JSON, XML and YAML all represent structured data, but their syntax and common use cases differ. Choosing the right format depends on the systems involved and whether humans or applications will work with the data most often.
JSON
JSON is compact, widely supported in web development and common in APIs. It supports objects, arrays and primitive values.
XML
XML uses tags and supports attributes and document-oriented structures. It remains common in established integrations and feeds.
YAML
YAML emphasizes human readability and is frequently used for configuration files and automation workflows.
Convert between formats
Use JSON to XML, XML to JSON, JSON to YAML and YAML to JSON tools when your workflow requires a different format.