YAML to JSON
Parse YAML input and output normalized JSON with validation.
YAML to JSON
What This Tool Does
- YAML to JSON converts YAML configuration files into JSON format for programmatic parsing and schema validation.
- Transform Kubernetes manifests, CI/CD configs, and data files into structured JSON.
Usage
- Paste YAML-formatted text into the input area.
- The converter parses YAML and generates equivalent JSON structure.
- Review parser feedback and generated JSON.
- Copy result for use in JSON-based workflows, schema validation, or APIs.
Examples
- Convert CI YAML snippets (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI) to JSON for schema checks.
- Normalize Kubernetes manifests to JSON before programmatic manipulation.
- Transform Docker Compose YAML to JSON for configuration validation.
- Convert Ansible playbooks or config files to JSON for data extraction.
Limitations
- Results should be validated in your target runtime before production use.
- Extremely large input payloads may be constrained by browser memory and performance limits.
Common Mistakes
- Tabs instead of spaces: YAML requires spaces for indentation. Tabs break parsing.
- Inconsistent indentation: Mixing 2 and 4 spaces breaks nesting. Be consistent.
- Incorrect list syntax: - item (dash space) is correct. -item or ~item fail.
- Colon without space: key:value fails; must be key: value (with space)
- Unquoted strings containing colons: "key:value" requires quotes. Unquoted trigger parsing errors.
- Anchor/alias misuse: &anchor defines; *alias references. Wrong order or typos break references.
Technical Reference Guide
- YAML uses indentation for structure (spaces, not tabs)
- Key-value: key: value (colon space required)
- Lists: - item1, - item2 (dash space prefix)
- Objects: Nested via indentation {{ key: value }}
- Strings: Quoted ("text") or unquoted (if unambiguous)
- Anchors: &anchor and *alias for reference/reuse (resolved in JSON)
- Comments: # comment (to end of line)
- Null: null, ~, or empty value
- Booleans: true, false, yes, no (context-dependent)
Specifications & Standards
FAQ
Are YAML anchors and aliases preserved in JSON?
No. Anchors and aliases are resolved during parsing; JSON output reflects expanded, duplicated data.
Can comments be retained in JSON output?
No. JSON output does not support comments. YAML comments are stripped during conversion.
What about YAML tags (!!str, !!int)?
Tags hint data type but are not preserved in JSON. JSON intrinsically types values. Tags are lost.
How are multiline strings handled?
YAML multiline (| for literal, > for folded) are converted to single JSON strings with newlines \n.
Can circular references be handled?
No. Circular aliases cause errors. JSON cannot represent cycles directly.
Is there a reverse conversion (JSON → YAML)?
Yes. JSON is valid YAML, so reverse conversion is trivial. YAML output is less readable than handwritten YAML.
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