YAML to XML
Paste YAML and instantly get equivalent, indented XML, parsed entirely in your browser.
Example
YAML input:
name: Ada
roles:
- admin
- user
XML output:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<root>
<name>Ada</name>
<roles>admin</roles>
<roles>user</roles>
</root>
How it works
It parses the YAML into a JavaScript value with js-yaml, then recursively serializes that value into indented XML, wrapping the document in a single root element. Arrays become repeated elements and objects become nested tags.
Good to know
This YAML to XML converter takes the YAML you paste, parses it into a real data structure, and re-serializes it as clean, indented XML wrapped in a single <root> element. It is aimed at developers, DevOps engineers, and integrators who keep config in YAML (Kubernetes manifests, CI pipelines, app settings) but need to feed an XML-only system, legacy SOAP service, or schema-validated importer.
Reach for it when you have a small-to-medium YAML snippet and want a quick, well-formed XML equivalent without spinning up a script or trusting a remote API with your data. Because everything runs locally and works offline after the page loads, it is safe for configs that contain internal hostnames, secrets, or other sensitive values. The live conversion fires as you type, so you can paste, tweak, and watch the output update immediately.
To read the result, remember the mapping rules baked in: a YAML mapping (key/value object) becomes nested tags named after each key; a sequence becomes repeated elements that all reuse the parent key name rather than a numbered or wrapper tag; and scalars like booleans and numbers are emitted as plain text. An empty list or empty object collapses to a self-closing tag such as <tags/>, and a top-level array uses <item> elements since there is no parent key to borrow.
A few caveats worth noting: this is a one-way structural transform, not a round-trippable mapping, so repeated list elements cannot always be reconstructed back into the original YAML sequence. YAML key names are sanitized into valid XML names (characters outside letters, digits, underscore, dot, and hyphen become underscores, and a leading underscore is added if needed), comments and anchors are dropped during parsing, and nothing is emitted as XML attributes. If the parser rejects your input, check the inline error message, which reports the first line of the YAML syntax problem.
Frequently asked questions
How are YAML lists turned into XML?
Each item in a YAML sequence is emitted as a repeated element using the parent key name. A list under 'roles' with two values becomes twoelements inside.
What happens to the top-level document?
The output is always wrapped in a singleelement so the XML is well-formed. Top-level mappings and sequences nest inside, and a bare scalar becomesvalue.
Is my data uploaded anywhere?
No — this tool runs entirely in your browser. Your input never leaves your device and it works offline once loaded.
Is it free?
Yes, completely free with no sign-up and no limits.
People also ask
Does YAML to XML conversion support attributes or only elements?
This tool produces elements only. Every YAML key becomes a nested element and there is no syntax to map values onto XML attributes, so all data lands inside tags rather than as attribute pairs.
How are YAML booleans and numbers represented in the XML output?
They are written as their literal text inside the element, so true stays as <active>true</active> and 36 stays as <age>36</age>. The XML itself carries no data types, so any type information is the consumer's responsibility to interpret.
What happens to special characters like & or < in my YAML values?
Text content is XML-escaped, so &, <, and > are converted to &, <, and > to keep the output well-formed. This prevents stray characters from breaking the XML structure.
Can I convert the XML back into YAML afterward?
Not with full fidelity. The conversion is one-directional and structural, and because list items reuse the parent key name there is no reliable marker to rebuild the original sequence, so a separate XML-to-YAML step may not reproduce your input exactly.
Is there a size limit on the YAML I can paste?
There is no built-in limit, but since the conversion runs entirely in your browser, very large documents are bounded by your device's memory and the browser tab. Typical config files and snippets convert instantly.
Why does my converted XML start with an <?xml?> declaration?
The tool prepends a standard <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> declaration so the output is a complete, well-formed XML document ready to save or feed into a parser.
How are invalid or malformed YAML inputs handled?
The parser reports the problem inline and clears the output rather than producing partial XML. The status message shows the first line of the parse error to help you locate the issue.
Does the converter need an internet connection to work?
Only for the initial page load, which pulls in the YAML parsing library. After that it runs offline in your browser, and your input never leaves your device.
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