JSON to YAML Converter
Paste JSON and get tidy, human-friendly YAML instantly — free, private, and entirely in your browser.
Wraps every string value in quotes, including plain ones. Useful when a stricter YAML 1.1 parser downstream might read bare values like yes, no, on, off, or 1.10 as booleans or numbers.
Your JSON never leaves this page. The conversion runs in your browser, so nothing is uploaded, logged, or stored.
How to Use the JSON to YAML Converter
- Paste a JSON object or array into the input box, or click "Load example" to start from a sample package manifest.
- Choose the indent width: 2 spaces matches Kubernetes and GitHub Actions conventions, while 4 spaces suits deeply nested configuration that needs extra visual separation.
- Tick "Quote all strings" when your data contains values such as yes, no, on, off, or version numbers that YAML would otherwise reinterpret as booleans or floats.
- Click "Convert to YAML". If the JSON is malformed, the exact parser message is shown so you can find the stray comma or missing bracket.
- Use "Copy result" to take the YAML with you, or "Clear" to start over.
What Is a JSON to YAML Converter?
JSON is what machines produce: API responses, package manifests, exported settings, database dumps. YAML is what people prefer to maintain, because indentation replaces brackets, comments are allowed, and long documents read like an outline instead of a wall of punctuation. A JSON to YAML converter takes the machine output and rewrites it in the format your team will actually edit by hand.
This converter parses the JSON in your browser and serializes the resulting value as YAML with the indent width you pick. Long strings are never folded onto a second line, so URLs, connection strings, and base64 blobs survive intact. Repeated objects are expanded in full rather than turned into YAML anchors, which keeps the output readable and portable across parsers that do not resolve references. Any valid JSON document works — objects, arrays, and even a bare string or number. Nothing is uploaded, so an API response containing customer records or an exported secrets file can be reshaped without it ever leaving the machine you are sitting at.
Going the other way? The YAML to JSON converter parses YAML and YML back into JSON. If your source JSON is messy, run it through the JSON formatter first, or check it with the JSON validator so the conversion starts from something known-good.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do I convert JSON to YAML online?
Paste the JSON into the input box, choose an indent width, and click "Convert to YAML". The YAML appears immediately and can be copied with one click — no upload and no account.
Is this JSON to YAML converter free?
Yes, it is free with no signup, no conversion limit, and no watermark. Everything happens client-side in your browser, so there is nothing to pay for and nothing to queue behind.
What is the difference between JSON and YML?
They describe the same data model, but JSON uses braces, brackets, and quotes while YAML (file extension .yml or .yaml) uses indentation and allows comments. JSON is a strict subset of YAML, so every JSON document is already valid YAML.
Should I use 2-space or 4-space indentation in YAML?
Two spaces is the de facto standard for Kubernetes, docker-compose, and GitHub Actions, and it keeps deeply nested files narrow. Four spaces can be easier to scan in shallow documents with long key names.
What does "Quote all strings" actually do?
It forces every string value to be wrapped in quotes in the output. Without it, YAML may read bare values like yes, no, on, off, null, or 1.10 as booleans, nulls, or numbers rather than text.
Can I convert a JSON array to YAML?
Yes. A top-level array becomes a YAML sequence, with each element rendered as a - item. Nested arrays and objects are indented underneath their parent exactly as you would write them by hand.
Will my comments or key order be preserved?
JSON has no comments to preserve, so none appear in the output. Key order follows the order in your JSON document, which makes the result easy to diff against a hand-written file.
Is my JSON private?
Yes. The conversion is pure client-side JavaScript running in your browser. ToolGenie does not upload, store, or log the JSON you paste on this page.
Tips for Converting JSON to YAML
- Tip 1: Turn on "Quote all strings" for anything that will be read by a YAML 1.1 parser. Norway's country code NO and a version like 1.10 are the classic values that silently change meaning.
- Tip 2: Stick to 2-space indentation for Kubernetes manifests, docker-compose files, and CI workflows — most linters in those ecosystems expect it and will complain about anything wider.
- Tip 3: Add your comments after converting, not before. JSON cannot carry them, so the YAML output is the first place they can live — and comments are the main reason to prefer YAML in the first place.
- Tip 4: Verify the round trip before you ship: feed the output into the YAML to JSON converter, then compare it with the original using the JSON validator or the text diff checker.