Why does my YAML break when I use tabs for indentation?

YAML forbids tab characters for indentation and requires spaces. If you paste YAML indented with tabs it will fail to parse. Replace tabs with spaces (two per level is a common convention) and it will convert cleanly.

Does the converter preserve comments when going from YAML to JSON?

No. JSON has no comment syntax, so YAML comments are dropped during conversion. This is a limitation of JSON itself, not the tool.

Can it handle multi-document YAML files?

Standard YAML lets you put multiple documents in one file separated by ---. JSON has no equivalent, so convert one document at a time, or wrap them in a top-level array first.

Is my data uploaded to a server?

No. The conversion runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you paste is transmitted or stored remotely, so it's safe for internal configuration.

What's the difference between YAML and JSON for config files?

JSON is stricter and more compact, ideal when a program reads it. YAML allows comments and is easier to read and hand-edit, which is why tools like Kubernetes and GitHub Actions use it. They represent the same data, so you can convert freely.

YAML ⇄ JSON Converter

Instantly convert data between YAML and JSON formats with real-time updates and syntax highlighting. Edit either side to convert.

YAML

JSON

About YAML ⇄ JSON Converter

YAML and JSON describe the same thing — a tree of objects, arrays, strings, numbers, and booleans — but they trade off differently. JSON is strict and machine-friendly, used everywhere APIs and config loaders expect it. YAML is indentation-based and easier for humans to read and comment, which is why it dominates CI pipelines, Kubernetes manifests, and Docker Compose files. Moving between the two by hand is tedious and error-prone: a single mis-indented line or a stray tab can break a YAML document silently.

This converter handles the round trip for you in both directions. Paste YAML to get clean, validly-escaped JSON, or paste JSON to get readable YAML with proper indentation. Both panes update as you type, so you see the result immediately and catch structural mistakes before they reach a build server. Syntax highlighting makes nested structures easy to scan.

Everything runs locally in your browser — no document is uploaded — so it's safe to paste configuration that contains internal hostnames, environment names, or other details you wouldn't want leaving your machine.

How to use YAML ⇄ JSON Converter

Paste your source data
Drop YAML into the YAML pane or JSON into the JSON pane. Either side accepts a full document, not just a fragment.
Read the converted output
The opposite pane updates live as you type. Edit either side and the conversion re-runs immediately.
Fix any reported errors
If the input is malformed — bad indentation, a missing quote, a trailing comma — the converter surfaces the problem so you can correct it before copying.
Copy the result
Copy the converted document into your config file, API request, or wherever you need the other format.

Frequently asked questions

YAML Formatter · Beautifier · Validator

Format, beautify, minify, and validate YAML online. Supports YAML 1.1 and 1.2, multi-document files, JSON Schema validation, key sorting, and anchor/alias handling. Deterministic output with customizable indentation and line width.

JSON Formatter · Beautifier · Validator

Format, minify, sort keys, and validate JSON/JSONC/JSON5 with optional JSON Schema validation. Supports comments and trailing commas.

JSON to TypeScript Converter

Instantly convert JSON objects or arrays into clean TypeScript interfaces or type aliases.