YAML ↔ JSON Real-time Converter

A real-time, bidirectional YAML and JSON converter with syntax validation and formatting.

Convert YAML to JSON | Instant Bidirectional Tool

Convert YAML to JSON and back in real-time. This developer tool provides instant, bidirectional syncing for configuration files, API payloads, and documentation.

💡 How it Works

Switch between configuration formats for Docker, Kubernetes, and APIs without manual rewriting. Paste your code into either editor to see the mapped data structure update instantly on the other side.

  • Sync as you type: Edit either field; the other updates in real-time.
  • Validate syntax: Catch typos immediately with inline error messaging.
  • One-click copy: Grab your formatted output without manual highlighting.
  • Clean formatting: JSON output defaults to a 2-space indentation for maximum readability.

📘 Pro Tips

  • Troubleshoot faster: Use the real-time validator to debug broken indentation or missing brackets.
  • Format for humans: Paste minified JSON to instantly expand it into a readable YAML structure.
  • DevOps workflow: Quickly transform Kubernetes manifests or Docker Compose files for use in JSON-only environments.

🧐 Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are comments preserved? A: No. The standard JSON specification does not support comments. Any comments in your YAML source will be stripped during the conversion process.

Q: Is there a file size limit? A: This tool processes data locally in your browser for speed and privacy. It handles typical configuration files (up to several MBs) easily, though massive datasets may impact browser performance.

Q: Does the key order stay the same? A: Generally, yes. However, property ordering may shift slightly depending on how the internal parser handles object keys.

📚 The Basics

  • What is YAML?: "YAML Ain't Markup Language" is a human-friendly data serialization standard. It is the go-to for DevOps tools like Kubernetes and Ansible because of its readability.
  • Why JSON?: JavaScript Object Notation is the de facto standard for web APIs and machine-to-machine communication due to its lightweight footprint.
  • Indentation Rules: In YAML, indentation is functional (use spaces, never tabs). In JSON, indentation is purely aesthetic and does not affect the data structure.