XML to TSV Converter
Turn XML into tab-separated values — the delimiter that doesn't trip over the commas already living inside your data.
Why a tab instead of a comma
TSV is CSV's quieter sibling: same idea of one record per line, but fields are separated by tab characters rather than commas. That single change solves a common headache — when your data is full of commas (addresses, descriptions, prices with thousands separators), a tab delimiter sidesteps the quoting gymnastics CSV needs to stay unambiguous.
This converter parses your XML with xml2js, flattens the resulting object so nested elements become dot-joined column names, and joins each row's values with tab characters. The first line is a header row built from those column names, and rows follow beneath it.
It all runs locally in your browser. TSV is a natural fit for pasting straight into a spreadsheet (which splits on tabs automatically) or feeding into command-line tools like cut and awk.
Producing a TSV from XML
- 1
Paste the XML
Add your XML to the input pane or upload a file. The sample shows the kind of record-style data that converts cleanly.
- 2
Watch the rows form
The header line and tab-separated rows appear in the output pane as you type.
- 3
Confirm the layout
Each column is separated by a tab; check the headers match your fields. Invalid XML is flagged first.
- 4
Copy or download
Copy the TSV — ready to paste into a sheet — or download it as a .tsv file.
When TSV wins
Commas inside values are fine
Because the delimiter is a tab, values containing commas don't need quoting or escaping to stay in their column.
Paste straight into a spreadsheet
Spreadsheets split pasted clipboard data on tabs automatically, so a TSV drops neatly into a grid.
Plays well with unix tools
cut, awk and sort all default to or happily handle tab-delimited input for quick command-line work.
Private by design
Parsing and formatting happen in the browser, so your records never leave your device.
Tabbed output
The arrow (→) marks where a tab character sits between columns.
<product>
<sku>A-100</sku>
<name>Wireless Mouse, Black</name>
<price>19.99</price>
</product>product.sku → product.name → product.price
A-100 → Wireless Mouse, Black → 19.99TSV vs CSV: picking the right one
Reach for TSV when your data itself is comma-rich, or when the destination is a spreadsheet paste or a unix pipeline. Reach for CSV when the receiving tool specifically expects comma-separated input, which is still the more widely assumed default. The flattening behaviour is identical between the two converters — nested elements become dot-joined headers either way — so the only real decision is the delimiter.
Things to keep in mind
- Values are not quoted in TSV output, so a literal tab or newline inside a value would disturb the layout — rare, but worth knowing.
- Column headers come from the first flattened record, so uniform record-style XML gives the cleanest table.
- If you'd rather have a true Excel workbook than delimited text, the XML to Excel tool builds a native .xlsx.
Frequently asked questions
TSV separates fields with tab characters instead of commas, so values that contain commas — addresses, descriptions, formatted numbers — stay in their column without needing quotes. It's the safer choice for comma-heavy data.
No. TSV output is unquoted, relying on the tab delimiter to keep columns separate. This is fine for the vast majority of data; the only edge case is a value that itself contains a tab or newline.
They come from the keys of the first flattened record, with nested elements joined by dots — so a name inside a product becomes the header product.name. Uniform records produce the cleanest header row.
Yes. Spreadsheets split pasted text on tab characters automatically, so copying the TSV and pasting it lands each value in its own cell with no import dialog.
No. xml2js parses the XML and the TSV is assembled entirely in your browser. Nothing is transmitted, so it's safe for internal data exports.
Use the XML to Excel converter, which generates a native .xlsx workbook rather than delimited text. TSV is best when you want lightweight, plain-text tabular output.
Need another tool?
Browse the full toolbox or dig into the blog for the engineering behind it.