YAML Formatter
Format and beautify YAML data
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the YAML Formatter work?
Paste YAML content and the formatter normalizes indentation (2 spaces standard), fixes inconsistent spacing, and ensures proper structure. It validates syntax and highlights errors like incorrect indentation or invalid characters.
What indentation does YAML use?
YAML uses spaces for indentation (never tabs). The standard is 2 spaces per level. The formatter lets you choose 2 or 4 spaces. Consistent indentation is critical in YAML — mixed indentation causes parsing errors.
Can I convert YAML to JSON?
Yes. The formatter includes a YAML-to-JSON conversion mode. Since YAML is a superset of JSON, the conversion is straightforward. Comments are stripped (JSON does not support comments). Use the dedicated YAML to JSON tool for more options.
Does the formatter validate YAML syntax?
Yes. It checks for proper indentation, valid key-value pairs, correct list syntax, proper string quoting, and valid special characters. Errors are highlighted with line numbers and descriptive messages.
How do I handle multi-line strings in YAML?
Use | for literal blocks (preserves newlines) or > for folded blocks (joins lines). The formatter preserves your chosen style. Example: description: | followed by indented text keeps each line separate in the parsed value.