JSON → YAML
Converter

About JSON to YAML Converter

This free online JSON to YAML converter tool allows you to transform data between JSON and YAML formats instantly. Whether you're a developer working with configuration files, Kubernetes manifests, Docker Compose files, CI/CD pipelines, or API definitions, our bidirectional converter handles the transformation seamlessly. Convert JSON to human-readable YAML or parse YAML back to JSON with proper type preservation for booleans, numbers, nulls, arrays, and nested objects. Everything runs 100% in your browser with no server uploads.

Why Convert Between JSON and YAML?

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) and YAML (YAML Ain't Markup Language) serve different purposes in modern development. JSON is compact, widely supported, and perfect for APIs and data interchange, while YAML is human-readable, supports comments, and is the standard for configuration files in Kubernetes, Docker, Ansible, GitHub Actions, and CI/CD tools. Converting between them is essential for migrating configurations, integrating systems with different format requirements, editing complex configs in your preferred format, validating syntax, and generating documentation. Manual conversion is tedious and error-prone, especially with deeply nested structures, special characters, and type preservation requirements.

How to Use This Converter

Choose your conversion direction using the toggle: JSON → YAML converts JSON objects and arrays into clean, indented YAML with proper spacing and readability. YAML → JSON parses YAML syntax (including lists, nested mappings, scalars, booleans, numbers, nulls) and generates properly formatted JSON. Paste your data into the input field, click Convert, and get instant results. Download as .yaml or .json files, copy to clipboard, or use the swap button to reverse the conversion and transform the output back for roundtrip testing.

Key Benefits

• No installation required: Works directly in your browser without any software downloads
• Completely free: No registration, credit card, or hidden fees
• Secure and private: All conversion happens locally - your data never reaches our servers
• Fast processing: Instant conversion with no waiting time or rate limits
• Bidirectional: Convert JSON ↔ YAML with full roundtrip support
• Type preservation: Correctly handles strings, numbers, booleans, null, arrays, objects
• Clean formatting: Generates properly indented, readable YAML and formatted JSON
• Nested structure support: Handles deeply nested objects and arrays correctly

Common Use Cases

Developers use JSON to YAML converters for converting Kubernetes manifests between formats for different tools, transforming Docker Compose files to/from JSON for programmatic editing, converting GitHub Actions workflows, CI/CD pipeline configurations (GitLab CI, CircleCI, Travis), Ansible playbooks and inventory files, AWS CloudFormation templates, Swagger/OpenAPI specifications, converting API responses to YAML for configuration, editing complex YAML configs in JSON format with better tooling support, migrating configuration files between systems with different format requirements. DevOps engineers convert infrastructure-as-code templates, Helm charts, and deployment configurations. Backend developers transform application configs, database connection strings, and feature flags between JSON and YAML formats for different environments.

Supported Format Features

JSON to YAML conversion generates clean, properly indented YAML with 2-space indentation, preserves data types (strings, numbers, booleans, null), handles nested objects and arrays with correct list syntax (- item), maintains key order, escapes special characters appropriately, and produces human-readable output. YAML to JSON parsing supports standard YAML syntax including mappings (key: value), sequences (lists with -), scalars (strings, numbers, booleans), null values, nested structures, multi-line strings, flow style (inline) arrays and objects, anchors and aliases for repeated data, and generates properly formatted JSON with consistent indentation. Both directions handle edge cases like empty arrays, null values, special characters, and deeply nested structures.

Technical Features

The converter processes data entirely client-side with zero latency, validates syntax and reports detailed parse errors with line numbers, preserves data types accurately during conversion (no type coercion), handles UTF-8 and special characters correctly, generates consistent formatting with proper indentation, supports large files and complex nested structures efficiently, provides clear error messages for malformed input, and includes quick actions for copy, download (.yaml or .json), and swap functionality. The tool follows YAML 1.2 specification and JSON RFC 8259 standards for maximum compatibility.

Privacy and Security

Unlike online converters that upload your files to remote servers, this tool processes everything locally in your browser using JavaScript. Your Kubernetes secrets, Docker environment variables, API keys in config files, database credentials, CI/CD pipeline configurations, or any sensitive YAML/JSON data never leave your computer, making it completely safe for converting production configurations and confidential settings. No cookies, tracking, data storage, or server communication. Perfect for working with infrastructure secrets, application configs, deployment manifests, or any sensitive configuration files that require strict privacy and security controls.