YAML to JSON Converter
Convert between YAML and JSON. Pretty-print both formats. Free. Runs in your browser — no sign-up, nothing uploaded.
How to use the YAML to JSON
YAML vs JSON
JSON is strict, compact, machine-friendly — every web API uses it. YAML is human-friendly: comments, multi-line strings, indentation instead of braces. Kubernetes, Docker Compose, GitHub Actions and Ansible all use YAML for config because it's much easier to read. Every valid JSON is also valid YAML (YAML is a superset).
Limitations
This converter handles standard YAML features: scalars, mappings, sequences, basic types. It does not handle YAML anchors (&ref), aliases (*ref), complex tags, or multi-document streams. For full-spec YAML, use a dedicated YAML library in your code.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between YAML and JSON?
JSON is a strict, brace-and-quote based data format widely used by APIs. YAML is a more human-readable superset-style format that uses indentation and supports comments, so it is common for configuration files such as Docker Compose and Kubernetes manifests.
Why do I get an error when converting YAML?
YAML is sensitive to indentation and does not allow tab characters for indentation. A mismatched indent, a missing colon after a key or an unquoted special character is the usual cause. Fix the line the error points to and convert again.
Are YAML comments kept when converting to JSON?
No. JSON has no comment syntax, so comments are discarded during conversion.