YAML → JSON Converter
Convert YAML to pretty-printed JSON — runs in your browser
YAML input
JSON output
YAML → JSON Converter — Complete Guide & Instructions
MakeCard YAML → JSON Converter parses YAML documents with the js-yaml library and emits clean, 2-space-indented JSON — nested maps, lists, strings, numbers, booleans and nulls all handled. A "Back to YAML" button reverses the flow, dumping JSON back into YAML for round-trip editing. It runs entirely client-side, which makes it safe for docker-compose files, Kubernetes manifests, CI configs and any YAML you would rather not paste into a server-side converter.
How to Use YAML → JSON Converter
- 1 Paste your YAML into the left "YAML input" box — or click "Load sample" to try it.
- 2 Press "Convert →" to parse the document into JSON.
- 3 Read the pretty-printed JSON in the right panel; parse errors show a message with the problem line.
- 4 Click "Copy JSON" to copy the output to your clipboard.
- 5 Or click "Back to YAML" to convert the result back to YAML and copy that instead.
Key Features & Capabilities
- Full YAML parsing via js-yaml — maps, sequences, scalars, anchors-free safe load.
- Pretty JSON output with 2-space indentation.
- Two-way workflow — "Back to YAML" dumps the JSON result back to YAML.
- Parse errors surfaced with the offending line/column message.
- Sample config loader for instant testing.
- Completely client-side — configs never leave your device.
Supported Formats & Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Parser | js-yaml (safe load) — YAML 1.x |
| Output | JSON, 2-space pretty print |
| Reverse | JSON → YAML dump via "Back to YAML" |
| Types | Strings, numbers, booleans, null, nested maps/lists |
| Errors | YAML parse error with location info |
Practical Everyday Use Cases
- Converting docker-compose.yml into JSON for programmatic tooling.
- Turning Kubernetes manifests into JSON for kubectl --dry-run workflows.
- Feeding YAML CI configs (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI) into JSON-only scripts.
- Reading application.yml settings as structured JSON.
- Round-tripping between YAML and JSON when editing config generators.
Pro Tips for Best Results
- Indentation is YAML's syntax — keep consistent spaces (never tabs) or the parse will fail.
- Values like yes/no/on/off may parse as booleans depending on YAML version — quote them if they must stay strings.
- Dates can convert into timestamps — wrap dates in quotes to preserve them verbatim.
- Use "Back to YAML" after JSON edits to get a clean re-indented YAML file.
Common Problems & Solutions
YAML is indentation-sensitive — mixed tabs and spaces or ragged indentation are the usual causes. Re-indent with spaces only.
Advanced YAML features (& anchors, * aliases, custom tags) may not survive safe-load — expand them before converting.
YAML typing converts 1.0 or 012 into numbers — quote values that must remain exact strings.
Privacy & Security
100% Client-Side Execution
Parsing uses js-yaml inside your browser — your YAML configs are never uploaded, transmitted or stored.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about using YAML → JSON Converter
Paste the YAML into the input and press Convert — maps become JSON objects, lists become arrays and scalars become typed JSON values, pretty-printed with 2-space indent.
Yes — after converting, press "Back to YAML" and the tool dumps the JSON result into YAML format and copies it to your clipboard.
YAML treats unquoted yes/no/on/off as booleans. If you need the literal string, quote it in the YAML ("yes") before converting.
Yes — standard manifests parse normally. Multi-document YAML (separated by ---) may only convert the first document depending on input; split documents for best results.
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