Does it resolve YAML anchors?

Yes by default — `*ref` aliases are expanded to their anchored values. Toggle off to preserve the reference structure (JSON can't natively express anchors; the tool uses a special key).

What about multi-document YAML?

Each `---` separator creates a top-level array element in the JSON output. Single-document YAML returns an unwrapped value.

How are YAML-specific types handled?

Timestamps become ISO 8601 strings, binary data becomes base64 strings, sets become arrays. Any YAML type gets a JSON-compatible representation.

Will the output round-trip?

JSON → YAML → JSON: yes for simple data. YAML → JSON → YAML: lossy (comments, anchors, key order, tag types can change).

YAML to JSON | DevTools Surf

DevTools Surf

Example: YAML to JSON

A worked example, rendered from real sample data. Sign in to run the tool on your own input.

Input

users:
  - name: Alice
    age: 30
  - name: Bob
    age: 25

Output

{
  "users": [
    {
      "name": "Alice",
      "age": 30
    },
    {
      "name": "Bob",
      "age": 25
    }
  ]
}

About YAML to JSON

Convert YAML to JSON format. Part of the DevTools Surf developer suite. Browse more tools in the Converters collection.

Use Cases

DevOps engineers converting YAML configs to JSON for API submissions
Backend devs transforming YAML configs to JSON for JavaScript consumption
CI/CD engineers converting YAML pipeline configs to JSON for debugging
Developers generating JSON Schema from YAML-defined data models

Tips

Check that YAML anchors and aliases are resolved in the JSON output
Verify that YAML multi-line strings convert to single JSON strings
Review YAML tags for type information lost during JSON conversion

Fun Facts

YAML-to-JSON conversion is a lossy operation: YAML comments, anchors, and custom tags are discarded in JSON output.
Many Kubernetes tools internally convert YAML to JSON before processing, since the API server only accepts JSON.
YAML supports 3 boolean representations (true/True/TRUE), all of which map to JSON's single 'true' value.

FAQ

Does it resolve YAML anchors?: Yes by default — `*ref` aliases are expanded to their anchored values. Toggle off to preserve the reference structure (JSON can't natively express anchors; the tool uses a special key).
What about multi-document YAML?: Each `---` separator creates a top-level array element in the JSON output. Single-document YAML returns an unwrapped value.
How are YAML-specific types handled?: Timestamps become ISO 8601 strings, binary data becomes base64 strings, sets become arrays. Any YAML type gets a JSON-compatible representation.
Will the output round-trip?: JSON → YAML → JSON: yes for simple data. YAML → JSON → YAML: lossy (comments, anchors, key order, tag types can change).

Related Converters Tools

JSON to XML JSON to CSV JSON to YAML JSON to TSV JSON to String XML to JSON XML to CSV XML to String