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.