YAML to XML Converter
This YAML to XML converter turns mappings into nested elements and sequences into repeated elements, producing an indented document with a proper XML declaration. Because a YAML document can be a mapping, a list or even a single scalar while XML requires exactly one root element, the content is wrapped in a root you can rename to match the schema you are targeting. YAML keys can contain spaces, slashes or a leading digit, none of which XML element names allow, so keys that would produce invalid markup are rewritten with underscores — the output always parses instead of failing at the far end. Runs entirely in your browser.
How it works
Mappings become nested elements and sequences become repeated elements. Because XML needs exactly one root and YAML does not, the document is wrapped in a root element you can rename below.
Keys that are not valid XML element names — ones with spaces, slashes or a leading digit — are rewritten with underscores so the output always parses.
The conversion runs entirely in your browser — nothing you paste or upload is sent to a server.
How to convert YAML to XML
- Paste your YAML into the input on the left.
- The XML appears on the right, indented and with an XML declaration.
- Rename the root and row elements if the receiving system expects specific names.
Why the output has a root element
A YAML document can be a mapping, a list, or even a single scalar. XML requires exactly one root element, so the
converted content is wrapped in one. It is called root by default; set your own name in the field
above if the schema on the other side expects something specific.
Element names are made valid
YAML keys can be anything — log level, 2fa, x/y — but XML element names
cannot contain spaces or slashes and cannot begin with a digit. Keys that would produce invalid markup are
rewritten with underscores, so the output always parses rather than failing at the far end.
Common use cases
- Feeding a YAML-authored config into a legacy system that only reads XML.
- Producing an XML fixture from a YAML source of truth.
- Generating an XML request body from a hand-written YAML draft.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert YAML to XML?
Paste your YAML into the left panel and the XML appears on the right, indented and with an XML declaration. Rename the root and row elements above if the receiving system expects particular names.
Why does the output have a root element I did not write?
A YAML document can be a mapping, a list or a single scalar, but XML requires exactly one root element. The content is therefore wrapped in one, called root by default and renameable to whatever your schema expects.
How are YAML lists represented in XML?
Each item becomes a repeated element with the same tag name, nested inside its parent — which is how XML expresses a collection, since it has no separate list syntax.
What happens to keys that are not valid XML names?
YAML keys can contain spaces, slashes or start with a digit, none of which XML allows. Those characters are replaced with underscores and a leading digit gets an underscore prefix, so the document always parses.
Are comments in my YAML preserved?
No. Comments are not part of the parsed data and XML has a different comment syntax, so they are dropped along with any other formatting that carries no structural meaning.
Is my YAML uploaded when I convert it?
No. The conversion runs entirely in your browser, so nothing you paste is sent to a server.
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