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YAML to JSON Converter

Convert YAML to JSON instantly with this free, client-side tool. Features strict syntax validation, error highlighting, and secure local processing.

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Category JSON Tools
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YAML Input Indent: 2 spaces
JSON Output
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About

This tool transforms YAML (YAML Ain't Markup Language) into strict JSON (JavaScript Object Notation). It is designed for DevOps engineers, developers, and data scientists who need to translate configuration files (like Docker Compose or Kubernetes manifests) into data interchange formats usable by web APIs.

Unlike simple regex replacers, this engine uses a recursive descent parser that respects indentation hierarchies. It handles the structural complexity where I (Indentation) dictates N (Nesting level), ensuring that parent:child relationships are preserved accurately during the transmutation.

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Formulas

The conversion relies on mapping the indentation level L of each line to a node in the JSON tree. The logic follows a stack-based hierarchy:

{
Push Child if Ln > Ln-1Pop Parent if Ln < Ln-1Sibling if Ln = Ln-1

Where Ln represents the number of leading spaces for the current line index n. The parser validates that L is always a multiple of the indentation width (usually 2 spaces).

Reference Data

FeatureYAML (Input)JSON (Output)
StructureIndentation-based (Whitespace)Brace-based {}
CommentsSupported # commentNot Supported (Removed)
StringsQuotes optional key: valueQuotes mandatory "key": "value"
ListsHyphens - itemBrackets ["item"]
Root NodeAny (List, Map, Scalar)Any (usually Object/Array)
Data TypesInferred (int, bool, float)Strict Typing

Frequently Asked Questions

YAML is strict about indentation. If a line creates a new block without proper indentation increment (e.g., 3 spaces instead of 2 or 4), the parser will throw a syntax error indicating the line number.
No. The JSON standard (RFC 8259) does not support comments. All text following a hash # in the YAML input is stripped during the conversion process.
Yes. These files are standard YAML. However, custom tags (like !Ref in CloudFormation) are treated as strings or ignored depending on the strictness setting, as standard JSON has no equivalent for custom tags.
No. This tool runs entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Your configuration data never leaves your device, making it safe for sensitive API keys or credentials.