🔄

YAML / JSON Converter

Convert YAML to JSON and back. Live as you type, with sample data and clear error messages.

JSON input

YAML output

name: toolisk
version: "1.0.0"
tags:
  - dev
  - free
  - tools
config:
  port: 3000
  debug: true
  features: null
tools:
  - id: 1
      name: JSON viewer
  - id: 2
      name: Cron parser

YAML parser supports common subset: maps, lists, scalars, comments, nesting. Anchors/aliases, multiline string types, and complex flow-style are not supported.

About this tool

A bidirectional YAML and JSON converter. Useful when you have a Kubernetes manifest in YAML but need JSON for an API call, or vice versa. Handles maps, arrays, scalars, comments, and nested structures.

↔️Convert in either direction

⚡Live preview as you type

🚨Helpful error messages

📦Sample data for both formats

📋Copy result instantly

🔒Pure browser conversion

How to use it

Quick steps to get the most out of this utility.

1
Pick a direction
JSON → YAML or YAML → JSON.
2
Paste your input
Both formats are validated as you type.
3
Read the output
Side-by-side display makes it easy to spot how the structure maps over.
4
Copy and use
Drop into your config, API request, or CI pipeline.

When to choose YAML vs JSON

Human-edited config (Kubernetes, GitHub Actions, Docker Compose): YAML.
HTTP request bodies, browser data: JSON.
Inter-service contracts: JSON (universal parsers, no whitespace ambiguity).
Documentation that doubles as config: YAML (comments are first-class).

Frequently asked questions

When is YAML better than JSON?+

YAML wins for human-edited config: it supports comments, has less syntactic noise (no quotes/braces), and tolerates trailing commas. JSON wins for machine-to-machine: it's strictly defined, faster to parse, and supported by every language out of the box.

Why does my YAML break with tabs?+

YAML doesn't allow tabs for indentation — only spaces. Most editors auto-convert tabs to spaces; if not, set "Indent with spaces" in your editor settings to avoid this footgun.

Are YAML anchors and aliases supported?+

No — this converter handles the common subset (maps, lists, scalars, comments, nesting). Anchors (&), aliases (*), tags (!), and complex flow-style are not parsed. For advanced features, use the official yaml.org tools or js-yaml in code.

Keep exploring

More utilities and reading from Toolisk.