What Is XML to CSV Conversion?

XML (Extensible Markup Language) is commonly used to store structured data with nested hierarchies.

CSV (Comma-Separated Values) is a flat format used in spreadsheets and data processing tools.

This converter flattens the XML structure into rows and columns for easy use in tools like Excel, Google Sheets, databases, or analytics platforms.

Example 1: Simple User Records

XML Input

<users>
  <user>
    <id>1</id>
    <name>Alice</name>
    <email>alice@example.com</email>
  </user>
  <user>
    <id>2</id>
    <name>Bob</name>
    <email>bob@example.com</email>
  </user>
</users>

CSV Output

id,name,email
1,Alice,alice@example.com
2,Bob,bob@example.com

Want to transform this data to JSON later? Use the CSV to JSON tool.

Example 2: Product Inventory

XML Input

<products>
  <product>
    <sku>1001</sku>
    <name>Wireless Mouse</name>
    <price>25.99</price>
    <in_stock>true</in_stock>
  </product>
  <product>
    <sku>1002</sku>
    <name>Keyboard</name>
    <price>45.50</price>
    <in_stock>false</in_stock>
  </product>
</products>

CSV Output

sku,name,price,in_stock
1001,Wireless Mouse,25.99,true
1002,Keyboard,45.50,false

CSV is better for analysis in spreadsheets or scripts. For structured APIs, use XML to JSON instead.

Tip: After converting your XML to CSV, you can open the resulting CSV file in Excel, Google Sheets, or OpenOffice for easy viewing and further analysis. Just import the file or drag and drop to get started—no extra setup required. This makes it simple to sort, filter, or visualize your data right away.

Example 3: Handling Nested Tags

XML Input

<employees>
  <employee>
    <id>101</id>
    <name>
      <first>Jane</first>
      <last>Doe</last>
    </name>
    <position>Manager</position>
  </employee>
</employees>

CSV Output

id,name.first,name.last,position
101,Jane,Doe,Manager

The converter flattens nested fields by combining tag names with dot notation.

Example 4: Missing Fields

XML Input

<contacts>
  <contact>
    <name>Emily</name>
    <phone>+1234567890</phone>
  </contact>
  <contact>
    <name>John</name>
    <!-- no phone -->
  </contact>
</contacts>

CSV Output

name,phone
Emily,+1234567890
John,

Empty fields are handled gracefully. Helpful in real-world datasets with inconsistent entries.

Example 5: Multiline and Special Characters

XML Input

<notes>
  <note>
    <id>1</id>
    <content>Hello, this is a multiline
note with commas, quotes, and breaks.</content>
  </note>
</notes>

CSV Output

id,content
1,"Hello, this is a multiline
note with commas, quotes, and breaks

Automatically escaped to maintain CSV structure. You can also remove double quotes, line breaks, and field delimiters from your data for cleaner, more consistent results. Convert to YAML for more human-readable format via CSV to YAML.

How Dates Are Handled

During conversion, dates stored as Unix epoch timestamps are automatically formatted as yyyymmdd. This ensures your time-based data fits neatly into spreadsheets, databases, or analytics dashboards—no manual reformatting required. So, whether your XML includes logs, registration dates, or product availability, all date fields will be presented in a friendly, easily sortable format in the final CSV.

How It Works

1. Upload an XML file or paste the raw XML in the input box. You can also provide a file or a direct URL—whatever’s easiest for you.

2. Click “Convert to CSV” – the tool automatically flattens the XML tree for you.

3. Copy or Download the CSV output.

4. Open your shiny new CSV file in Excel, OpenOffice, or your favorite spreadsheet software.

5. Free Conversion Limits

   Convert up to 1 MB of XML data to CSV every 24 hours at no cost.

No installation. No coding. Just results.

Whether you need to convert XML into CSV (Comma Separated Values) or Excel, this tool keeps it simple and flexible:

• Force double quotes around each field value, or let the tool decide automatically.

• Choose whether to include the CSV header row.

• Remove double quotes, line breaks, or field delimiters from your data if needed.

• For best results, make sure your XML is record-oriented.

It’s a straightforward way to transform your data—fast, fuss-free, and ready for spreadsheets.

Use Cases

• Data Migration: Move XML data to spreadsheets or databases

• Software Development: Convert configuration or metadata formats

• Analytics: Import XML data into BI tools

• APIs: Pre-process XML responses for CSV-based storage or queries

• Combine with CSV to JSON, CSV to YAML, or CSV to XML for multi-directional conversion

Pro Tips

• This tool works best with consistently structured XML.

• Use tag flattening to avoid deeply nested hierarchies.

• If some fields are missing in nested nodes, CSV will still maintain column headers.

• Your data stays secure – conversion happens instantly in-browser.

Need to Convert JSON Too?

If you’re working with JSON files, you’re covered—Qodex also offers a [JSON to CSV Converter](https://qodex.ai/all-tools/json-to-csv) to streamline your workflow. Switch between formats with ease, so you can handle a variety of data sources without missing a beat.