diff --git a/controller.go b/controller.go
index 7098c1b5..71287811 100644
--- a/controller.go
+++ b/controller.go
@@ -25,6 +25,13 @@ import (
 	"github.com/astaxie/beego/utils"
 )
 
+//commonly used mime-types
+const (
+	applicationJson = "application/json"
+	applicationXml  = "applicatoin/xml"
+	textXml         = "text/xml"
+)
+
 var (
 	// custom error when user stop request handler manually.
 	USERSTOPRUN = errors.New("User stop run")
@@ -287,6 +294,20 @@ func (c *Controller) ServeXml() {
 	c.Ctx.Output.Xml(c.Data["xml"], hasIndent)
 }
 
+// ServeFormatted serve Xml OR Json, depending on the value of the Accept header
+
+func (c *Controller) ServeFormatted() {
+	accept := c.Ctx.Input.Header("Accept")
+	switch accept {
+	case applicationJson:
+		c.ServeJson()
+	case applicationXml, textXml:
+		c.ServeXml()
+	default:
+		c.ServeJson()
+	}
+}
+
 // Input returns the input data map from POST or PUT request body and query string.
 func (c *Controller) Input() url.Values {
 	if c.Ctx.Request.Form == nil {