YAML to JSON Converter
YAML Input
Paste YAML and use Validate or Convert buttons
Settings
Paste data and click Convert
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Reading a Manifest Through Its Stats
The converter reports two structural numbers that are easy to underrate: Total Keys, the count of all object keys in the converted structure, and Max Depth, the deepest nesting level. On a hand-written Kubernetes manifest, a Total Keys far above expectations usually means duplicated blocks that belong in a template, and unexpected depth exposes over-nested structure that will be painful to review — both visible before anyone runs the file against a cluster.
Indentation Is Data, and Types Are Decided for You
YAML's two classic traps both surface during conversion. Indentation is semantic: a value aligned two spaces off silently becomes a sibling or a child, and tabs are illegal outright. And parsing decides types: unquoted values like 1.30 become numbers, and depending on the parser settings, bare yes or no may become booleans — so quote anything that is meant to stay a string. Anchors and aliases also resolve during conversion, expanding to their full values in the JSON output.
About YAML to JSON Converter
Kubernetes manifests, Docker Compose files, GitHub Actions workflows, and Ansible playbooks are all YAML — and nearly every tool that processes them programmatically speaks JSON. The conversion runs in both directions: turning a deployment manifest into JSON to query specific fields in a script, or reshaping a JSON API response into readable YAML for a config file a human will maintain. CI pipelines are the heaviest users, because that is where the two formats constantly meet.
How to Use
Step 1
Select conversion mode: YAML to JSON or JSON to YAML
Step 2
Paste your YAML or JSON into the input field
Step 3
For YAML: load examples to see different YAML features
Step 4
Click 'Validate' to check for syntax errors
Step 5
Configure settings: indent size, strict mode (YAML only)
Step 6
Click 'Convert' to generate output
Step 7
View statistics (YAML to JSON only): total keys and max depth
Step 8
Copy the output to use in your project
Features & Benefits
- ✅Bidirectional conversion: YAML ↔ JSON
- ✅Validate YAML and JSON syntax with detailed error messages
- ✅5 YAML examples: basic, nested, array, mixed, advanced
- ✅Handle nested objects and arrays
- ✅Support multiline strings (| and > operators)
- ✅Support inline collections [arrays] and {objects}
- ✅Handle booleans, null, numbers (integer, float, scientific)
- ✅Strict mode for JSON compatibility (YAML to JSON)
- ✅Configurable indent size (2, 4, or 8 spaces)
- ✅Statistics for YAML to JSON: total keys and max depth
- ✅One-click copy to clipboard
- ✅Real-time validation and error messages
- ✅Mode switcher for quick conversion direction change
- ✅100% browser-based - data never sent to server
- ✅100% free - no limits, no signup required
FAQs
What is YAML?
YAML (YAML Ain't Markup Language) is a human-readable data serialization format. It's commonly used for configuration files (Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD) because it's easier to read and write than JSON or XML. YAML uses indentation to represent structure instead of brackets.
What's the difference between YAML and JSON?
YAML is more human-friendly with cleaner syntax (no brackets, quotes optional), supports comments, and has advanced features like multiline strings and anchors. JSON is more strict, widely supported in programming, and faster to parse. YAML is a superset of JSON - all valid JSON is valid YAML.
Can I convert JSON to YAML?
Yes! Click the mode switcher button to change from 'YAML → JSON' to 'JSON → YAML'. Paste your JSON, click Convert, and get clean YAML output. This is useful for creating more readable configuration files from JSON data.
What is strict mode?
Strict mode (YAML to JSON only) enforces JSON compatibility rules. It ensures the YAML can be safely converted to JSON without losing data or structure. Use strict mode when you need guaranteed JSON compatibility, such as for APIs that only accept JSON.
What YAML features are supported?
We support all common YAML features: nested objects and arrays, multiline strings (| preserves line breaks, > folds lines), inline collections [1,2,3] and {key: value}, booleans (true/false), null values, numbers (integers, floats, scientific notation), and comments. Advanced features like anchors/aliases are supported in parsing.
How do I handle multiline strings in YAML?
Use | (pipe) to preserve line breaks: 'text: |\n Line 1\n Line 2'. Use > (greater than) to fold lines into a single line: 'text: >\n This will be\n one line'. Both are converted to appropriate JSON strings.
What are the YAML examples for?
Click 'Examples' to load pre-made YAML samples: Basic (simple key-value), Nested (objects within objects), Array (lists), Mixed (arrays of objects), and Advanced (multiline strings, inline collections, various data types). Great for learning YAML syntax or testing the converter.
Why does my YAML conversion fail?
Common YAML errors: incorrect indentation (YAML is indent-sensitive, use spaces not tabs), missing colons after keys, unquoted strings with special characters, or mixing tabs and spaces. Click 'Validate' to see the specific error message with details.
What do the statistics show?
For YAML to JSON conversion, we show: Total Keys (count of all object keys in the structure) and Max Depth (maximum nesting level). These help you understand the complexity of your data structure.
Can I use this for Kubernetes or Docker configs?
Absolutely! This tool is perfect for converting Kubernetes YAML manifests or Docker Compose files to JSON for programmatic processing, or converting JSON API responses to YAML for more readable configuration files.
Is my data secure?
Yes! All YAML and JSON processing happens entirely in your browser using the js-yaml library. Your data never leaves your device and is not sent to any server, ensuring complete privacy and security.