What is the difference between JSON and YAML?

JSON uses braces {} and brackets [] with strict quotation requirements, while YAML uses indentation for structure. YAML is more human-readable and supports comments, making it preferred for configuration files. JSON is better for data interchange between applications due to its strict format.

Is this JSON to YAML converter free?

Yes, our JSON to YAML converter is completely free with no usage limits. There's no signup required, and your data is processed entirely in your browser without being sent to any server.

Can I convert YAML back to JSON?

Yes! Use our YAML to JSON converter at /yaml-to-json for reverse conversion. Both tools work instantly in your browser.

Does the converter preserve data types?

Yes, our converter accurately preserves all JSON data types including strings, numbers, booleans, null values, nested objects, and arrays in the YAML output.

Can I use this for OpenAPI/Swagger files?

Absolutely. Our converter handles OpenAPI 3.0 and Swagger 2.0 specification files, properly converting the entire API definition structure to YAML format.

Is my data secure when using this converter?

Yes. All conversion happens locally in your browser using JavaScript. Your JSON data is never sent to any server or stored anywhere. Your data remains completely private.

What if my JSON has errors?

The converter validates your JSON before conversion. You'll see a clear error message identifying the problem, such as missing commas, unmatched brackets, or invalid characters.

Can I convert large JSON files?

Yes. The converter runs in your browser and can handle files as large as your browser's memory allows. For extremely large files, consider using command-line tools like yq or jq.

Does the output preserve key order?

Yes. The converter maintains the same key order from your original JSON. Keys appear in the YAML output in the same sequence you provided them.

What indentation does the YAML output use?

The default output uses 2-space indentation, which is the most common YAML style. You can change this to 4 spaces if your project requires it.

Free Online Tool

YAML to JSON
Converter

Transform YAML configuration files to JSON format instantly. Perfect for API development, data processing, and application integration.

YAML

JSON

How to Convert YAML to JSON

Our YAML to JSON converter transforms human-readable YAML into strict JSON format in real-time. Paste your YAML content into the left input panel, and properly formatted JSON appears instantly in the right output panel. No buttons to click, no forms to submit.

The converter parses YAML using industry-standard libraries and generates valid JSON that any application can consume. Indented YAML blocks become nested JSON objects. YAML lists with dashes become JSON arrays. All data types convert accurately to their JSON equivalents.

Everything runs locally in your browser. Your YAML configurations never leave your computer, ensuring complete privacy for sensitive files like database credentials or API keys.

Why Convert YAML to JSON?

While YAML excels as a human-readable configuration format, many systems require JSON input. Converting YAML to JSON bridges the gap between human-friendly configs and machine-readable data interchange.

API Integration

Most REST APIs accept JSON payloads, not YAML. When you need to send configuration data to an API endpoint, converting YAML to JSON makes the data compatible with standard HTTP request libraries.

JavaScript Applications

JavaScript's native JSON.parse function processes JSON directly. If your frontend or Node.js application needs to consume YAML configurations, converting to JSON first enables native parsing without additional dependencies.

Data Processing Pipelines

ETL pipelines, data analytics tools, and database imports often expect JSON format. Converting YAML source files to JSON allows integration with these data processing systems.

Programmatic Manipulation

JSON's strict format makes programmatic manipulation straightforward. When you need to modify configuration values dynamically, working with JSON objects in code is often simpler than parsing YAML.

Common YAML to JSON Conversion Scenarios

Kubernetes Configuration to API

Kubernetes manifests are written in YAML, but the Kubernetes API accepts JSON. Convert your deployment files when making direct API calls or when building custom tooling that interfaces with the Kubernetes control plane.

Docker Compose to Scripts

Docker Compose uses YAML for service definitions. When building automation scripts that need to parse and modify these configurations programmatically, converting to JSON simplifies the data manipulation.

Ansible Inventory to Custom Tools

Ansible inventory files use YAML format. Converting these to JSON enables integration with custom inventory management systems, reporting tools, or third-party orchestration platforms.

GitHub Actions to Monitoring

GitHub Actions workflows are YAML files. When building monitoring dashboards or analytics around your CI/CD pipelines, converting workflow configs to JSON makes data extraction easier.

Configuration Export

Applications storing internal state as YAML can export to JSON for interoperability with external systems that only understand JSON format.

YAML to JSON Converter Features

Instant Conversion

Results appear immediately as you type or paste. The converter processes your YAML in real-time without any delay or manual trigger.

Safe YAML Parsing

The converter uses safe parsing mode that prevents code execution vulnerabilities. Untrusted YAML content cannot execute arbitrary code in your browser.

Accurate Type Conversion

YAML data types map correctly to JSON equivalents. Strings, numbers, booleans, null values, objects, and arrays all convert accurately.

Pretty-Printed Output

JSON output is formatted with proper indentation for readability. The structured output makes it easy to verify the conversion.

Copy and Download

Copy the converted JSON to your clipboard with one click. Or download it as a .json file for immediate use in your projects.

Browser-Based Privacy

All processing happens locally in your browser. Your YAML configurations containing sensitive data never transmit to any server.

What Happens During Conversion

YAML Features That Convert Directly

Standard YAML features convert to JSON without any loss:

Mappings (key-value pairs) become JSON objects
Sequences (lists) become JSON arrays
Scalars (strings, numbers, booleans) maintain their types
Nested structures preserve their hierarchy
Multi-line strings become single JSON strings

YAML Features That Don't Exist in JSON

Some YAML features have no JSON equivalent. The converter handles these appropriately:

Comments — Removed during conversion since JSON doesn't support comments
Anchors and Aliases — Resolved to their actual values
Custom Tags — Converted to standard types or strings
Multiple Documents — Each document converts separately

Type Handling

YAML's flexible type system maps to JSON's strict types:

YAML Type	JSON Result
String	String
Integer	Number
Float	Number
Boolean (true/false/yes/no)	Boolean (true/false)
Null (~, null, empty)	null
Date	String (ISO format)
Binary	String (base64)

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert YAML to JSON?

Convert YAML to JSON when you need to send configuration data to APIs that require JSON format, process configs programmatically in JavaScript applications, or integrate YAML-based configurations with JSON-only systems like certain databases or analytics platforms.

Does YAML to JSON conversion lose comments?

Yes. JSON does not support comments. Any comments in your YAML file are removed during conversion because the JSON specification has no way to represent them. If preserving comments is essential, keep a copy of your original YAML file.

Can I convert multi-document YAML files?

Standard single-document YAML files convert normally. For multi-document YAML files separated by ---, convert each document individually. The converter treats everything as a single document.

Is the conversion lossless?

Data conversion is lossless. All values, nested structures, and arrays preserve their content exactly. However, YAML-specific features like comments, anchors, and custom tags either resolve to values or are removed since JSON cannot represent them.

How are YAML booleans converted?

YAML accepts multiple boolean representations including true, false, yes, no, on, off. All of these convert to JSON's strict true or false values.

What happens to YAML dates?

YAML dates like 2026-01-15 convert to JSON strings in ISO format. JSON has no native date type, so dates become string representations that your application can parse.

Is this converter safe for sensitive data?

Yes. All conversion happens in your browser. Your YAML content containing passwords, API keys, or internal configurations never transmits to any server. Nothing is logged or stored.

What if my YAML has syntax errors?

The converter validates YAML syntax before conversion. You'll see a clear error message identifying problems like incorrect indentation, invalid characters, or structural issues.

YAML to JSON Conversion Tips

Validate YAML Structure First

Ensure your YAML is properly formatted before conversion. Consistent indentation and correct spacing prevent parsing errors.

Check Indentation Levels

YAML uses spaces for indentation, not tabs. Mixing spaces and tabs causes parsing failures. Use a consistent number of spaces throughout your file.

Quote Strings When Necessary

Strings containing special characters like colons or quotes should be quoted in YAML. While the converter handles many edge cases, explicit quoting prevents ambiguity.

Review Boolean Values

YAML interprets words like yes, no, on, off as booleans. If you intend these as literal strings, quote them: "yes" or 'no'.

Handle Multi-Line Strings

YAML's multi-line string syntax using | or > converts to single-line JSON strings with appropriate escaping for newlines.

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