You are looking at the HTML representation of the XML format.
HTML is good for debugging, but is unsuitable for application use.
Specify the format parameter to change the output format.
To see the non HTML representation of the XML format, set format=xml.
See the complete documentation, or API help for more information. 
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<api>
  <query>
    <pages>
      <page ns="0" title="API" missing="" />
      <page pageid="1" ns="0" title="Main Page">
        <revisions>
          <rev user="Stage" timestamp="2019-01-01T23:33:22Z" comment="" contentformat="text/x-wiki" contentmodel="wikitext" xml:space="preserve">[[image:LargeIcon.png|right]]

This is the starting page of the online help documentation for the Time and Attendance software created by [[SBV]].

* [[Software|Using the Time and Attendance software]]

* [[HandPunch|Using the HandPunch time clock]]

* [[Fingerprint|Using the Fingerprint time clock]]

* [[Configuration|Configuring the software]]

* [[What Is New|New features added to the software]]

* [[SBV|Contact Us]]</rev>
        </revisions>
      </page>
    </pages>
  </query>
</api>