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YAML to XML Converter

Paste YAML and convert it to well-formed XML instantly. Supports nested objects, arrays, and configurable root element names with optional XML declaration.

Last updated: May 21, 2026

Client-Side Processing
Input Data Stays on Device
Instant Local Execution

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What is YAML to XML Converter?

YAML and XML both represent structured data, but they are used in very different ecosystems. YAML is common in configuration files (Kubernetes, GitHub Actions, Docker Compose), while XML is standard in enterprise systems, SOAP APIs, Android resources, and legacy data formats. Converting between them is a common task when bridging these worlds.

This tool parses YAML using a standards-compliant parser and produces clean, indented XML. Nested YAML objects become nested XML elements, YAML arrays become repeated sibling elements, and scalar values become element text content. Keys that are not valid XML element names are automatically sanitised.

How to Use YAML to XML Converter

1

Paste YAML into the input area or click "Load Sample"

2

Set a root element name (default: root)

3

Toggle the XML declaration (<?xml version="1.0"?>) on or off

4

Choose 2 or 4 space indentation

5

Copy or download the XML output

Common Use Cases

  • DevOps engineers converting Kubernetes YAML manifests to XML for systems that consume XML configuration.
  • Developers transforming YAML API responses to XML for XSLT processing pipelines.
  • Architects migrating configuration from YAML-based CI systems to XML-based build tools (Maven, Ant).
  • Data engineers converting YAML data files to XML for import into legacy enterprise systems.
  • Developers generating Android XML resources from YAML source files in build pipelines.
  • API developers converting YAML OpenAPI specs to XML format for tooling that requires XML input.

Example Input and Output

A YAML server configuration file with nested objects and arrays is converted to structured XML.

YAML input
server:
  host: localhost
  port: 8080
  debug: true
  tags:
    - api
    - v2
XML output
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<root>
  <server>
    <host>localhost</host>
    <port>8080</port>
    <debug>true</debug>
    <tags>api</tags>
    <tags>v2</tags>
  </server>
</root>

Privacy

All conversion runs in your browser. No data is uploaded to any server.

YAML anchors and aliases

YAML anchors (&anchor) and aliases (*alias) are resolved before conversion — the repeated content is inlined in the XML output rather than referenced.

Frequently Asked Questions

How are YAML arrays converted to XML?
YAML array items become repeated XML elements with the same parent key name. For example, a YAML array "tags: [api, v2]" becomes two sibling <tags> elements: <tags>api</tags><tags>v2</tags>.
What happens to YAML keys that are not valid XML element names?
XML element names cannot start with digits or contain spaces and most special characters. Invalid characters are replaced with underscores, and names starting with a digit get an underscore prefix. For example, "1st-key" becomes "_1st_key".
What is the XML declaration and should I include it?
The XML declaration (<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>) declares the XML version and character encoding. It is optional but recommended when creating standalone XML files. Omit it when embedding XML as a fragment inside a larger document.
What is the root element?
XML requires a single root element wrapping all content. Since YAML can have multiple top-level keys, all content is wrapped in a configurable root element (default: <root>). You can change this to match your schema.
Is my YAML sent to a server?
No. All conversion runs in your browser using the js-yaml library. Your data never leaves your device.

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