JSON and YAML compared
JSON and YAML both represent structured data with objects or mappings, arrays or sequences, and scalar values. JSON uses explicit braces, brackets, commas, and quotes, while YAML often uses indentation and less punctuation.
Why convert between JSON and YAML?
Developers often convert API responses or application settings from JSON into YAML for configuration and documentation. The reverse conversion is useful when a program, API, build tool, or data pipeline expects strict JSON.
How source format detection works
Auto-detection treats content beginning with an object or array delimiter as JSON and other content as YAML. Because YAML can also use JSON-style braces and brackets, choose an explicit direction whenever the intended source format is ambiguous.
Conversion is not always lossless
JSON cannot represent YAML comments, anchors, aliases, custom tags, or every YAML data type. Formatting and quoting also change during serialization. Review converted configuration before replacing an original file.