable by the software program that uses them.

Compressed COLLADA Digital Asset Exchange File

COLLADA defines an XML-based schema to make it easy to transport 3D assets between applications - enabling diverse 3D authoring and content processing tools to be combined into a production pipeline.

While we have not verified the apps ourselves yet, our users have suggested ten different XML openers which you will find listed below.

DAISY E-book

DAISY is a specification that offers a significantly enhanced reading experience for people who are blind or print disabled.

You usually do not need to edit or view these files, as they only contain information usable by the software program that uses them.

Microsoft Office XML Formats

The Microsoft Office XML formats are XML-based document formats introduced in earlier versions of Microsoft Office. For example, Microsoft Office XP introduced a new XML format for storing Excel spreadsheets, and Office 2003 added an XML-based format for Word documents.

These formats are succeeded by Office Open XML (ECMA-376) introduced in Microsoft Office 2007.

MusicXML

MusicXML is a standard way of sharing sheet music files between applications. It is also a way to archive sheet music files for use in the future, as the format is well known and simple to convert into future standard formats. MusicXML files are readable and usable by a wide range of music notation applications.

You usually do not need to edit or view these files, as they only contain information usable by the software program that uses them.

RSS Web Feed

RSS, short for Really Simple Syndication, is a file format that allows users and applications to discover updates to websites in a standardized, computer-readable format. An RSS file is an XML-based text file that contains links to pages on a website that have been updated. It also includes the publication date, so it is easy for RSS readers or News Aggregators to present a list of recent news.

Waveme Diagram

Waveme is a program used to draw timing diagrams as part of electronic design documentation.

Four types of waveforms are supported, namely signal (digital and analog), auto-signal, bus, and auto-bus.

Drawings are stored in an XML-based file format.

Programs that open these XML files

We have identified one XML opener that is compatible with this specific type of XML file.

XML sitemap

Sitemap files contain URLs to all pages on a website that you want to be included by search engines. It makes it easier for search engine crawlers to discover pages on your website. However, sitemaps do not guarantee that the search engines will crawl all links, nor that crawled pages will be indexed. Keeping your sitemap updated will likely allow search engines like Google and Bing to discover your new pages faster.

More file formats using the XML extension

Through our research of XML files, we know that the following formats exist. However, we have not yet analyzed them in detail.

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of XML files. Remember, different programs may use XML files for different purposes, so you may need to try out a few of them to be able to open your specific file.

Help us help others

File.org helps thousands of users every day, and we would love to hear from you if you have additional information about XML file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.