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YAMLFormatter & Validator
Beautify, minify, and validate YAML instantly. Convert between YAML and JSON both ways, with real-time syntax error detection.
Understanding YAML
Indentation Matters
YAML uses spaces (never tabs) to represent nesting — consistent indentation is what defines structure.
Lists & Maps
A dash (- item) starts a list entry; key: value pairs form a map, both freely nestable.
Scalars
Strings, numbers, booleans, and null are auto-detected — quote strings only when they contain special characters.
YAML vs JSON
YAML is a superset of JSON's data model but far more human-readable — most config files (Docker Compose, GitHub Actions) use it.
How to Use the EMI / Loan Calculator
Paste Your YAML
Drop your YAML config into the input box — formatting and validation run automatically as you type.
Pick a Mode
Use Format to beautify, YAML→JSON or JSON→YAML to convert between formats.
Adjust Indentation
Switch between 2-space, 4-space, or tab indentation to match your project's style guide.
Copy or Download
Copy the result to your clipboard or download it directly as a .yaml or .json file.
Frequently Asked
Questions
1. Can I use tabs in YAML?
No — the YAML spec forbids tabs for indentation. This tool always outputs spaces; the “Tab” indent option inserts a literal tab character only for display purposes and may not be valid YAML on some parsers.
2. Does this support anchors and aliases (&, *)?
Basic anchors and aliases are recognized during parsing for common cases, but highly complex merge-key structures may not convert perfectly. For most application config and CI/CD files, this isn’t an issue.
3. Why does my number look different after conversion?
YAML and JSON both treat unquoted numeric-looking values as numbers. If you want a value preserved as text (like a version string “1.0”), wrap it in quotes in the source YAML.
4. What happens if my YAML has a syntax error?
The tool flags the error immediately below the output panel with a description of what went wrong, so you can locate and fix the problematic line.
5. Is my data uploaded anywhere?
No. Parsing, formatting, and conversion all happen locally in your browser using JavaScript. Nothing you paste here is ever sent to a server.
