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Data · .yaml

What Is a YAML File?

A .yaml file is a human-friendly text format for configuration files.

Extension
.yaml, .yml
Full name
YAML Ain't Markup Language
Type
Data
MIME type
application/yaml

Free YAML Tools

These run in your browser. Your YAML files are never uploaded.

About YAML Files

YAML is a data format designed to be easy to read and write by hand. It uses indentation instead of brackets, dashes for lists and key: value pairs for settings. Docker Compose, Kubernetes, GitHub Actions, Ansible and many static site generators use YAML files for configuration. Indentation matters, and tabs aren't allowed, so a misaligned line is the most common cause of errors. Any valid JSON is also valid YAML.

How to Open a YAML File

Any device
Open it in any text editor. VS Code with the YAML extension checks it for errors.

YAML File Questions

What's the difference between .yaml and .yml?

None. Both are YAML; .yaml is the officially recommended extension.

Why does my YAML file give an error?

Usually because of indentation: tabs instead of spaces, or a line indented by a different amount than its siblings.

See all file formats