JSON to YAML Converter Online

What Is a JSON to YAML Converter?

A JSON to YAML converter transforms JavaScript Object Notation data into YAML Ain't Markup Language format. While JSON uses braces, brackets, and quotes to define structure, YAML uses indentation and minimal punctuation to achieve the same hierarchy in a more human-readable way. YAML has become the dominant configuration format for cloud-native tools including Kubernetes manifests, Docker Compose files, GitHub Actions workflows, Ansible playbooks, and Helm charts.

This converter parses valid JSON input and produces properly indented YAML output. Objects become indented key-value mappings, arrays use dash-prefixed list syntax, and strings are quoted only when necessary to avoid ambiguity. Multi-line strings, special characters, and deeply nested structures are all handled correctly. The conversion uses the js-yaml library running entirely in your browser, so your Kubernetes configs and CI/CD pipeline definitions stay private.

How to Convert JSON to YAML

1. Paste your JSON data into the left input panel. Any valid JSON object, array, or nested structure is accepted.
2. Click Convert to transform your JSON into clean YAML with 2-space indentation and minimal quoting.
3. Review the YAML output on the right side. Keys appear without quotes, arrays use dash syntax, and nested objects are indented consistently.
4. Copy or download the YAML result. The downloaded file uses the .yaml extension and is ready for use in Kubernetes, Docker Compose, or any YAML-consuming tool.

Why Use PinusX for JSON to YAML Conversion?

DevOps engineers and platform teams frequently convert between JSON and YAML when translating API responses into configuration files or vice versa. PinusX performs this conversion with 100% client-side processing — your data never leaves your browser. This is critical when converting production Kubernetes manifests, secrets configurations, or CI/CD pipelines that contain environment variables, API tokens, and database credentials. After the jsonformatter.org data leak in November 2025 exposed 80,000 credentials, trusting server-based converters with infrastructure configuration is an unacceptable security risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does JSON to YAML conversion preserve all data?

Yes, the conversion is lossless for data values. All JSON types (strings, numbers, booleans, null, objects, arrays) have direct YAML equivalents. However, JSON does not support comments, so there is nothing to lose in this direction. Converting back from YAML to JSON would lose any YAML comments you add.

How are JSON arrays represented in YAML?

JSON arrays become YAML sequences using dash-prefixed items. For example, the JSON array [1, 2, 3] becomes three lines each starting with a dash and space: '- 1', '- 2', '- 3'. Nested arrays and arrays of objects follow the same indentation rules.

What indentation style does the YAML output use?

The converter produces YAML with 2-space indentation, which is the most common convention used by Kubernetes, Docker Compose, and GitHub Actions. The js-yaml library ensures consistent spacing throughout the output.

Can I convert Kubernetes JSON manifests to YAML?

Absolutely. This tool is ideal for converting kubectl JSON output back to YAML format for editing. Paste the JSON output from 'kubectl get deployment -o json' and get a clean YAML manifest ready for 'kubectl apply -f'.

Is my configuration data safe during conversion?

Completely safe. The conversion runs locally in your browser. Your Kubernetes secrets, API keys, database passwords, and infrastructure configuration never leave your machine. No server receives your data at any point during the conversion process.

Your data never leaves your browser. 100% client-side processing.