JSON to YAML Converter

A JSON to YAML converter transforms data from JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) into YAML Ain't Markup Language (YAML) format. Both formats store structured data, but YAML offers improved readability through its cleaner, indentation based syntax.

The tool parses your JSON input, validates the structure, and outputs equivalent YAML that preserves all your data relationships. What takes minutes to reformat manually happens in milliseconds.

Converting your data takes three steps:

1. Paste your JSON into the input field
2. Click the convert button
3. Copy the generated YAML from the output field

The converter handles nested objects, arrays, strings, numbers, booleans, and null values automatically. Invalid JSON triggers an error message identifying the problem.

Each format has strengths suited to different situations:

Readability - YAML uses indentation rather than brackets and braces, making complex configurations easier to scan and edit by hand. Configuration files become documentation in themselves.

Comments - YAML supports inline comments. JSON does not. When configuration files need explanatory notes, YAML is the practical choice.

Configuration Files - Many modern tools expect YAML: Docker Compose, Kubernetes, Ansible, GitHub Actions, and CI/CD pipelines. Converting existing JSON configs lets you adopt these platforms without rebuilding from scratch.

Reduced Syntax Noise - No quotation marks around keys, no commas between items, no curly braces cluttering the view. YAML strips away the visual overhead that JSON requires.

DevOps and Infrastructure - Kubernetes manifests, Docker Compose files, Ansible playbooks, and Terraform configurations all use YAML. Developers often prototype in JSON then convert for deployment.

CI/CD Pipelines - GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, CircleCI, and Travis CI expect YAML configuration. Converting JSON API responses or existing configs streamlines pipeline setup.

API Development - OpenAPI (Swagger) specifications accept both formats. Teams may receive JSON from documentation generators but prefer YAML for version control and collaboration.

Data Migration - Moving between systems that favour different formats becomes straightforward. Export JSON from one tool, convert, import YAML to another.

JSON Example:

{
  "name": "project",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "dependencies": {
    "lodash": "4.17.21",
    "axios": "1.6.0"
  }
}

Equivalent YAML:

name: project
version: 1.0.0
dependencies:
  lodash: 4.17.21
  axios: 1.6.0

The YAML version contains the same information with less syntactic overhead. For simple structures the difference seems minor. For deeply nested configurations with dozens of properties, the readability improvement becomes substantial.

The converter manages several tricky scenarios:

Multiline Strings - YAML offers multiple approaches for long text blocks. The converter selects appropriate formatting based on content.

Special Characters - Characters with meaning in YAML (colons, hashes, brackets) get quoted or escaped automatically to preserve your data.

Empty Values - Null values, empty strings, and empty arrays convert correctly without ambiguity.

Numeric Strings - Values like "123" that look numeric but are actually strings retain their type through conversion.

Valid JSON converts to semantically identical YAML every time. The data structure, types, and values remain unchanged. Only the formatting differs.

You can verify accuracy by converting your YAML back to JSON. The round trip should produce output matching your original input.

The converter runs entirely in your browser. Your JSON data never leaves your device or gets transmitted to external servers. This makes the tool suitable for sensitive configuration data you would rather not share.

Modern browsers on desktop and mobile all support the underlying JavaScript required. No plugins or extensions needed.

We have a YAML formatter tool that can help you format your YAML data.