Data
XML to YAML Converter
Convert XML into clean YAML for configuration files, fixtures, or human review.
Written by Jay Sudha · Published · Last updated
Press ⌘ Enter to run
5 lines · 194 chars
Ready; press Run or ⌘ Enter
How this tool handles files
- Processing
- In your browser, on-device
- Storage
- Nothing stored
- Output
- A file you download
- Your responsibility
- Review before official use
- Runs in your browser. Your file is processed on your own device and, on this site, is not uploaded to our servers.
- Nothing is stored. Your file and its output are gone the moment you close or reload the page.
- Review sensitive files (bank, ID, medical) and check the output before sharing it.
Every tool on FormatOS runs in your browser. Read our Privacy Policy and File Handling Policy.
Common uses
- Convert XML config to YAML for new tooling
- Review XML structure in a friendlier syntax
Limitations
- All values stay text; comments and processing instructions are not carried over
When converting XML to YAML earns its place
This converter is for the moment you have working XML and need the same structure in a form that is quicker to read and edit by hand. The most natural fit is developer and DevOps work: lifting values out of an XML config, a SOAP response or a legacy export into a Kubernetes manifest, a CI file, an Ansible playbook or an application config that expects YAML. Indented keys are easier to scan in a pull request than nested angle brackets.
How the conversion runs and what it keeps
Paste XML, open a file or drop one on the input, and press Run (or Ctrl/Cmd+Enter). The YAML appears in the output, where you can Copy it or Download it as a .yaml file. Nothing is uploaded; parsing and formatting happen in the page, and nothing is kept once you close the tab.
The whole result sits under the root element's name. Each element becomes a key, leaf elements become their text, repeated sibling tags become a YAML list, and attributes become keys starting with @ (so <item id="42">Widget</item> gives @id and #text). The XML declaration, comments and processing instructions are not carried over.
Values are written as text, and any value another YAML reader could misinterpret is quoted: yes and no, numbers with leading zeros such as 007, and strings containing ': ' or starting with @ or #. The file therefore loads back with exactly the text the XML held.
What to check
Read the YAML against the source and confirm the hierarchy lines up: the root key is present, nested keys sit at the right depth, and repeated elements became list items.
If the YAML will be edited by hand later, keep to spaces for indentation; YAML rejects tabs. Loading the file in the tool that will use it is the final confirmation.
Frequently asked questions
The XML element tree becomes nested YAML keys, repeated elements become a list, and attributes become keys starting with @. It is the same structure in an indentation-based form.
Yes. Any value another YAML reader could misread, such as yes, 007, a value with ': ' or one starting with @, is quoted, so the file loads back with the same text.
No. The conversion runs in your browser; your text or file is processed on your own device and, on this site, is not uploaded to a server, and we do not intentionally store it.
Related data tools
Tool last reviewed: September 27, 2026 · Report a problem