Overview
HTML Pretty Print turns cramped or tangled markup into structured HTML that is easier to scan, compare, and edit. It is especially useful when you need to inspect nested tags, spot misplaced attributes, or prepare snippets for a teammate. Because the output is rebuilt with consistent spacing and indentation, it is much easier to trace document structure without losing track of where elements begin and end. That makes it a practical step before code review, template maintenance, or troubleshooting HTML copied from another source.
Use cases
- Review generated templatesTurn server-generated or CMS-produced markup into something a reviewer can follow line by line.
- Inspect nested componentsExpand deeply nested sections so the parent-child structure is obvious during debugging.
- Prepare handoff snippetsClean up pasted HTML before sending it to a designer, developer, or QA teammate.
- Unwrap minified sourceReformat compact markup copied from production so it can be checked and corrected.
How it works
- 1
Paste your HTML into the input area.
- 2
Choose the indentation settings if available.
- 3
Run the formatter to rebuild the markup with readable spacing.
- 4
Copy the formatted HTML for review, edits, or documentation.
Examples
Compact layout block
Input: <main><section class='hero'><h1>Sale</h1><p>Ends Friday</p></section><a href='/shop'>Shop now</a></main>
Output: <main> <section class="hero"> <h1>Sale</h1> <p>Ends Friday</p> </section> <a href="/shop">Shop now</a> </main>
Turns a single-line layout into a readable block structure.
Nested list markup
Input: <ul><li>Alpha</li><li><strong>Beta</strong><ul><li>Beta 1</li></ul></li></ul>
Output: <ul> <li>Alpha</li> <li> <strong>Beta</strong> <ul> <li>Beta 1</li> </ul> </li> </ul>
Makes multi-level list nesting easy to verify.
Article snippet with links
Input: <article><h2>Docs</h2><p>Read the <a href='/guide'>guide</a> and <a href='/api'>API reference</a>.</p></article>
Output: <article> <h2>Docs</h2> <p> Read the <a href="/guide">guide</a> and <a href="/api">API reference</a>. </p> </article>
Keeps inline links readable while preserving document structure.
FAQ
Will this tool rewrite my HTML tags or attributes?
It changes formatting, not the meaning of your markup. Tag names, attribute names, and values remain intact unless the formatter has to normalize spacing around them.
What happens with already formatted HTML?
The tool usually keeps the structure readable and may only adjust spacing or indentation. If the source is already consistent, the output should look very similar.
Can it handle minified HTML with long attribute lists?
Yes. It is designed to expand compact markup, including elements with many attributes, so each part is easier to review.
Why does the output sometimes look different around inline elements?
Inline content can be arranged differently depending on where line breaks are needed for readability. The visible structure should still match the original markup.
Does removing comments affect the rendered page?
Comments do not affect rendering, but they may matter for documentation or template logic. Only remove them if you know they are not needed.