JSON vs YAML
JSON or YAML for configuration? Readability, parsing, and gotchas compared.
Reviewed by The Markvibe Team · Last updated 2026-06-28
JSON is the standard for APIs and machine-to-machine communication. YAML is friendlier for humans editing configuration files but its indentation-sensitive parser and implicit type coercion (the Norway problem) cause real-world bugs. Most modern tooling now accepts both.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | JSON | YAML |
|---|---|---|
| Primary use | APIs, data exchange | Config files (k8s, GitHub Actions) |
| Comments | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (#) |
| Strictness | Strict, predictable | Lenient, surprising coercion |
| Size | More verbose | More compact |
| Parser availability | Built into every language | Library required |
Our recommendation
Use JSON for anything machine-to-machine. Use YAML only when humans are the primary editors and the tool requires it.
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