YAML to JSON Online
Convert YAML ↔ JSON privately, in your browser. Built for K8s manifests, GitHub Actions, and other sensitive configs.
How to convert YAML to JSON online
Paste your YAML into the Input box. JSON appears on the right instantly. The parser is js-yaml (the reference JavaScript YAML 1.2 implementation), so anchors, multi-line strings, and explicit types all work. Toggle the Direction switch to convert JSON → YAML, which produces block-style readable output suitable for config files.
Why a local YAML converter matters
Most YAML people convert online is sensitive: Kubernetes manifests reference internal DNS, image registries, and secret names; GitHub Actions YAML embeds workflow logic and environment names; Helm values contain configuration tuned to internal infra. Uploading any of that to a third-party converter is a needless leak. ToolChop runs the parser in your browser so the YAML never leaves your machine.
What you can do
- YAML → JSON with 2-space or 4-space indent
- JSON → YAML in readable block style
- YAML 1.2 features — anchors, aliases, multi-line strings, explicit types
- Line-pointed parse errors
- Copy to clipboard or download as a file
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert YAML to JSON online for free?
Paste your YAML into the Input box on the left. JSON appears on the right instantly. Toggle the Direction switch for JSON → YAML. Click Copy or Download. No account, no upload, no daily limit.
Does ToolChop upload my YAML?
No. The parser runs entirely in your browser using js-yaml. Your data never leaves your device — there is no upload, no temporary storage, and no copy on our servers. That matters because most YAML people convert is sensitive: Kubernetes manifests, GitHub Actions secrets, internal CI configs, Helm values, Ansible playbooks.
What YAML features are supported?
Standard YAML 1.2 features: mappings, sequences, scalars, comments, multi-line strings (|, >, |-, >-), anchors and aliases (&, *), and explicit types (e.g. !!str, !!int). The default schema is JSON-only so the conversion round-trips cleanly to JSON without YAML-specific types that JSON cannot represent.
Why does my YAML port number become a string?
If you write `port: 8080`, it becomes a number. If you write `port: "8080"`, it stays a string — YAML respects the quoting. K8s manifests typically need port as a string to match resource specs, so check for unwanted quotes in your YAML.
Can I convert Kubernetes manifests with multiple documents?
YAML supports multi-document streams separated by `---`. JSON does not — there is no native multi-document concept. If your YAML has multiple docs, the converter takes the first one. Workaround: split the YAML at `---` lines first and convert each chunk separately.
How does JSON → YAML handle nested structures?
Nested objects become nested mappings; arrays become sequences. The output uses block style (indented, multi-line) which is the readable convention for configs. Inline/flow style (`{}` and `[]` on one line) is not used.
Will quotes be preserved exactly when I round-trip?
Probably not byte-identically — YAML allows multiple equivalent representations of the same string. The converter prefers the most readable form: unquoted when safe, double-quoted when special characters or leading whitespace require it. The data round-trips perfectly; the literal characters might shift.
Why am I getting a YAMLException error?
Common causes: inconsistent indentation (tabs mixed with spaces — YAML forbids tabs for indentation), unmatched quotes, or an unescaped `:` inside a value (must be quoted). The error message includes the line number. Fix the offending line and the rest will usually parse fine.
Can I convert YAML comments to JSON?
JSON has no comment syntax, so comments are dropped during YAML → JSON. If preserving them matters, switch to JSONC (used by VS Code's settings.json) or JSON5 — both add comment support, though they are non-standard.
Is there a file size limit?
Only your browser's memory. js-yaml parses multi-megabyte YAML documents without issue in modern Chrome. For YAML files larger than 10 MB you may notice a brief pause; below that everything is interactive.
Why convert YAML to JSON in the first place?
Most APIs and tooling accept JSON. Helm `--values` parses both, but Kustomize, Pulumi config, and many CI engines prefer JSON for predictability. Conversion is also useful when piping a config through `jq` or a strict JSON-schema validator that does not have a YAML equivalent.
Why use ToolChop instead of an online YAML converter that uploads my data?
Privacy. K8s manifests and GitHub Actions configs frequently reference internal hostnames, secret names, image registry paths, and resource IDs. Uploading them to a third-party logger is a needless leak. ToolChop runs the parser in your browser.