Convert Between JSON, YAML, and XML

Intermediate6 minutes6 steps

Learn to convert data between JSON, YAML, and XML formats using OnlineTools4Free. Handle API responses, configuration files, and data migration.

What You Need

Data in JSON, YAML, or XML format
Understanding of why you need to convert (configuration, API integration, data migration)

Open the JSON to YAML Converter

Navigate to OnlineTools4Free JSON to YAML. The tool also supports YAML to JSON and JSON to XML conversions.

Paste Your Source Data

Paste your JSON, YAML, or XML into the input panel. The tool auto-detects the format. If the input is invalid (syntax errors), you will see an error message pointing to the problem.

If you are working with an API response, use the JSON Formatter first to clean up minified JSON before converting.

Select the Target Format

Choose the output format: JSON, YAML, or XML. The conversion happens instantly. JSON is best for APIs and JavaScript. YAML is preferred for configuration files (Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD). XML is used in legacy systems and specific standards (RSS, SOAP, SVG).

Review the Output

Check the converted output for correctness. Pay attention to data types — YAML distinguishes between "true" (string) and true (boolean), while JSON always uses true without quotes. XML requires a root element, which is added automatically if your data does not have one.

Arrays are handled differently in each format. Compare the input and output to make sure lists converted correctly.

Handle Special Cases

Some conversions have edge cases: JSON null becomes null in YAML but an empty element in XML. Nested arrays may look different in XML (repeated elements). Attributes (XML-specific) have no direct equivalent in JSON and are converted to special keys.

Copy and Use

Copy the converted output. For YAML config files, save with a .yml or .yaml extension. For JSON, use .json. Check that your application parses the file correctly after conversion.

Ready to Try It?

Open the tool and follow the steps above. It is free, private, and works in your browser.

Try It Now

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the conversion lossless?

JSON to YAML is fully lossless — both formats support the same data types. JSON/YAML to XML may lose some type information (XML does not natively distinguish numbers from strings). XML to JSON may lose attributes and ordering information.

When should I use YAML instead of JSON?

YAML is more human-readable (no curly braces, supports comments) and is the standard for configuration files: Docker Compose, Kubernetes manifests, GitHub Actions, Ansible playbooks. JSON is better for data exchange between programs (APIs, storage).

Can I convert a large file?

The converter runs in your browser, so performance depends on your device. Files up to 5-10MB convert quickly on modern computers. For very large files (100MB+), consider using command-line tools like jq or yq.

Does the converter preserve comments?

YAML supports comments (lines starting with #), but JSON does not. When converting YAML to JSON, comments are lost because JSON has no comment syntax. Converting back to YAML will not restore them.

Convert Between JSON, YAML, and XML

What You Need

Open the JSON to YAML Converter

Paste Your Source Data

Select the Target Format

Review the Output

Handle Special Cases

Copy and Use

Ready to Try It?

Frequently Asked Questions

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Convert Between JSON, YAML, and XML

What You Need

Open the JSON to YAML Converter

Paste Your Source Data

Select the Target Format

Review the Output

Handle Special Cases

Copy and Use

Ready to Try It?

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Tutorials

Decode and Analyze JWT Tokens

Test Regex Patterns Step by Step