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Convert JSON to YAML Format Online Convert JSON to clean, readable YAML format using the js-yaml library.

JSON to YAML illustration
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JSON to YAML

Convert JSON to clean, readable YAML format using the js-yaml library.

1

Paste JSON

Paste your JSON data into the input field.

2

View YAML

Clean YAML output appears instantly with proper formatting.

3

Copy result

Copy the YAML for use in config files and applications.

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What Is JSON to YAML?

JSON to YAML converts JavaScript Object Notation into YAML Ain't Markup Language format. YAML is preferred over JSON for configuration files because of its cleaner syntax: no curly braces, no commas, and support for comments. This converter uses the js-yaml library to produce clean, standards-compliant YAML output from any valid JSON input. It handles all JSON types including nested objects, arrays, strings, numbers, booleans, and null values. The output preserves key order and uses YAML's concise block style for maximum readability.

Why Use JSON to YAML?

  • Clean YAML output using the trusted js-yaml library.
  • Handles all JSON types: objects, arrays, strings, numbers, booleans, null.
  • No line wrapping — long values stay on a single line for clarity.
  • Instant real-time conversion as you type.

Common Use Cases

DevOps Configuration

Kubernetes, Docker Compose, and CI/CD pipelines use YAML — convert JSON configs to match.

API Specifications

OpenAPI and Swagger docs often use YAML — transform JSON API specs accordingly.

Application Config

Frameworks that prefer YAML can accept converted application JSON settings.

Infrastructure as Code

Ansible playbooks and CloudFormation templates use YAML — transform JSON data to match.

Technical Guide

The converter parses the JSON input using JavaScript's native JSON.parse() for strict validation, then passes the resulting object to js-yaml's dump() function with optimized settings.

Key options: lineWidth is set to -1 to disable line wrapping, preventing long strings from being split across multiple lines. noRefs is enabled to prevent YAML anchor/alias references, producing straightforward output. sortKeys is disabled to preserve the original key order from the JSON input.

The js-yaml library handles all type conversions: JSON strings become YAML strings (quoted only when necessary), numbers become YAML integers or floats, booleans become YAML true/false, null becomes YAML null, arrays become YAML sequences, and objects become YAML mappings.

The output uses YAML's block collection style for readability: objects are represented with key-value pairs on separate lines, and arrays use the dash (-) notation.

Tips & Best Practices

  • 1
    Validate your JSON first — invalid JSON will produce an error message.
  • 2
    YAML supports comments (#) — you can add them to the output after conversion.
  • 3
    Long string values stay on one line. Edit the output to use YAML block scalars (|) if needed.
  • 4
    Key order from the original JSON is preserved in the YAML output.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q Is the output valid YAML?
Yes, the output is generated by js-yaml which ensures full YAML 1.2 specification compliance.
Q Are comments preserved?
JSON does not support comments, so there are none to preserve. You can add YAML comments after conversion.
Q How are special characters handled?
js-yaml automatically quotes strings that need escaping, such as those containing colons or special YAML characters.
Q Can I convert YAML back to JSON?
Yes, use our YAML to JSON converter for the reverse transformation.
Q Does it handle deeply nested JSON?
Yes, the converter handles JSON of any nesting depth, producing properly indented YAML output.

About This Tool

JSON to YAML is a free online tool by FreeToolkit.ai. All processing happens directly in your browser — your data never leaves your device. No registration or installation required.