YAML vs JSON
Both describe the same data. The difference is who reads it.
Side-by-side
| Dimension | YAML | JSON |
|---|---|---|
| Readability | High (indentation) | Lower (brackets) |
| Comments | Supported (#) | Not supported |
| Humans edit it? | Yes (config files) | Rarely |
| Machines exchange it? | Less common | Default (APIs) |
| Strictness | Significant whitespace | Braces & quotes |
When to use YAML
Use YAML for human-authored configuration: Kubernetes, Docker Compose, GitHub Actions, and app settings. Readability and comments matter more than machine parsing.
When to use JSON
Use JSON for machine-to-machine data exchange: REST APIs, web responses, and storage where a strict, bracket-based format is expected.
Converting between them
Need YAML in a JSON-only system? Use our YAML to JSON converter. Going the other way for a config file? Use the JSON to YAML converter. Both run in your browser with no upload.