How to Use Our YAML to CSV Converter
Converting your YAML (YAML Ain't Markup Language) data to CSV (Comma Separated Values) is straightforward:
- Input YAML: Paste your YAML data into the left-hand text area, or click "Choose File" to upload a .yaml, .yml, or .txt file. The YAML should typically represent a list of objects.
- Set CSV Options:
- CSV Delimiter: Choose the character to separate values in your output CSV (e.g., comma, semicolon).
- Include Header Row: Check this box if you want the first row of your CSV to be the keys from your YAML objects.
- Convert: Click the "Convert to CSV" button.
- Get CSV: Your converted CSV will appear in the right-hand text area. You can edit it if needed after successful conversion.
- Copy or Download: Use the respective buttons to get your CSV data.
Why Convert YAML to CSV?
- Spreadsheet Software: CSV is easily imported into spreadsheet programs like Excel, Google Sheets, or LibreOffice Calc for analysis and manipulation.
- Data Exchange: CSV is a simple, widely supported format for exchanging tabular data between different systems.
- Database Import: Many databases support importing data from CSV files.
- Simplicity for Tabular Data: If your hierarchical YAML data can be flattened into a simple table, CSV is often a more direct representation for that specific view.
Features of This YAML to CSV Tool
- Direct Input & File Upload: Paste YAML or upload .yaml/.yml files.
- Customizable CSV Delimiters: Choose comma, semicolon, tab, pipe, or space for your CSV output.
- CSV Header Option: Control whether to include a header row in the CSV.
- Editable Output: Modify the generated CSV.
- Copy & Download: Easy access to your results.
- Error Handling: Clear feedback for YAML parsing issues.
- Responsive Design: Works on all devices.
- Dark Mode: Switch themes for your viewing preference.
- Free & Online: No installation or signup required.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The ideal YAML input is a list (array) of flat objects (key-value pairs). For example:
- name: Item 1\n value: 100\n- name: Item 2\n value: 200PapaParse (the library used for CSV generation) will attempt to flatten nested objects. For simple nesting, it often produces a reasonable result (e.g., `parent.child: value`). For complex, deeply nested structures, the resulting CSV might become very wide or less readable. CSV is inherently a flat format.
Currently, this tool uses the default quoting behavior of PapaParse, which generally quotes fields only when necessary (e.g., if they contain the delimiter, newlines, or quotes themselves). Advanced quoting options are not exposed in this version but could be a future enhancement.