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YAML to CSV Converter

Convert YAML to CSV online, for free, straight from your browser. This YAML to CSV converter turns a YAML list of flat records — from a .yaml or .yml file — into a spreadsheet-ready CSV file. Column headers are collected from every key found across the list, so records with slightly different fields are handled gracefully.

Drop your YAML file here

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Supports .yaml and .yml files, processed entirely on your device

Untitled.yaml0 B0 lines0 characters
YAML →JSON
Your converted output will appear here.
Waiting for YAML input.

What to expect

  • Best suited to a YAML list of mappings with similar keys.
  • Missing fields are left blank rather than breaking the export.
  • Values with commas, quotes, or line breaks are automatically escaped.

Example

Input (YAML)
- name: Aperture Docs
  version: 1.4.2
  active: true
- name: Beacon CLI
  version: 0.9.0
  active: false
- name: Contour Sync
  version: 2.1.0
  active: true
Output (csv)
name,version,active
Aperture Docs,1.4.2,true
Beacon CLI,0.9.0,false
Contour Sync,2.1.0,true

Turning YAML records into a spreadsheet

A YAML list of records is easy to maintain in version control, but not everyone on a team wants to read it there. Product managers, analysts and finance teams live in Excel and Google Sheets, and a CSV file opens in both with a double-click. Converting your YAML to CSV gives them the data in the format they already use.

CSV is also the common currency of data tooling: databases import it, pandas reads it in one line, and BI tools accept it as a source. The converter builds the header row from every key it finds, so uneven records still produce a clean rectangular table.

  • Sharing with non-developers

    Hand teammates a spreadsheet instead of asking them to read YAML.

  • Bulk-importing data

    Load product lists, users or translations into a database or SaaS tool that accepts CSV.

  • Analysis in pandas or R

    Get a flat table ready for read_csv with no parsing code.

  • Reporting and audits

    Produce a snapshot of a configuration inventory that can be filtered and sorted.

How YAML maps to CSV

These are the exact rules this converter applies. Each result below was generated by the tool itself, so it matches what you will see in the output panel.

A list of mappings becomes rows

Each mapping is one row, and each distinct key becomes a column in the header line.

YAML
- id: 1
  name: Ada
- id: 2
  name: Alan
CSV
id,name
1,Ada
2,Alan

Wrapped lists are unwrapped

If the only content is a list nested under single-key wrappers, the converter finds it and says so in the notes.

YAML
library:
  book:
    - title: Dune
    - title: Emma
CSV
title
Dune
Emma

A lone mapping is a single row

When there is no list at all, the mapping's keys become the header and its values the one data row.

YAML
host: localhost
port: 8080
CSV
host,port
localhost,8080

Nested values are stored as JSON

Lists or objects inside a cell can't be split into columns, so they are written as compact JSON and quoted.

YAML
- id: 1
  tags: [a, b]
CSV
id,tags
1,"[""a"",""b""]"

A trickier example: commas, quotes and missing fields

Here the first person's name contains a comma, a quote contains double quotes, and only one record has a languages field.

Input (YAML)
- id: 1
  name: "Lovelace, Ada"
  quote: 'She said "hello"'
- id: 2
  name: Turing
  langs: [en, de]
Output (CSV)
id,name,quote,langs
1,"Lovelace, Ada","She said ""hello""",
2,Turing,,"[""en"",""de""]"

Values with commas or quotes are wrapped in double quotes and any inner quotes are doubled, which is the RFC 4180 convention spreadsheets expect. The langs column appears for everyone, and the first row simply leaves it blank.

Loading the CSV in your code

Python's csv module turns each row back into a dictionary keyed by the header names:

python
import csv

with open("records.csv", newline="", encoding="utf-8") as f:
    for row in csv.DictReader(f):
        print(row["id"], row["name"])

YAML vs CSV at a glance

CSV is flat by design, so the conversion works best on tabular data.

FeatureYAMLCSV
NestingArbitrary depthNone; one flat table
TypesNumbers, booleans, nullEverything is text
SchemaEach item can differOne header for all rows
Best audienceDevelopers and toolsSpreadsheet users and importers
File sizeLarger with repeated keysCompact; keys appear once

Things to watch for when converting to CSV

  • Deeply nested data does not flatten into columns; nested values are stored as JSON text inside a single cell.
  • CSV stores no types, so numbers, booleans and strings all arrive as text and spreadsheets may reformat things like leading zeros.
  • The column order follows the first appearance of each key, not alphabetical order.
  • A YAML file made of unrelated sections is better split into several lists, one CSV per list.

YAML to CSV Converter FAQ

What YAML structure works best for CSV?

A top-level list of mappings, where each mapping represents one row, converts most predictably.

Can I convert YAML to CSV in Python?

Yes — load the YAML with PyYAML and write the rows with the built-in `csv` module (`csv.DictWriter` works well for a list of records). This tool gives you the same CSV output instantly, without writing a script.

What if my records have different keys?

The header row includes every key found across all records; rows missing a field simply have an empty cell there.

Can I open the result in Excel or Sheets?

Yes, the downloaded .csv file opens directly in any spreadsheet application.

Why do some cells contain JSON?

CSV has no way to hold a list or object inside one cell. When a record contains nested data, the converter serializes it as compact JSON so nothing is lost and you can parse it later.

Will Excel mangle my values?

Excel may reinterpret text that looks like a number or date, such as 00123 or 3-4. Import the file through Data > From Text/CSV and set those columns to Text to keep the original values.

Can I change the delimiter?

The output uses commas, the standard CSV delimiter. If you need semicolons or tabs, replace the separators after exporting, or use the import wizard in your spreadsheet application.

Is there a difference between .yml and .yaml?

No. ".yml" and ".yaml" are just two file extensions for the exact same format — this converter accepts either one, so a "yml to CSV" conversion and a "yaml to CSV" conversion produce identical results.

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YAML to JSON

Sending the records to an API or app rather than a spreadsheet.

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Getting an error? Check your input with theYAML Validator, or tidy it first with theYAML Formatter. You can also browse all YAML converters.