YAML ↔ JSON Converter
Convert between YAML and JSON in both directions with auto-detection and configurable indentation
Interactive tool
Input
No data to convert
Paste YAML or JSON. Direction auto-detected based on input
What is a YAML to JSON Converter?
A bidirectional converter that turns YAML into JSON for APIs and modern apps, and JSON into YAML for human-friendly configuration. The converter parses safely, preserves data types, and supports configurable indentation and alphabetical key sorting.
How to Use This YAML to JSON Converter
- 1Paste YAML or JSON into the input area
- 2Leave Auto-detect on, or choose the direction explicitly
- 3Adjust indent and Sort keys options if needed
- 4Review the converted output and byte-size comparison
- 5Use "Use as input" to convert back, then copy or download
Key features
Bidirectional Conversion
YAML to JSON and JSON to YAML, both done with the same tool
Auto-Detection
Direction is detected from the input shape so you rarely need to choose manually
Type Preservation
Numbers, booleans, nulls, and strings keep their types across the conversion
Configurable Indentation
Pick 2 or 4 spaces for both YAML output and pretty JSON
Sort Keys
Optionally sort keys alphabetically when emitting YAML for stable diffs
Round-Trip Verification
Click "Use as input" to convert the output back and confirm fidelity
Size Comparison
See input vs output byte counts to pick the leaner format
100% Private
Conversion runs in your browser. Nothing is uploaded
Why Convert Between YAML and JSON?
YAML is comfortable to read and edit by hand and dominates configuration files in Kubernetes, GitHub Actions, Docker Compose, and Ansible. JSON is the lingua franca of APIs and tooling. Converting between them lets humans edit YAML while machines consume JSON, or migrate legacy JSON configs into a more readable YAML form.
Common use cases
- Migrating Kubernetes manifests between YAML and JSON
- Converting CI/CD pipeline configs for tooling that prefers JSON
- Editing JSON configuration in YAML form for readability
- Generating YAML fixtures from JSON test data
- Bridging YAML configs into systems that only ingest JSON
- Auditing YAML structures by viewing them in JSON
- Preparing OpenAPI specs in either format
- Standardizing config files across services
YAML 1.2 Subset Used
The converter uses the safe YAML 1.2 schema. Custom tags, anchors, and references work for typical use cases but exotic constructs may not round-trip exactly. For Kubernetes, GitHub Actions, and Compose files this is rarely a problem.
JSON Compatibility
JSON output is fully standards compliant. JSON does not support comments or anchors so any YAML comments are dropped during conversion. Convert in the other direction and add comments back manually if needed.
Tips & best practices
Round-trip your data
Use the "Use as input" button to convert output back. Identical results confirm a clean round-trip
Stick with auto-detect
Auto-detect is reliable for typical inputs. Override only for testing
Sort keys for stable diffs
Sorted keys produce deterministic YAML so version control diffs only show real changes
Watch byte size
YAML is usually shorter than equivalent JSON. Use byte counts to plan storage and transmission
Validate before converting
If conversion fails or output looks wrong, validate input with the YAML or JSON formatter first
Privacy & security
This YAML to JSON converter runs entirely in your web browser using the js-yaml library. Data is never uploaded to any server, stored anywhere, or transmitted. All conversion happens locally on your device.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is my data sent to any server?
No. The converter runs entirely in your browser using the js-yaml library. Data is never uploaded, stored, or transmitted to any server.
What YAML version is supported?
The converter uses the safe YAML 1.2 schema, which covers virtually all real-world YAML including Kubernetes manifests, GitHub Actions, Docker Compose, and Ansible playbooks.
Are comments preserved in the conversion?
YAML to JSON conversion drops comments because JSON has no comment syntax. JSON to YAML conversion has no comments to preserve. Add documentation back to YAML manually after conversion if needed.
Why is auto-detect getting it wrong sometimes?
Auto-detect inspects the first non-whitespace character to choose direction. Inputs that start with a brace or bracket are treated as JSON. If your YAML starts that way, override auto-detect and pick the direction explicitly.
Does it preserve numeric and boolean types?
Yes. Numbers, booleans, and nulls keep their types across conversion. Strings stay as strings. The js-yaml safe schema avoids surprising coercions.
Can I sort keys in the output?
Yes. Toggle Sort keys when emitting YAML to get alphabetically sorted keys for deterministic, diff-friendly output.