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XML to YAML Converter

Convert XML data to YAML format

File Converters

Tip: XML structure will be converted to YAML with improved readability.

Runs in your browser

Input XML

Convert XML to YAML in your browser

Paste XML, open an .xml file or drop it on the input window, and the YAML appears as you type. Child elements become keys, repeated elements become a list, and nesting is shown by two-space indentation instead of closing tags. Copy the result or download it as a .yaml file.

The output starts with what is inside the root element, and long values stay on one line instead of being folded. If the XML is not well formed, the output window shows the parser's error instead.

XML to YAML example

Real output for a catalog of two books. The two <book> elements become list items, and @id and the prices are in quotes:

catalog.xml 
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<catalog>
  <book id="bk101">
    <title>Paper Tigers</title>
    <author>Rina Okafor</author>
    <price>12.50</price>
  </book>
  <book id="bk102">
    <title>Salt Roads</title>
    <author>Jonas Hale</author>
    <price>9.99</price>
  </book>
</catalog>
catalog.yaml 
book:
  - '@id': bk101
    title: Paper Tigers
    author: Rina Okafor
    price: '12.50'
  - '@id': bk102
    title: Salt Roads
    author: Jonas Hale
    price: '9.99'

Why some YAML values are in quotes

Every XML value is text. The quotes make sure a YAML reader loads it back as the same text and not as a number or a boolean:

  • XML

    <price>12.50</price>

    YAML

    Becomes price: '12.50'. Without quotes YAML would read the number 12.5 and drop the zero.

  • XML

    <active>true</active>

    YAML

    Becomes active: 'true', which stays text instead of loading as a boolean.

  • XML

    <book id="bk101">

    YAML

    An attribute becomes a key starting with @. YAML does not allow a plain key to start with @, so it is written '@id'.

  • XML

    <title>Paper Tigers</title>

    YAML

    Plain text needs no quotes: title: Paper Tigers.

  • XML

    <note/>

    YAML

    An empty element becomes an empty string, note: ''.

What the YAML keeps from the XML

Kept

  • Repeated elements, as a list under their name
  • Text next to child elements or attributes, under a '#text' key
  • Namespace prefixes, as part of the key: dc:title

Dropped

  • The root element's name
  • Comments, processing instructions and the XML declaration
  • A list for a single element: one <book> becomes a mapping, not a list of one

Need the XML back?

The YAML to XML converter writes lists as repeated elements and '@' keys as attributes.

XML to YAML questions

Click Open file and choose the .xml file, or drop it on the input window. The YAML shows up at once; Download saves it as a .yaml file.

XML has no numbers, only text, and the converter keeps it that way. The quotes stop a YAML reader from turning 12.50 into 12.5 or 007 into 7; remove them in your file where you want real numbers.

An element that has attributes or child elements and also its own text, like <price currency="EUR">12.50</price>, becomes a mapping. Its text goes under '#text', next to '@currency'.

Yes, it is plain block-style YAML that any YAML 1.2 reader loads. Rename the '@' and '#text' keys first if your tool expects other names.

No. Converting runs in your browser, and an opened file is read there too.