How to Convert YAML to JSON
YAML (YAML Ain't Markup Language) and JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) are both popular data serialization formats. YAML is more human-readable with its indentation-based syntax, while JSON is the standard for APIs and web applications. Here is how to convert between them:
- Paste or upload your YAML data. Either paste your YAML text directly into the input panel, or click "Upload File" to load a
.yaml or .yml file from your computer.
- Choose your options. Select your preferred JSON indentation (2 or 4 spaces). Toggle "Minify JSON" if you want compact output without whitespace.
- Get your JSON instantly. The conversion happens automatically as you type or paste. The JSON output appears in the right panel in real time.
- Copy or download the result. Click "Copy JSON" to copy the output to your clipboard, or "Download" to save it as a
.json file. Use the "Swap" button to switch to JSON-to-YAML conversion.
The entire conversion runs in your browser using the js-yaml library. Your data is never uploaded to a server or stored anywhere.
When to Use YAML vs JSON
Both YAML and JSON represent structured data, but they have different strengths. Here is a comparison to help you choose:
| Feature |
YAML |
JSON |
| Readability | Highly readable, minimal syntax | Readable but more verbose with braces/quotes |
| Comments | Supports comments with # | No comment support |
| Data types | Strings, numbers, booleans, null, dates, binary | Strings, numbers, booleans, null |
| Multi-line strings | Native support (literal and folded blocks) | Requires escape characters (\n) |
| References | Anchors and aliases for reuse | No reference support |
| Best for | Config files (Docker, K8s, CI/CD, Ansible) | APIs, web apps, data interchange |
Use YAML when you are writing configuration files that humans will read and edit frequently. YAML is the standard for Docker Compose, Kubernetes manifests, GitHub Actions, Ansible playbooks, and many CI/CD pipelines.
Use JSON when you need to send data between systems, work with web APIs, or store data that will be consumed by applications. JSON is universally supported and has stricter, unambiguous parsing rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert YAML to JSON?
Paste your YAML data into the input panel or upload a .yaml or .yml file. The tool automatically converts it to JSON in real time. You can then copy the JSON to your clipboard or download it as a .json file.
Is my data safe when using this converter?
Yes. All conversion happens locally in your browser using JavaScript. Your data is never sent to any server, stored, or tracked. It never leaves your device.
What YAML features are supported?
The converter supports all standard YAML features including nested objects, arrays, multi-line strings (literal and folded blocks), anchors and aliases, comments, and multiple data types (strings, numbers, booleans, null, dates). It uses the js-yaml library which implements the YAML 1.2 specification.
Can I convert JSON back to YAML?
Yes. Click the Swap button to switch the conversion direction. The input label changes to "JSON Input" and the output becomes YAML. Paste JSON and get YAML output instantly.
Does the converter handle multi-document YAML?
Yes. If your YAML contains multiple documents separated by ---, the converter parses all documents and outputs them as a JSON array. Single documents are output as a single JSON object or value.