Deep Dive: YAML to JSON Converter
YAML to JSON conversion requires a parser that understands YAML's indentation-based structure and implicit typing. Libraries like js-yaml read the YAML tokens, infer data types (strings, numbers, booleans, nulls), and handle multi-line strings (| for literal, > for folded). YAML allows anchors (&) and aliases (*) for repeated structures, which JSON doesn't support—the parser expands these into duplicate objects. Comments (#) get stripped. The output is standard JSON, but you lose YAML's human-friendly features. Useful when a JavaScript API expects JSON but your config files are YAML (Kubernetes manifests, Docker Compose, CI/CD pipelines).
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Privacy Architecture
This tool uses client-side WebAssembly to ensure your data never touches a server. Secure, fast, and 100% private by design.
Core Capabilities
- Convert YAML to JSON using js-yaml or similar parser
- Validate YAML syntax (catches indentation errors)
- Pretty-print JSON output with configurable spacing
- Syntax highlighting for both formats
- One-click copy
- Expands YAML anchors/aliases into JSON objects
- Secure client-side processing
- Free tool, works offline
Why It Matters
- Interoperability: Use YAML configs in JSON-based tools or APIs.
- Validation: Quickly check if your YAML syntax is correct (indentation sensitive!).
- Speed: Instant conversion without installing CLI tools like yq or python -c 'import yaml'.
- Privacy: Your configs (potentially sensitive K8s secrets) stay in your browser.
- Convenience: Access from any browser, no dependencies.
Quick Start Guide
Paste your YAML code into the input editor.
The YAML parser tokenizes it, checking indentation and syntax.
If your YAML is invalid (mixed tabs/spaces, bad indents), an error message will appear.
View the JSON output in the right-hand panel (anchors expanded, comments removed).
Click 'Copy' or 'Download' to save your JSON data.
Usage Examples
Basic YAML to JSON
Scenario 01Convert simple YAML structure
name: myapp port: 3000 debug: true
{"name": "myapp", "port": 3000, "debug": true}YAML Lists to Arrays
Scenario 02Dashes become JSON arrays
servers: - web1 - web2 - web3
{"servers": ["web1", "web2", "web3"]}Nested YAML Objects
Scenario 03Indentation becomes nested JSON
database: host: localhost port: 5432
{"database": {"host": "localhost", "port": 5432}}Common Scenarios
Parsing Kubernetes Configs
Read K8s YAML manifests as JSON for processing.
CI/CD Config Validation
Validate .gitlab-ci.yml or GitHub Actions workflows.
Docker Compose to JSON
Process docker-compose.yml programmatically.
Config Migration
Move YAML configs to JSON-based systems.
Questions?
Technical Architecture
YAML vs JSON Syntax Comparison
**YAML (Human-Friendly)**: ```yaml app: name: myapp ports: - 3000 - 8080 debug: true ``` **JSON (Machine-Friendly)**: ```json { "app": { "name": "myapp", "ports": [3000, 8080], "debug": true } } ``` **Key differences**: - YAML: Indentation-based, no brackets - JSON: Braces/brackets, quoted keys - YAML: Comments allowed (#) - JSON: No comments - YAML: Optional quotes - JSON: Strings must be quoted Same data, different readability!
How YAML→JSON Conversion Works
**The process**: 1. **Parse YAML**: Build internal object tree 2. **Validate**: Check indentation, syntax 3. **Detect Types**: Numbers, booleans, strings, null 4. **Expand Anchors**: Resolve YAML references 5. **Serialize to JSON**: Convert to JSON string 6. **Format**: Pretty-print with indentation **Type detection**: YAML is smart about types: - `3000` → number 3000 - `'3000'` → string "3000" - `true` → boolean true - `'true'` → string "true" - `null` / `~` → null - `2023-01-01` → string (could be date) Quote strings if ambiguous!
YAML Indentation Rules
**Critical**: YAML uses indentation to show structure **Correct**: ```yaml parent: child1: value child2: value ``` (2-space indent, consistent) **Wrong**: ```yaml parent: child1: value child2: value ``` (Inconsistent indenting breaks parsing) **Arrays**: ```yaml items: - first - second ``` (Dash starts array item, indent under parent) **Best practices**: - Use 2 spaces (most common) - OR use 4 spaces (also valid) - NEVER mix 2 and 4 in same file - NEVER EVER use tabs - Configure editor to show spaces
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Practical guide to converting between JSON, CSV, XML, and YAML. Plus how to format messy JSON that makes your eyes bleed.
Why Offline Tools Matter for Secure, Sensitive Operations
Privacy isn't a perk, it's a requirement. See why top developers are ditching cloud converters for local-first browser utilities.