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YAML vs XML
YAML and XML both represent structured data. YAML is often convenient for human-maintained configuration, while XML is common in integrations that depend on elements, attributes, schemas, or namespaces.
Which format should you choose?
Choose YAML for configuration people maintain; use XML when an existing interface or schema requires XML structures.
Good fit for YAML
Configuration files and structured-data authoring
- Settings maintained by people
Good fit for XML
Structured-data exchange
- Data with schemas and hierarchical structure
Basic information
| Field | YAML | XML |
|---|---|---|
| Extension | .yaml, .yml | .xml |
| MIME type | application/yaml | application/xml |
| Common uses | Configuration files and structured-data authoring | Structured-data exchange |
| How to open | Open it in a text editor or YAML-aware tool and preserve space indentation. | Open it in a text editor or XML-aware tool. Check the expected encoding and schema where applicable. |
| Export or convert | When the recipient requires JSON, convert it and check value types and character encoding. | Convert it to JSON or another format when required by the receiving system, and confirm that structure and attributes are retained. |
Choose by use case
Settings maintained by people
Configuration files and structured-data authoring
YAMLData with schemas and hierarchical structure
Structured-data exchange
XMLKey point 1
YAML uses indentation to express structure and is often compact for settings.
More on the differencesKey point 2
XML provides elements, attributes, namespaces, and mature schema-based workflows.
More on the differencesMore on the differences
Follow the receiving system's specification. Check parser support, character encoding, schema or profile requirements, and whether comments or mixed content matter.
- YAML is designed for readable data serialization and supports comments.
- XML has explicit tags and attributes and supports namespace-aware documents.
- Neither format should be substituted into an existing integration without validating the contract.
Frequently asked questions
Is YAML a replacement for XML?
Not when an interface requires XML schemas, namespaces, or XML-specific structures; choose the format accepted by the receiving system.