JSON ↔ YAML
Convert JSON to YAML and YAML to JSON instantly. Essential for CI/CD pipelines, Docker, and Kubernetes configs.
How to use
- 1 Select the direction: JSON → YAML or YAML → JSON.
- 2 Paste your JSON or YAML into the input panel.
- 3 The conversion happens instantly — the output appears on the right.
- 4 Click Copy to grab the result for use in configuration files or APIs.
Key features
- Bidirectional: JSON → YAML and YAML → JSON
- Preserves data types: strings, numbers, booleans, arrays, and nested objects
- Instant conversion — no button needed
- Useful for DevOps config files and Kubernetes manifests
JSON vs YAML — Same Data, Different Syntax
YAML (YAML Ain't Markup Language) was created in 2001 as a human-friendly alternative to XML and JSON. Where JSON uses braces, brackets, and quotes, YAML uses indentation and minimal punctuation. A configuration that takes 20 lines in JSON often takes 10 in YAML.
YAML is the preferred format for configuration files in DevOps tooling: Docker Compose, Kubernetes manifests, GitHub Actions workflows, Ansible playbooks, and CI/CD pipelines all use YAML. JSON remains the standard for data exchange in APIs. Converting between them is routine when working across these two worlds.
Common Use Cases
Docker Compose editing
Convert a JSON service definition to YAML for a docker-compose.yml, or reverse to validate the structure.
Kubernetes manifest prep
Convert JSON output from kubectl or the Kubernetes API to YAML format for version-controlled manifests.
GitHub Actions workflows
Understand GitHub Actions YAML structure by converting to JSON and inspecting it more easily.
OpenAPI / Swagger specs
OpenAPI specs are valid in both JSON and YAML. Convert between them depending on your tooling preferences.
Helm chart values
Convert JSON-formatted values to YAML for Helm chart values.yaml files during Kubernetes deployments.
Config file debugging
Convert a YAML config to JSON to validate its structure or compare it against a JSON schema.
JSON vs YAML Syntax
| Feature | JSON | YAML |
|---|---|---|
| String quotes | Required ("value") | Optional (bare value) |
| Comments | Not supported | Supported (# comment) |
| Nesting | Braces & brackets | Indentation (2 spaces) |
| Multi-line strings | Escaped \n | Block scalar | or > |
| Common tools | REST APIs, Node.js configs | Kubernetes, Docker Compose, CI/CD |