What is YAML?
YAML (YAML Ain't Markup Language) is a human-readable data serialization language. It is commonly used for configuration files, data exchange between languages, and as a more readable alternative to JSON. YAML uses indentation to denote structure, making it very easy to read.
How to Use
- Choose the conversion direction: YAML to JSON or JSON to YAML.
- Paste your input in the left textarea.
- Select your preferred indentation (2 or 4 spaces).
- The converted output appears in real-time on the right.
- Click Copy to copy the output.
Features
- Bidirectional conversion (YAML to JSON and JSON to YAML)
- Configurable indentation (2 spaces, 4 spaces, or tabs)
- Error messages with line numbers for invalid input
- Sample data for quick testing
- Handles nested objects, arrays, and multi-line strings
- 100% client-side processing - no data sent to servers
FAQ
What YAML features are supported?
This tool supports key-value pairs, nested objects, arrays (- syntax), quoted strings, multi-line strings (|, >), numbers, booleans (true/false), null values, and comments. Complex features like anchors, aliases, and custom tags are not supported.
Is YAML a superset of JSON?
Yes, YAML 1.2 is a superset of JSON. Any valid JSON document is also valid YAML. However, YAML adds features like comments, anchors, and more flexible syntax that JSON does not have.
Which should I use: YAML or JSON?
Use YAML for configuration files and human-edited data where readability matters. Use JSON for APIs, data interchange between systems, and when you need strict syntax. JSON is generally faster to parse programmatically.