Java tutorial
//package com.java2s; public class Main { public static boolean isTextXML(String text) { text = text.trim(); if (!(text.startsWith("<") && text.endsWith(">"))) return false; //If text doesn't begin with "<" it's not XML int firstClose = text.indexOf(">"); int lastOpen = text.lastIndexOf("<"); if (lastOpen == 0 && text.lastIndexOf("/") == firstClose - 1) return true; //Example "<DIMES /> if (text.substring(1, firstClose + 1).equals(text.substring(lastOpen + 2))) return true; //<XML> blah </XML> return false; } }