dataMarch 3, 2026

How to Convert JSON to YAML (and Back) on iPhone

JSON and YAML are both data serialization formats, but they serve different audiences: JSON uses brackets and braces for machine-readability, while YAML uses indentation for human-readability. Developers frequently need to convert between them when working with Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD configs, and API responses. Transforma handles this conversion losslessly in both directions, right on your iPhone.

Quick Answer

Open your JSON file in Transforma, tap YAML, and convert. The conversion is lossless and bidirectional — you can convert YAML back to JSON just as easily. Output uses clean 2-space indentation with proper escaping.

Why You Might Need This

Kubernetes and Docker Compose use YAML for configuration, but many APIs return data in JSON — you often need to bridge the two.
YAML is significantly more readable than JSON for configuration files, making it easier to review and edit by hand.
Converting API responses from JSON to YAML helps you quickly understand complex nested data structures.
CI/CD pipelines like GitHub Actions use YAML, but programmatic tooling often generates JSON that needs conversion.
On-device conversion means you can work with sensitive configuration data without uploading it to a third-party service.

Step by Step

Open Transforma and select your JSON file

Launch Transforma and browse to your JSON file. You can import from the Files app, iCloud Drive, or any connected storage provider. For YAML-to-JSON conversion, select a YAML file instead.

Choose YAML as the output format

Tap YAML from the available output formats. For the reverse direction, select JSON when starting from a YAML file. The conversion handles all standard data types including nested objects and arrays.

Review the formatted output

Preview the converted file to verify the structure looks correct. YAML output uses clean 2-space indentation, and all values are properly escaped according to the YAML specification.

Save the converted file

Save the output to your device or share it directly via AirDrop, email, or any other iOS sharing method. The file is ready to use in your configuration workflow.

Tips for Best Results

Conversion is completely lossless in both directions — JSON and YAML can represent identical data structures with zero information loss.
YAML output uses 2-space indentation, which is the standard convention for Kubernetes and Docker Compose files.
YAML is whitespace-sensitive, so be careful when manually editing the converted output — incorrect indentation will break the file.
This is ideal for converting raw API responses into readable YAML config files that you can review and adapt.
Deeply nested JSON objects with 5+ levels of nesting convert correctly, preserving the full hierarchy in YAML format.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the conversion lossless?

Yes. JSON and YAML can represent identical data structures, so conversion between them is completely lossless. Every value, key, array, and nested object is preserved exactly. You can round-trip a file from JSON to YAML and back without any data loss.

Can I convert YAML back to JSON?

Yes. The conversion is fully bidirectional. Open a YAML file in Transforma and select JSON as the output format. This is useful when you need to submit YAML configuration data to an API that expects JSON.

What about comments in YAML?

YAML supports comments but JSON does not. When converting JSON to YAML, no comments exist in the source. When converting YAML to JSON, any comments in the YAML file are discarded since JSON has no comment syntax. Add comments manually after converting to YAML.

Does it handle deeply nested structures?

Yes. Complex nested objects and arrays convert correctly regardless of depth. The YAML output uses consistent 2-space indentation at each level, making even deeply nested structures easy to read and navigate.