YAML is widely used for Kubernetes configs, GitHub Actions, Docker Compose, and Helm charts — but many tools consume JSON. Converting YAML (or .yml files) to JSON is instant with TextWonder's free browser-based converter.
How to Convert YAML to JSON
- Open TextWonder's YAML to JSON Converter.
- Paste your YAML document into the input area.
- Click Convert. The JSON output appears immediately.
- Copy the JSON or download it as a .json file.
The tool works for both .yaml and .yml files — they are the same format, just different extensions.
YAML vs JSON — Key Differences
- Comments: YAML supports comments (
# this is a comment). JSON does not. Comments are dropped during conversion. - Syntax: YAML uses indentation for structure; JSON uses curly braces and brackets.
- Data types: YAML infers types (integers, booleans, nulls) from unquoted values. JSON always requires explicit quoting for strings.
- Readability: YAML is more human-readable; JSON is more explicit and widely supported by tools.
Common YAML to JSON Use Cases
- Kubernetes: Convert deployment.yaml to JSON for
kubectlAPI calls or custom tooling. - GitHub Actions: Parse workflow YAML as JSON for analysis or automation.
- Docker Compose: Convert docker-compose.yml to JSON for programmatic processing.
- OpenAPI / Swagger: Convert OpenAPI YAML specs to JSON for tools that require JSON format.
- Helm charts: Transform values.yaml to JSON for debugging or templating.
What About YML to JSON?
.yml is just a shorter version of the .yaml file extension — both use the identical YAML format. The same YAML to JSON converter handles both. There is no difference in how the files are parsed.
For the reverse conversion (JSON back to YAML), use the JSON to YAML Converter.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert YAML to JSON online?
Paste your YAML into TextWonder's YAML to JSON Converter and click Convert. The tool parses the YAML and outputs clean, formatted JSON. Works for .yaml and .yml files.
What is the difference between YAML and YML?
.yaml and .yml are the same format — YML is just a shorter file extension for YAML. Both are identical; the converter handles both.
Are YAML comments preserved when converting to JSON?
No. JSON does not support comments, so YAML comments (lines starting with #) are stripped during conversion.
Does the YAML to JSON converter support multi-document YAML?
It handles single-document YAML files. For multi-document YAML (files with --- separator between documents), process each document separately.
What is YAML to JSON used for?
Common uses: converting Kubernetes configs to JSON for API calls, reading GitHub Actions YAML as JSON, processing Helm chart values, testing YAML-based configurations in JSON-consuming tools.